Who builds the future?

The event brings together perspectives from climate research, economic justice, and sustainable spatial design to explore the forces shaping our future. Centered on the question Who builds the future?, the discussion focuses on identifying innovative approaches and practical solutions for designing climate-resilient and equitable systems. By bringing together diverse expertise and ideas, the event aims to inspire new ways of thinking and transforming existing structures to create more sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready societies.

Join Marlene Engelhorn, Doris Österreicher, and Daniel Huppmann for a discussion on who benefits from existing systems, where current approaches fall short, and what kinds of social and spatial transformation may be necessary in the years ahead.

The event will kick off the interdisciplinary summer universities “Alternative Economic and Monetary Systems (AEMS)” and “Green.Building.Solutions. (GBS)”, welcoming around 100 international changemakers in Vienna.

4:30 pm Doors open

Guests arrive and settle in

5:00 pm Opening of the event with welcome addresses delivered by

• Eva-Maria Holzleitner, Austrian Federal Minister for Women, Science and Research
  (video message)
• Sabine Kamill, Policy Officer at Federal Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism
• Guenther Jedliczka, CEO of OeAD student housing
• Carina Kamptner, Organizational Head of the AEMS Summer University

• Barbara Mayr, Organizational Head of the GBS Summer University

Thematic impulses

With contributions from

• Daniel Huppmann, climate economist and research scholar at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)
• Marlene Engelhorn, activist and co-founder of taxmenow advocating for wealth redistribution and social justice
• Doris Österreicher, architect and university professor at the University of Stuttgart

6:30 pm Networking break with refreshments and books

Visit the Buchquartier book table, run by Austria’s first cooperatively owned bookstore.

7:00 pm Panel discussion

With the keynote speakers, moderated by Michael Bauer-Leeb. The discussion will reflect on the thematic inputs and open up the conversation with the audience.

8:00 pm Evening reception with finger food buffet

By attending this event, you agree to be photographed and/or filmed and give permission to use this material in promotional and marketing materials.

This event will be held according to the City of Vienna's criteria for EcoEvents to keep the environmental impact at a minimum. Please choose public transport (plan your journey here) or bicycle for travelling to the event location.

If you want to stay updated on our events subsribe to our newsletter here.

Many thanks to our public and private sponsors that make this event and our two summer universities possible!