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Business & Career
Austrian Companies Wheeling and Dealing in Central and Eastern Europe
Austrian companies thrive all across Central and Eastern Europe. From kickbacks to bribes, booming business often also involves layers of corruption.
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On Display
Nobel Laureate Charpentier’s Breakthrough Was “Born” in Vienna
The Nobel-Prize-winning chemist Emanuelle Charpentier laid the groundwork for her stunning scientific discoveries at the Max Perutz Labs in the Austrian capital.
On Display
Meet Bettina Knötzl, the President of Transparency International Austria
“I’ve got what you might call ‘helper syndrome.’ Being a lawyer is not just a profession for me – it’s a calling.”
Print Editions
Crisis in the Chancellory – Managing a Pandemic the Austrian Way
Austria’s pandemic response upheld the country’s long tradition of opaque administration and little accountability – a special report.
People
Meet Susanne Reindl-Krauskopf, a Criminal Law Professor in Vienna
“Corruption will never be 100% eradicated. But it’s important to set parameters and structures that show people that in the end, corruption doesn’t pay.”
International
British Citizens Living Abroad to Get “Votes for Life”
Long-term expats will regain the right to vote in UK general elections later this year – a reform preceded by years of campaigning.
How To
How to Embezzle a Million Euros
Maintaining the highest quality of life in the world is a costly endeavor – thankfully, there is always someone out there gullible enough to pay the bills. A satirical look at Austrian corruption.
Print Editions
How the Pandemic Stalled Scientific Research
Work on coronavirus has highjacked science, disrupting projects and schedules, particularly for women. Some see a chance to turn the crisis into opportunities for breakthrough thinking
Cover Stories
The Biggest Austrian Corruption Scandals in History
Austria is no more corrupt than other European countries – although possibly more colorful. But the consequences for wrongdoers are often laughably mild. This may be changing.
General
The Allure of the Alps
The lure of Alpinism is stronger than ever– but there’s more to it than just the ascent. It’s about discovering the world from above, and the things in yourself that got you there.
General
Meet Florian Skrabal, Editor-in-Chief of Corruption Media Outlet Dossier
“Politicians think we don’t like Vienna. In fact, the opposite is true: We’re critical because we love this city that much."
General
Meet Thomas Stelzer, Dean of the International Anti-Corruption Agency
“Corruption has been with us as long as mankind, but there’s been progress: If you can’t expect to get away with something, you might think twice about committing it.”
People
Meet Photographer Sepp Dreissinger – the Coffeehouse Is His Studio
"When I don't feel at home, I go to the coffeehouse"
International
A Hopeful Europe Gives Biden a Standing Ovation
Europeans are delighted by Donald Trump’s departure but the road ahead is bumpy. Can the Paris Accord reduce global warming? Can the Iran Nuclear Deal be resuscitated? Can NATO’s rudder be steadied? Europe hopes so. Biden does too.
How To
How to Find Your ‘Stammcafé’ in Vienna
In Vienna, you need to prove yourself worthy of your café of choice in what can be a lengthy application process.
International
Klubrádió | Hungary Moves to Silence Last Major Critical Radio Broadcaster
Klubrádió faces being wiped off the airwaves in a matter of weeks, following a decision of Hungary’s media regulator, which was appointed by the ruling Fidesz party.
City Life
How Vienna’s Secessionists Left Their Mark on the Coffeehouse
Between 1890 and 1920, Vienna was a world leader in design. An unlikely mix of imperial decree and cultural revolution drove the Wiener Ästhetik and left its mark on the city even today.
On Display
Return to Vienna
After a long international career, a chance remark brings a diplomat back to the Austrian capital he had known in his youth.
International
The AstraZeneca Vaccine Shortfall Is the Latest Setback in Europe’s Fight Against COVID-19
With the EU set to receive tens of millions fewer doses than promised, the newest delay is a huge blow to the bloc’s immunization plan.
People
Meet Michael Parzefall, Roasting Enthusiast and Owner of Rauwolf Coffee
“Vienna has a great coffeehouse culture, but sadly – or in my case, fortunately – a bad coffee culture when it comes to quality.”
General
Austrian Insiders Arrested for Aiding Flight of Wirecard COO
Vienna police have taken a former
FPÖ MP and BVT-security head in custody for assisting the escape of Jan Marsalek, mastermind of one of Europe’s greatest postwar financial scandals.
City Life
The Ongoing Battle to Uphold Coffeehouse Cultural Heritage in Vienna
Vienna’s coffeehouses are a cherished pillar of the city’s cultural life – but that may not be enough to keep them alive.
People
Meet Johanna Weichselberger, Founder of the Vienna School of Coffee
“I’m not sure I know what fourth wave coffee culture is – but I know I’m the tsunami!”
International
Brexit and COVID – You Can’t Get There From Here
Since mid-December, Trade, Travel and Post between Austria and United Kingdom have all been disrupted.
International
CEE – The Coronavirus Has Revealed Central Europe’s Chaotic Governance
What remains of public trust in the state is vanishing rapidly as the coronavirus roars back into the region.
Print Editions
Facing Instability and Populist Agendas at Home, Southeastern Europeans Move West
Southeastern Europe is one of the world's fastest shrinking regions. What drives so many young and well-educated abroad?
Print Editions
The Science of Coffee Roasting
The world is waking up and (really) smelling the coffee – in all its glory, scope and complexity.
Business & Career
Meet Lisa Biasillo, the New Director of the Vienna International School
How the new director of the Vienna International School left her small town for distant places and turned her passion for learning into a mission to educate for change.
International
Missing in Action – The Real America
As a rogue US president is impeached (again), an Irish diplomat recalls its “grandeur and influence” in decades past.
Cover Stories
The Lore and Legend Behind the Viennese Kaffeehaus
A myth, a tradition, but most of all a very real place that many in the Austrian capital cannot imagine life without.
Business & Career
How Viennese Hotels Hold On During the Pandemic
After years of seemingly endless growth, the pandemic plunged the tourism sector into deep crisis. Vacillating between hope and despair, Vienna’s hoteliers summon resilience and creativity
People
Meet Christina Meinl, the Great-Granddaughter of Austria’s Coffee Roasting Pioneer
“I wish global politics were more like the global coffee community: We have no borders and
we work together to make coffee better.”
Print Editions
Behind the COVID Vaccine – The Austrian Key to the BioNTech Breakthrough
As the world awaits a vaccine, Polymun, a small high-tech company provides essential ingredients for the first candidate to reach the EU Market.
Health
Axon Neuroscience to Launch the First Independent COVID-19 Vaccine
Independent biotech firm Axon Neuroscience – in neighboring Slovakia – is developing a vaccine for COVID-19 with a uniquely targeted approach.
International
Pressures, Then Compromise Over the EU COVID Relief Fund
Populist leaders in Poland and Hungary delay the €1.8 Trillion seven year-budget proposal (2021-2027) over Rule of Law requirements.
International
The Path to Ending Our Global Chaos Is Through the UN
A century after the founding of the League of Nations, international cooperation is still the answer to our “descent into cynicism, chaos and crisis”—in the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Fall 2020
Meet Mato Johannik, the Fashion Photographer Who Chose Vienna Over Hollywood
“I’ve consciously chosen to continue my career in Vienna. I could have stayed in Hollywood, but as Caesar once said: ‘I would rather be first in this little village than second in Rome.’”
Business & Career
Inside FABB – the Impact Hub’s Fashion Accelerator for Better Business
Alexis Eremia and Karin Granner have marshaled the Impact Hubs in Vienna and Amsterdam to focus on local, sustainable fashion brands.
City Life
How the Viennese Reacted to a Night of Terror – with Solidarity, Resilience and Wit
It was a night of grief and terror. But in their unique way, the Viennese showed heroism, resilience and wit.
Coronavirus
How Austrian Scientists Are Fighting COVID-19
As nations around the world follow every twist and turn of the developing science to combat the coronavirus, Austrian researchers and companies could play a key role.
Cover Stories
Death in Vienna
Some Viennese may play down any special relationship with death. But, then again, it’s probably better not to take any chances...
Fall 2020
How Austrian Designer Carolin Holzhuber is Sculpting the Future of Footwear
The shoe designer is blending the line between fashion and art with sculptural footwear.
Fall 2020
Meet Praline Le Moult, a Parisian Fashion Designer Who Launched Her Brand in Vienna
“Beauty, like a butterfly, is fleeting. Like a spectacular sunset, it’s there for a moment – and then it’s gone.”
Online
Meet Mary Larunsi, an Austrian Fashion Model With Nigerian Roots
“What you see in the pictures is
not necessarily the reality. I don’t
get flown anywhere in a private jet
with a glass of champagne in my
hand. In the end, it’s hard work.”
Business & Career
Austrian Giants Like Swarovski and Wolford Promise Eco-Friendly Quality Over Fast Fashion
Superior craftsmanship and the willingness to pivot have ensured the
longevity of Austrian fashion luxury brands like Swarovski and Wolford.
Online
Let the People Vote!
In Austria, every 5th person over 16 cannot vote, in Vienna, every 3rd. For democracy to flourish, we need to make these voices heard.
Online
Coming Clean on Electric Cars
Electricity spells kosher for many an eco-warrior, with battery-powered cars seen as the answer to vehicle-generated pollution. An analysis by carmaker Volvo suggests it is not so simple.
City Life
Hut ab! Vienna Leads the Return of the Hat
Out of style for decades, the hat is making a gradual comeback, aided by local manufacturers who kept the custom alive.
International
Telex.hu – A Defiant Hungarian News Site
Resisting government efforts to suppress independent media, seasoned journalists at the new crowd-funded website have sworn to “keep a check on power.”
Fall 2020
Meet Simon Winkelmüller, a Fashion Stylist With Something to Say
“I would never write some kind
of trend column stating what’s ‘in’
or ‘out.’ For me, that’s somehow
so 2000.”
Art
Is Vienna a Fashion Capital? Not Yet.
Once a burgeoning capital of fashion, Vienna lost its design industry with the Jews who supported it and has struggled in the decades since. But the next chapter may be different.
City Life
Will Vienna’s Clubs Survive the Coronavirus Lockdown?
COVID-19 has brought Vienna’s nightlife to a screeching halt, with clubs unsure of when they can reopen - and how to survive until then.
Fall 2020
How To … Make Your Own Clothes
Vienna is full of sewing shops and DIY stores. We checked out some of them – and ended up printing 100 T-shirts.
Opinion
I’m Viennese and I can’t vote here
Our publisher and CEO has been living in Vienna for 24 years but she can’t vote in the city she calls home. Time to change that.
Online
Frederick Baker, in Memoriam
The Austro-British filmmaker stretched the boundaries of documentary and film technique, exploring interactive storytelling and the application of virtual reality to the experience of art.
People
Sisters and Business Partners
At the Viennese label Kids of the Diaspora, founders Leni Charles and Cherrellone do everything together – even motherhood – creating a space where everyone belongs.
Cover Stories
Families – Dreaming of Life After Corona
So there she was, on a Tuesday morning of what we now call the Corona Era, gazing at the
walls of the little “water closet” decorated in Viennese style.
City Life
Having a Tough Time With German? You’re Not Alone
Although few argue with the importance of mastering German, the
system needs to change – children of
immigrants in Austria rarely receive the support they need.
Business & Career
Post-COVID Work Will Be Flexible, Agile & Adaptive
The coronavirus lockdown has taught us a lot and may herald a new era of organizational flexibility, agility and adaptability.
Business & Career
From Jewelers to Wineries, Family Businesses Often Thrive in Vienna
Businesses that span generations are known for consistency, stability and tradition. Keeping these values alive is a continuous labor of love.
People
Meet Hedwig Wölfl, Director the Child Protection Agency “Die Möwe”
Families come in many shapes and sizes, but they share challenges. These Viennese are here to guide and inspire.
City Life
How Red Vienna Revolutionized Urban Living
Red Vienna revolutionized urban living for the working class. Here’s how they did it.
International
In This Land of Immigrants, Tales of International Families
Having relatives all around the planet makes for exciting family stories, but keeping in touch with your loved ones is also a constant challenge.
Op-Ed
Who Protects Women from Domestic Violence?
Under COVID-19 lockdown, domestic violence has predictably gone up. Intervention helps.
People
Meet Walter Hermann, Family Psychotherapist in Vienna
Families come in many shapes and sizes, but they share challenges. These Viennese are here to guide and inspire.
Online
Why the EU Recovery Fund Is a Big Deal – for Europe & for the Climate
The recent budget-corona negotiations could lead to the creation of a fiscal union and a greater emphasis on sustainability.
Online
Max Schrems Challenges Facebook and Wins. Again.
European court ruling strikes down the transatlantic data transfer mechanism in a case initiated by the young Austrian data privacy advocate.
Explore Vienna
Swimming Across Town | The Danube Canal (Re)opens to the Public
A cooperation between the Kunsthaus and the urban design project Schimmverein Donaukanal hopes to persuade the public of the pleasures on their doorstep.
December/January 2018/2019
A War Childhood Museum for Bosnia
“I often spoke to my friends about our wartime memories. I felt that it was something people had an urge to talk about.”
25 years after the massacre of Srebrenica, remembering is more important than ever.
City Life
Vienna’s Swimming Pool Guide
It will be a summer like no other. This year due to Corona, many Viennese will opt to spend a good part of their holiday in the city. Lucky for us, there are few better places for relaxing in the shade and swimming in pools or rivers than Vienna.
Online
Liberal Freedom and Its Flip Side
The renewed struggle against discrimination is really two struggles: one about rights, the other about opinion.
People
Meet Anna Spindler, Preschool Teacher in Vienna
“Understanding each child is
like a puzzle that I piece
together.”
Online
Traditional Brand Icons and the New Sensitivities of Race
The worldwide Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement has now spilled over onto the supermarket shelves. A look at Austria’s own racially problematic icons.
People
Meet Nabila Irshaid, Artist & Single Mother of Five
“Being a single mom is intimidating; there are no safety nets. You could even say it’s existentially life-threatening.”
Science & Technology
How Freud, Adler & Moreno Pioneered Modern Family Therapy in Vienna
Alfred Adler and Jacob L. Moreno developed the theoretical foundations for family therapy in Vienna, building on the work of Sigmund Freud.
People
Ruth Wodak on How the Far-Right Deceives the Public and Undermines Democracy
How the far-right deceives the public and undermines democracy. A conversation with linguist Ruth Wodak.
Science & Technology
IST Research in Klosterneuburg – Ranked 3rd in the World – Joins Forces with Startups to Make Ideas ...
Inventing something new is one thing. Turning it into a product is quite another. Here's how founders and researchers take ideas to market
Business & Career
How Circle17 Aims for Impact with Businesses Following the SDGs
Can startups help reach the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals? In Vienna, Circle17 started an Impacthon to find out.
Special Report
A New Way to Do Good Promises to Provide the Data to Make the Biggest Impact – Effective Altruism
There is a new way to do good that promises to provide the tools to have the most impact – Effective Altruism.
Empire to Republic
Austria, the Making of a Republic
On April 27, 1945, the Austrian Proclamation of Independence was signed and promulgated in the liberated city of Vienna. Today, Austrians celebrate 75 years of their Republic, a free, democratic and open country in the middle of Europe.
How To
How to Write a Will in Austria
Getting our affairs in order in time of a crisis can be a huge relief for all parties, while protecting those you love.
Coronavirus
An Easter Sunday in the Prater
This spring is different. A report from a Styrian in Vienna, as we all stay together apart.
Business & Career
How to Shape Your CV to Land Your Next Dream Job in Vienna
Although the current situation is everything but easy on the labor market, things will certainly change again. Prepare now with the tips of our expert in recruiting.
Cover Stories
How Vienna Became the Petri Dish for Geniuses Like Schrödinger, Gödel & Freud
From saving mothers to preventing blood clots and unraveling the secrets of our physical universe, Vienna’s scientists have advanced humanity through the ages.
Coronavirus
Coronavirus | An Opportunity for Global Governance Reform
How to make the April 5 International Day of Conscience really mean something.
People
Meet Elisabeth Mertl, the Viennese Chemist Who Saved Mice From Animal Experiments
“I like wearing the white coat. I always pictured them on mad scientists in laboratories – that’s what I wanted to do.”
Science & Technology
Inside the U.S. Pentagon’s Funding for Foundational Research in Austria – and the Fight to End It
The U.S. Pentagon funds critical studies in medicine and quantum physics in Austria. Does this threaten the country’s neutrality or academic freedom?
People
Meet Nuno Maulide, Star Chemist & Learned Concert Pianist With a Mission
“I tell my students, ‘I can get your foot in the door, but then you have to open it.’ I’m the kind of person who once I get my foot in, I will bang that door down.”
Science & Technology
Women in the Natural Sciences, from Lise Meitner to Today
Amid Austria’s glowing record of scientific enterprise, women’s involvement in the natural sciences has grown, albeit far too slowly. That may be changing.
City Life
In the 250th Year of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Birth, Here’s How to Find Him
For the 250th anniversary of the great composer’s birth, Vienna has pulled out all the stops; join us in tracing his footsteps.
People
Meet Jenny Reddish, Storyteller of Our Age
“You could attach significance to any moment in history. Right now people are saying ‘Things are really changing’ – it’s about a search for meaning.”
How To
How to Raise Your Kid to be a Scientist in Vienna
STEM-tastic opportunities await Vienna’s children, even before their first science class at school.
People
Meet Herbert Störi, Vienna’s Master of the Supercomputer
“A [spending] limit for supercomputers? Well, it was unthinkable to fly to the moon before they managed to – but it wasn’t cheap!”
General
Pro & Con | Winter 2019
The Still of the Night
by Dardis McNamee
Some come to Vienna wishing it were Rome or Madrid, bistro nights in Trestevere, or partying on t...
City Life
The Sounds from Afar and Around
You’ve probably been to “Tschuschistan” and you didn’t even know it. There is no border and you don’t need a passport.
But if you’ve eve...
Opinion
Should the Viennese Really Take that Much Pride in Being Unfriendly?
No one can say Vienna is a sore loser. After Austrian media picked up the Expat Insider study’s City Index ranking Vienna the second least friendly city for expats, the “news” spread like wildfire.
Science & Technology
The Tools of Today`s Music
Austria’s music tech entrepreneurs are pushing Vienna into new areas of innovation .
Science & Technology
Take Two Quavers…
… and call me in the morning.
Can neuroscience prove that music soothes some of our biggest ailments?
Business & Career
From Timber to Timbre
In a fast-paced, digital world, Vienna’s master instrument makers seem to live a time apart.
People
Profiles | Antonia Matschnig
Matschnig’s approach to DJing has been called everything from “experimental,” “post-club,” “hybrid,” to “deconstructed.”