How AI Is Changing Soccer: Vienna State Parliament Representatives Visit ZONE14 and UAS Technikum Wien
12 December, 2025
UAS Technikum Wien welcomed two members of the Vienna Provincial Parliament, Filip Worotynski and Yvonne Rychly, for a discussion on innovation, research, and entrepreneurship. The focus of the visit was the sports technology company zone14, which is supported as part of UAS Technikum Wien’s entrepreneurship initiative.
The visit by Vienna State Parliament representatives Filip Worotynski and Yvonne Rychly at the end of November 2025 provided a comprehensive insight into the activities of the University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien – from technical education and applied research to initiatives for promoting start-ups. A large part of the exchange was devoted to the sports technology company zone14, whose AI-based solutions for use in soccer training were presented and discussed in detail.
UAS Technikum Wien presents teaching, research, and innovation promotion
Rector Sylvia Geyer opened the meeting with a presentation of the university and its focus on teaching, research, and economic cooperation. She explained how UAS Technikum Wien is building technological expertise for Vienna as a business location and what framework conditions contribute to the promotion of research and innovative projects.
Rafael Rasinger, head of the Innovation, Scaleups & Networks team, then presented the Entrepreneurship Initiative at UAS Technikum Wien. He emphasized the importance of cooperation between the university, start-ups, and companies and used several examples to show how students and experts are working together to further develop technology-oriented start-ups.
zone14: AI makes soccer analysis more efficient
In the second part of the visit, zone14 presented its AI-supported platform for video analysis in soccer. The team led by Lukas Grömer (co-founder), Tobias Gahleitner (co-founder), and Oswald Schwarz (sales & business) showed how coaches and analysts can use automatically generated data to accurately evaluate game situations.
Among other things, the technology enables:
- Data-based training planning, adapted to performance indicators
- Relief for coaching staff, as AI accelerates and simplifies analysis processes
- Automated highlights, such as goal clips for social media
Zone14 deliberately targets clubs below the top international clubs – where digital tools can create particularly high added value. Many associations and clubs already use zone14. In addition to well-known professional clubs such as SK Rapid Wien, FK Austria Wien, and Wiener Sport-Club, amateur teams such as FC Stadlau, SV Großweikersdorf, and SK Rum also rely on the zone14 system, and others are showing keen interest in the solution.
Insight into Vienna’s innovation ecosystem
The two representatives used the visit to gain a comprehensive picture of the startup landscape in the vicinity of the University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien. Filip Worotynski highlighted the international relevance of such technology projects and emphasized that innovations such as those from zone14 contribute significantly to the visibility of Vienna as a location for innovation. Thanks to his international activities, he offered support in networking with suitable partners.
Yvonne Rychly showed particular interest in the sports policy and social dimensions of digital technologies in amateur and professional sports—a topic that is playing an increasingly important role in her Committee on Social Affairs, Health, and Sport.
The Vienna Business Agency was also represented by Gabriele Tatzberger, Head of Startup Services, who reported on support services for young companies and spoke with zone14 about growth coaching.
Start-up support as part of the entrepreneurship initiative at the University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien
The collaboration with start-ups such as zone14 shows how the University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien connects students and start-ups as part of its entrepreneurship initiative. These structures give rise to practical teaching and research scenarios that also benefit Vienna as a business location.
What does the name “zone14” mean?
The name “zone14” refers to the central attacking zone in front of the opponent’s penalty area, from which statistically a particularly high number of goals are scored – a symbol of how the start-up uses data-based methods to make better use of decisive game situations.
Further information:
Technikum Podcast #24: Simon Schmiderer on the use of AI in soccer training
Entrepreneurship in Technology – University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien
New partnership between zone14 and SK Rapid Wien: AI-supported video analysis in soccer training
Women in soccer: Prominent guests at the zone14 panel discussion
Pictured, among others: Filip Worotynski (Vienna State Parliament representative, member of the Committee for Urban Development, Mobility, and Vienna Public Utilities), Yvonne Rychly (Vienna State Parliament representative, member of the Committee for Social Affairs, Health, and Sport), Gabriele Tatzberger (Vienna Business Agency, Startup Services), Sylvia Geyer (Rector of the University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien), Rafael Rasinger (University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien, Head of Team Innovation, Scaleups & Networks), Lukas Grömer (zone14, co-founder), Tobias Gahleitner (zone14, co-founder) and Oswald Schwarz (zone14, Sales & Business).
Picture Gallery:
Am Bild, unter anderen: Filip Worotynski (Wiener Landtagsabgeordneter, Mitglied im Ausschuss für Stadtentwicklung, Mobilität und Wiener Stadtwerke), Yvonne Rychly (Wiener Landtagsabgeordnete, Mitglied im Ausschuss für Soziales, Gesundheit und Sport), Gabriele Tatzberger (Wirtschaftsagentur Wien, Startup Services), Sylvia Geyer (Rektorin der FH Technikum Wien), Rafael Rasinger (FH Technikum Wien, Leitung Team Innovation, Scaleups & Networks), Lukas Grömer (zone14, Co-Founder), Tobias Gahleitner (zone14, Co-Founder) und Oswald Schwarz (zone14, Sales & Business).