Moderation during the Day
Tibor Szanyi, Vice-Chair of Advisory Board of the Vienna Congress; former Member of European Parliament

Opening of the 23. Vienna Congress 2026 

Tibor Szanyi, Vice-Chair of Advisory Board of the Vienna Congress; former Member of European Parliament
Katharina Reinwald, Secretary-General of the Vienna Congress; Future Board – Vienna Congress
Erik Pipal, Expert Digital Euro, Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB); Future Board – Vienna Congress
Christian Musso, Future Board – Vienna Congress
Miljana Milenkovic, Future Board – Vienna Congress
Rabia Adigüzel, Future Board – Vienna Congress

Opening Words of the 23. Vienna Congress 2026 

Opening words | Margarete Kriz-Zwittkovits, Vice President of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Opening words | Alfred Harl, President of the European Federation of Management Consultancies Associations (FEACO)

Opening words | David Ungar-Klein, Initiator, Vienna Congress

Keynote Speech | How global developments influence our security in Europe

Thomas Starlinger, former Minister of Defence of the Republic of Austria, former Austrian Military Representative to EU and NATO in Brussels

Europe is entering a decisive phase for its economic future. Rapid digitalisation is transforming the way citizens and businesses interact, while demographic pressures and global competition challenge Europe’s ability to sustain growth and innovation. At the same time, the question of how to fund key priorities – including defence – has never been more pressing. This focus block examines how Europe can restore its competitiveness and redesign its economic framework: How can new financial technologies, including digital money, complement traditional systems and catalyse innovation & competitveness? How to design the EU budget to make it fit for the future? How can Europe ensure that its workforce and industries are prepared for the challenges of a digital and global economy?

Introductory note | Iain Begg, Professorial Research Fellow, London School of Economics and Political Science

Introductory note | Petia Niederlaender, Director Payments, Risk Management and Financial Literacy at the Austrian National Bank — Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB)

Panel Discussion

Moderation: Tibor Szanyi – Vice-Chair of Advisory Board of the Vienna Congress; former Member of European Parliament

Panelists:
Iain Begg – Professorial Research Fellow, London School of Economics and Political Science
Sebastian Kummer – Head of the Institute for Transport and Logistics Management, Vienna University of Economics and Business
Petia Niederlaender – Director Payments, Risk Management and Financial Literacy at the Austrian National Bank — Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB)
Andreas Reinstaller – Senior Principal Economist, Office of the Austrian Productivity Board at Oesterreichische Nationalbank
Thomas Starlinger – former Minister of Defence of the Republic of Austria, former Austrian Military Representative to EU and NATO in Brussels

Coffee Break

Geopolitical and geo-economic developments pose major challenges for Europe, both economically and politically. How should Europe position itself amid rising competition between the United States and China? Which internal dynamics will influence Europe’s path forward? And what role can Central and Eastern European countries play in Europe’s future? High-profile leaders & decision-makers from politics will provide insights on what will sustain Europe in complex times — and how the continent can strategically prepare for upcoming challenges and opportunities.

Introductory note | Ján Figeľ, former EU-Commissioner and Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia, founder of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)

Introductory note |  Gladden J. Pappin, President of the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs

Introductory note | Boris Tadić, former President of Serbia

Introductory note | Václav Klaus, former President of the Czech Republic

Panel Discussion

Moderation: Walter Gehr – former Chief of Cabinet, Deputy Head of Department at the Division for Cultural Affairs at the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs

Panelists:
Ján Figeľ – former EU-Commissioner and Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia, Founder of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)
Václav Klaus – former President of the Czech Republic; Chair of Advisory Board of the Vienna Congress
Gladden J. Pappin – President of the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs
Boris Tadić – former President of Serbia

Lunch Break

For a successful society and economy, high-performing infrastructure and secure supply chains are more important than ever. Growing demands for resilience, digitalisation and strategic sovereignty call for new approaches to physical and digital infrastructure as well as the sustainable supply of critical raw materials. Are Europe’s digital infrastructure and cybersecurity systems future-proof? How to improve security of supply, particularly regarding critical raw materials and essential goods. What measures are needed to create infrastructure that enhances mobility and productivity? How can digitalisation, automation, and smart technologies increase the resilience and efficiency of Europe’s infrastructure and supply chains?

Introductory note | Enver Hoxhaj, former Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo; Member of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo

Introductory note | Andreas Reichhardt, Head of Directorate-General VI – Mining, Federal Ministry of Finance, Republic of Austria

Introductory note | Mark See, CEO and Chairman of Laredo Oil Inc

Panel Discussion

Moderation: Claus Zeppelzauer – ecoplus Senior Management, Division Head of Companies & Technology, Managing Director ecoplus Digital GmbH

Panelists:
Enver Hoxhaj – former Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo; Member of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo
Otmar Kloiber – Secretary General of the World Medical Association (WMA)
Andreas Reichhardt – Head of Directorate-General VI – Mining, Federal Ministry of Finance, Republic of Austria
Jan Sechter – Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic
Mark See – CEO and Chairman of Laredo Oil Inc

Coffee Break

The continuing development of medicine is one of the most important areas for Europe’s future. From addressing shortages in medical supplies, demographic pressures and strengthening preventive healthcare to applying new technologies, robotics, and artificial intelligence in health care, the challenges and opportunities are remarkable.

This focus block explores how innovation and systemic approaches can shape the future of medicine. What will healthcare systems face in the coming decades? How will digitalisation and AI transform care delivery and patient outcomes? How do research and innovation contribute to the future-readiness of the medical sector? High-level national and international experts will present insights into the future of medicine – as well as forward-looking strategies on how we must prepare today for the challenges of tomorrow.

Introductory note | Stefan N. Willich, Founder and Music Director of the World Doctors Orchestra, Senior Professor, Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics of the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Introductory note | Bob Djavan, Professor Urology, University of Vienna and New York University, Chairman Department of Urology Rudolfinerhaus Foundation Hospital, Executive Board Member European Academy of Science

Introductory note | Dan Shechtman, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry

Introductory note | Jacqueline Kitulu, President of the World Medical Association (WMA)

Panel Discussion

Moderation: Annabel Seebohm – Founder & CEO, Health4.EU SRL

Panelists:
Ulrike Attenberger – Chairwoman of the Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Director of the Division of General Radiology and Pediatric Radiology, University Hospital Vienna – AKH
Monika Derecque-Pois – Co-Founder of the Healthcare Chain Institute (HCI)
Bob Djavan – Professor Urology, University of Vienna and New York University, Chairman Department of Urology Rudolfinerhaus Foundation Hospital, Executive Board Member European Academy of Science
Jacqueline Kitulu – President of the World Medical Association (WMA)
Raphael Rosenhek – Director Vienna Heart Center, Director Private Outpatient Clinic, Rudolfinerhaus Private Hospital

Innovation Dialogue

with

Gad Edery – Entrepreneur – CEO, Galerie GADCOLLECTION, In Gad We Trust, Musée de la Photographie
Florian Ehrbar – Founder and Chief Executive Officer, OnchhainLabs and Web3 Investor and Advisor

Closing Remarks | Tibor Szanyi, Vice-Chair of Advisory Board of the Vienna Congress; former Member of the European Parliament