Inayat-ur-Rahman, Business Editor

Austria is proud to be a part of Expo 2020 Dubai. We believe that this particular Expo will inspire change, showcase innovation, and help to create a more sustainable future. Expo 2020 will serve as a world stage, for business, research institutions, academics and many more. Austria is keen to contribute to a more sustainable future.

This was stated by Austrian Commissioner General Beatrix Karl, during an exclusive interview with Gulf Today.

“We see our pavilion as a place where innovative and creative minds come together, where there will be opportunities for people to connect trough a wide variety of events.  

“Our pavilion will offer a warm welcome to general public, and it will also be a platform where business people, politicians, artists, academics and many others will meet and collaborate.”

“The Austrian contribution “Austria makes sense” shows a holistic concept with the aim of impressively combining people, technology, and the environment. Climate protection and technology go hand in hand here and complement each other. The eye-catching, sustainably planned pavilion combines traditional construction methods - inspired by Arabian wind towers - with state-of-the-art technology, acting as an interactive showcase for Austria’s innovative strength and diversity - an experience for all the senses”

“Austria is known around the world as a country of culture and a location with a high standard of living. We want to add a few important - and for some visitors maybe new -elements to this image with our participation.”

“The EXPO 2020 Dubai offers the opportunity to position Austria as a global innovation leader through digitalization, digital transformation and digital innovation.

It also represents a unique opportunity to present our know-how and strengths in areas such as new technologies, education, e-government, life sciences, security systems, especially cyber-security and innovative transport solutions.

Austrian innovations and solutions can play a major role in overcoming the challenges linked to fast-pace change and upheaval in society, science and the economy – not only as a result of the COVID Pandemic. We want to actively contribute towards a better digital future, accessible for all of mankind.

“All of this is reflected in our very wide programme during the 6 months of expo. We have already planned over 100 events from cultural performances, B2B delegations, discussion, youth workshops, touristic events and our Nation Day on the 19th of November - just to name a few.

Short of physically visiting Austria on an exploratory mission the strikingly designed Austrian Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai will offer visitors the unique opportunity to experience the Central European country with all their senses when they step into the spectacularly shaped pavilion from October 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022.”

During the six-month Expo period, the Austrian Pavilion will host a wide-ranging business programmes to connect Austrian and Arabian Gulf businesses, with the aim of developing new trade and economic ties for mutual benefit.

With the motto of ‘Austria makes Sense’, two permanent exhibitions in the pavilion will appeal to visitors’ senses by beautifully conveying Austria’s numerous contributions to a better, more sustainable world via a series of curated installations, while also showcasing different facets of Austrian research, development and creativity in the form of Made in Austria products. The exhibitions are curated by Ars Electronica Solutions and büro wien, and the graphics are by design studio bleed.

Located in the Opportunity District at Expo 2020, the Austrian Pavilion will be a place where innovative and creative minds come together, and where visitors can connect through a wide variety of events. Values such as intact nature, region-specific culture, food security and regional products, smart technologies, sustainability, and conscious deceleration, are visibly conquering people’s consciousness and the Austrian Pavilion perfectly embodies this zeitgeist.

Various stations in the pavilion will invite visitors to thematically experience Austria directly – through features encompassing the senses of seeing, hearing, smelling and feeling – linked with an interactive technology component.

Designed by Viennese architectural firm querkraft the uniquely shaped and sustainably constructed Austrian Pavilion comprises of 38 geometrically arranged white cone towers inspired by traditional Arabian wind towers and made of precast concrete elements in varying heights.

Featuring natural building materials and a smart, low-tech approach, the whole structure illustrates creative use of Arabian traditional building techniques and modern Austrian innovation that connects people, technology and the environment in a perfect example of sustainability. The traditional clay plaster used in the pavilion’s interior provides a pollutant-free, balanced indoor climate.

Exterior work on the pavilion is completed, with the interior work due to start in mid-July 2021. The pavilion’s sustainability existence will continue as the building will be repurposed and reused after the Expo ends.