Anton Zeilinger: Austria’s S&T vision

by Cristina Serra

North-South cooperation is a driving force that can Why did ÖAW decide to host TWAS’s 26th General Meeting and what do you help shape a better future for developing countries, feel were major outcomes from the says TWAS Fellow Anton Zeilinger, president of the event?

Austrian Academy of Sciences. For the ÖAW it was a big honour to host TWAS’s 26th General Meeting. ustria has a strong tradition The interview with Zeilinger was It was particularly important to have Ain international North-South conducted by TWAS staff writer Cristina the meeting in an industrial country cooperation: since the 1960s, this small, Serra. like Austria, in order to help extend land-locked European country has the importance of TWAS beyond engaged in programmes for development The Austrian Academy of Sciences is a developing and emerging countries. assistance and cooperation with Africa, prestigious and historic institution in As always with such conferences the Asia, Eastern and Southeastern Europe a relatively small nation. Why is ÖAW major outcome are the numerous and the Caribbean. committed to international science personal contacts, which resulted due As president of the Austrian Academy cooperation? to the meeting. of Sciences (ÖAW), TWAS Fellow Anton Zeilinger, plays a key role in International cooperation in science Austria has established scientific implementing the national priority of has a very long tradition for Austria. partnerships with developing international cooperation in science. Austria was always at a crossroads of countries worldwide. What are In an interview, Zeilinger said Austria different cultures due to its Austria’s goals for such partnerships? is in a strategic geographic position geographical location. The Austrian What benefits does it hope to that has long favoured blending of Academy of Sciences – ÖAW – supports receive? cultures, identities and skills. And the all activities to improve international Austrian Academy of Sciences, which science cooperation. This is an In the long run, scientific today includes about 800 members important way to increase mutual partnerships only make sense on (six of them TWAS Fellows), has long understanding. a worldwide scale. After all, science is promoted engagement at the regional and international level. In recent years, Austria has Biography participated in the elaboration of the Anton Zeilinger, the president of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, is a European Union-Africa strategy, and physicist and the pioneer of studies on quantum computing and quantum in the EU-Africa summit in Lisbon, teleportation (a process by which the exact state of an atom or photon can Portugal, (2007) with African women be transmitted from one location to another). active in business, politics and civil Zeilinger was elected to TWAS in 2014. He is the recipient of the Wolf Prize society. It has also supported the (2010) and of the UK Inaugural Isaac Newton Medal of the Institute of establishment of an office of the African Physics (2008). Union in Vienna and launched several In 2009, the New Statesman included him among the 10 people who could long-term projects to support self-help change the world. The asteroid 48681 Zeilinger is named for him. actions in developing countries.

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Austrian Academy of Sciences President Anton Zeilinger at the opening ceremonies of the 26th TWAS General Meeting in Vienna, Austria.

countries. The aim is to encourage more scientists in their home institutions.

Today the EU is facing the problem of a huge number of refugees knocking on Austria’s doors, a number of whom are scientists. Does the ÖAW take part in the societal debate on refugees in an active and science- based manner?

The ÖAW has started a program to offer fellowships to officially recognized refugees in Austria in order to help them establish themselves in the new environment.

There’s a growing interest – both In the long run, scientific partnerships only make in developed and in developing countries – on how science can Anton Zeilinger, ÖAW president sense on a worldwide scale. most effectively provide advice to governments. Is ÖAW an influential voice with the Austrian Government? Perhaps you can describe the a general endeavour that should Are there other partnerships relationship. In your view, what’s engage people from all backgrounds established by the Academy in recent the most effective approach for the geographically, ethnically, religion, years? scientific community? gender and so forth. A very recent example is the signing For the ÖAW, the dialogue with Austria has signed agreements with of a Memorandum of Understanding society and with politics is very nations such as South Africa and with Cuba. important. On the one hand, the ÖAW Egypt. Is this a recent trend or it is investigates specific scientific something that your Academy has We live in times of great challenges questions, which are put forward to the been engaged with historically? and changes. Perhaps old-fashioned ÖAW and analysed on a high scientific North-South cooperation should be level. It is important to notice that the The Austrian Academy always has redesigned with an eye to the future. investigations are outcome-open and agreements with a number of In your opinion, how should we shape not influenced at all politically. Another academies worldwide. This helps to new forms of cooperation? approach, which is important, is to establish collaboration in many meet members of Parliament situations. It should be mentioned that The ÖAW wants to emphasise that occasionally and discuss mutual topics the cooperation agreement with Egypt cooperation should be mutual. For that of interests. was already established in 1980, purpose the ÖAW has started a while the cooperation with South Africa programme to support short-time was signed during the TWAS meeting visits of young scientists particularly in Vienna. from emerging and developing

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