9-10 September 2026, Vienna (Austria).
On 9 and 10 September 2026, ESERCOM-D took part in Technology Talks Austria 2026, held at the MuseumQuartier in Vienna.
The main theme of the conference was “Empowering Europe: Technological Leadership for a Resilient Future.” With more than 130 speakers from 13 European countries, the event highlighted the fundamental importance of enabling Europe to translate its scientific excellence into technological leadership, industrial strength, strategic autonomy and long-term resilience.
Representing the Institute for Digital Technologies at JOANNEUM RESEARCH (JRD), Markus Tauchhammer and Matthias Rüther presented ESERCOM-D at the event. Markus Tauchhammer introduced its activities and showcased a video produced by JRD featuring a live demonstration of the Road Wear Sensor System (RWSS).
Developed within ESERCOM-D, the RWSS combines road surface imaging with accurate positioning information to support the detection and mapping of road wear. The video provided participants with a concrete demonstration of how the system operates under real-world conditions, enabling real-time analysis of the road surface and highly accurate localisation of detected road damage. The demonstration highlighted the technology’s potential to identify and precisely locate road surface deterioration, providing detailed information that can support more effective road monitoring and maintenance activities.
The presentation offered an important opportunity to introduce the project’s activities and technological solutions to an international audience of more than 1,000 participants, including mobility experts, industry representatives and infrastructure operators. It also provided a valuable platform for exchanging views and engaging in discussions with researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders on the role of advanced technologies in improving mobility and transport infrastructure.
The participation in Technology Talks Austria 2026 also demonstrated the initiative’s contribution to European innovation and competitiveness, with a particular focus on fostering long-term impact and supporting the uptake of innovative technological solutions.
In this context, ESERCOM-D contributes to bridging the gap between research and real-world applications, supporting the development and adoption of innovative solutions with tangible benefits for Europe’s mobility and infrastructure sectors.
