Start Me Up Monday On 1 June 2026: Austria’s Path To Expo 2027 In Belgrade

Together with the Austrian EXPO Office, start-ups, students and partner institutions will present innovative ideas for the Austrian Pavilion at the event on 1 June 2026 (5 pm) at the UAS Technikum Wien. The evening will offer insights into creative concepts, sustainable solutions and funding opportunities relating to the EXPO theme ‘Play for Humanity’.

Date and venue:

In the run-up to the event, we conducted a short interview with Alf Netek, Project Manager at EXPO Austria, who will speak on the evening of 1 June 2026 about “Austria’s innovation landscape for the World Expo”:

What is an EXPO?
Alf Netek: An EXPO is the world’s largest platform for innovation, future-oriented ideas and international cooperation. Belgrade 2027 focuses on quality of life, sustainability, digitalisation and regional cooperation – as the first specialised EXPO in South-Eastern Europe, it serves as a strategic bridgehead with high visibility and new economic and research partnerships.

What opportunities does EXPO 2027 offer start-ups and companies?
Alf Netek: It creates international visibility and access to networks, investors and markets. The Western Balkans in particular are growing rapidly and need solutions in energy, mobility, digitalisation, smart cities and the circular economy – an ideal environment to position Austria’s innovative strength as a synergy of research, technology and industry and expansion into new regions.

How can knowledge and technology transfer from universities of applied sciences and universities be achieved?
Alf Netek: Universities of applied sciences combine research, education and application particularly closely. It is crucial to scale innovations internationally – the EXPO offers the perfect platform for this. Start me up Monday provides the impetus for this; students at the UAS Technikum Wien are developing an innovation and technology atlas that identifies flagship projects for the Austrian Pavilion.

Participation is free of charge; you can find further information and register for the event here:
https://www.technikum-wien.at/events/start-me-up-monday-weltaustellung-2027/

We look forward to an evening full of innovation, entrepreneurship and networking at the UAS Technikum Wien.