The Medical University of Innsbruck joins NeurotechEU – expanding the alliance to Austria
The inclusion of the Medical University of Innsbruck strengthens NeurotechEU’s network across Europe and adds new expertise at the interface of neuroscience, medicine, and clinical innovation. As a university deeply rooted in medical research and education, MUI will contribute to the alliance’s shared goal of training the next generation of scientists, clinicians, and innovators in brain and technology.
"Neuroscience is one of the key research areas at the University of Innsbruck Medical School. By joining the European university alliance NeurotechEU, we are sending a clear signal for strengthening the forward-looking connection between this field and artificial intelligence and the latest technologies,” says Gert Mayer, Rector of the Medical University of Innsbruck. “At the heart of this partnership is the exchange of students and teachers in order to optimise education in this new field of research. We see this as a great opportunity to integrate our young talent into an excellent European university network at an early stage and to promote international learning experiences. At the same time, the visibility of our neuroscientific expertise will be strengthened at the European level. Membership in NeurotechEU is an important step toward improving our university's international network and further developing research, teaching and innovation in a targeted manner in the future."
A valuable addition to a growing European network
Vicente Micol, chair of the Board of Rectors of NeurotechEU, sees the incorporation of the Medical University of Innsbruck (MUI) into NeurotechEU as a powerful strategic boost for the alliance: “This accession strengthens NeurotechEU as an indispensable transnational innovation campus for the future of neurotechnology in Europe. MUI's main value is its close link between basic science and clinical and applied research in the areas of neurosciences and molecular biology. This specialization will be important for NeurotechEU's academic offer.”
Prof. Richard van Wezel, NeurotechEU coordinator at Radboud University, adds: “The Medical University of Innsbruck brings a strong clinical and technological profile to the alliance. Their connections with neurotechnology companies and their expertise in translational research add real value to NeurotechEU. At the same time, their participation will help bring more European neuroscience communities closer together from academia to industry.”
Van Wezel also highlights that the thematic focus of NeurotechEU makes it especially attractive for universities that want to strategically invest in neuroscience and neurotechnology. “Joining the alliance often becomes a catalyst for interdisciplinary collaboration within universities themselves,” he explains. “We have seen that NeurotechEU can help connect scientists across faculties, creating new opportunities for joint research and education.”
Looking ahead
By participating in NeurotechEU, the Medical University of Innsbruck will contribute to joint European education programmes, exchange opportunities, and international research collaborations. Students, teachers, and researchers alike will benefit from new mobility schemes, shared curricula, and access to an extensive European network of experts and facilities.
With the addition of Innsbruck, NeurotechEU now brings together nine universities across Europe, forming a vibrant, future-focused community dedicated to pushing the boundaries of brain and technology research. This exciting expansion underscores the alliance’s ambition to shape the next generation of neuroscientific innovation and education on a truly European scale.