After the city of Linz pulled the emergency brake on the rezoning for the IT:U in Linz-Urfahr on Monday, alternatives are already being diligently sought. In addition to Wels, Steyr has already expressed interest. Linz also wants to stay in the running with alternative proposals such as the Post City area.
“I will do everything to ensure that we find a suitable home for the new IT:U. This university is enormously important for Upper Austria as a location and its positive further development,” said Governor Thomas Stelzer (VP) on Tuesday. The state and federal government want to start looking for a new location immediately and “don’t waste any time.”
TV analysis with OÖN editor Julia Popovsky:
The ongoing operations of IT:U remain unaffected by the location dilemma, emphasizes Stelzer. He has already had discussions with JKU Rector Stefan Koch and IT:U founding president Stefanie Lindstaedt. The IT:U is currently housed on the JKU campus. Construction of the new campus should have started at the end of 2025.
Confident in location search
The synergies between JKU and IT:U were also the reason for choosing the location in Linz-Auhof, recalls Stelzer, and all preparatory work and planning was coordinated with this – also at the city’s explicit request. The said property is also part of the 15a agreement between the federal and state governments on the Digital University in the form of an attachment. It was learned today that what a new location means for this contract is currently being examined by lawyers at the state and federal level.
“We managed to start teaching just four years after the decision to found a new university. It didn’t happen so quickly at almost any other university. That’s why I’m confident that, together with the federal government, we will find a suitable new location for IT:U,” says Stelzer. When asked, the search is being carried out throughout Upper Austria, but Linz is not excluded.
The new digital university is of enormous importance for Upper Austria as a location. “Innovation is a key element so that Upper Austria will continue to be attractive as a business and working location in the future. For this we need the new university, with it we can strengthen and improve our position internationally.” Addendum: “And we will make every effort to ensure that there are no more unexpected delays in the construction of the necessary infrastructure.”
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Author
Julia Popovsky
Editor for state and domestic politics
Julia Popovsky
