With over 200 guests from all sectors of society, we officially inaugurated our new premises at the Palais Springer-Rothschild yesterday.
How do supply crises emerge? How do epidemics spread? And what makes a society more resilient? These are just some of the questions explored by the researchers at the Complexity Science Hub. Complex questions that require space—and the CSH has found it. With the official opening of our new location at the Palais Springer-Rothschild in Vienna’s Landstraße district, the European center for complex systems research now has more than 2,000 square meters at its disposal.
UNDERSTANDING COMPLEXITY, SHAPING SOCIETY
“Our goal is to turn data into knowledge—and to bring that knowledge where it is needed,” said CSH President Stefan Thurner at the opening ceremony. “Almost ten years ago, we envisioned a research center with 30 people—today, we are more than 80. That’s no coincidence: economic interdependencies, cybercrime, healthcare systems, or climate change—all of these bring highly complex challenges that rarely allow for simple answers. They require a deep understanding of networks, their dependencies, and the right approach to handling vast amounts of data. This is precisely where our research comes in.”
We were truly honored to receive a message from Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen – all the more so as it was such a thoughtful and inspiring one.
VIENNA’S PAST AND FUTURE
With our new location at the Palais Springer-Rothschild, the CSH combines cutting-edge research with a piece of Vienna’s history. The historic landmark, carefully restored by the Austrian Real Estate Company (Bundesimmobiliengesellschaft – BIG) with support from the City of Vienna and the Federal Monuments Authority, offers significantly more space than the equally historic Palais Strozzi, the institute’s previous home.
“The City of Vienna invests strategically in infrastructure that enables research and innovation at the highest level. With the new location of the Complexity Science Hub at Palais Springer-Rothschild, the CSH’s top-tier research not only gains an architectural jewel but also much-needed space for interdisciplinary collaboration. The City of Vienna actively supports this initiative—including accessibility measures that allow this historic building to be transformed into a modern research center. This not only strengthens Vienna as a research hub but also underscores the importance of both fundamental and applied research,” said Vienna’s City Councilor for Science, Veronica Kaup-Hasler, at the inauguration.
The ceremony also featured the symbolic handover of the keys by BIG Managing Director Christine Dornaus: “We have adapted the historic Palais Springer-Rothschild into a modern site for top-tier research. In doing so, we take responsibility for the historic buildings in our portfolio while conserving resources. What pleases me most is that this architecturally unique site will also be open to the public for events and lectures. I wish the researchers of the Complexity Science Hub great joy in their new home.”
The subsequent celebrations reflected what defines the CSH: connecting knowledge. Guests from science, business, politics, and culture took the opportunity to explore the new site and engage in discussions. The evening’s special atmosphere was enriched by MoZuluArt – with its unique fusion of traditional Zulu sounds and classical music, particularly Mozart compositions.
DIGITAL TALENTS AND PRACTICAL APPLICATION
With its new location, the CSH has not only expanded physically but is also advancing its research focus. A key element of this is the CSH Digital Innovation School, established with support from the Austrian federal government (Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology; Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research; and the Austrian Federal Chancellery). “Through two programs, we are training the next generation of experts equipped with the digital skills needed to drive transformations in the age of AI and digitalization. This isn’t just about excellent research; it’s also about practicing and applying the intersections between research, policy, administration, and business,” Thurner explained.
The CSH’s commitment to practical applications is also evident in two institutions that have emerged from its research and are now housed under the same roof: The Supply Chain Intelligence Institute Austria (ASCII), a research institute that collaborates with the CSH, the Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO), and the FH Upper Austria’s Logistikum to develop practical solutions for securing supply chains. And Iknaio, a startup specializing in blockchain analysis and crypto forensics, founded by a research group from the CSH and the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, which is already operating globally.
Beyond its research activities, the new building will continue to serve as a public venue for various events, including lectures, panel discussions, school visits, and the CSH’s Art & Science exhibitions.
“We see the existence of the CSH as a mandate to do what science at its core promises—to create opportunities to see the world in an entirely new way and, in doing so, make a meaningful contribution to solving the great challenges of today and the future,” Thurner concluded.
With its new location, the CSH sends a clear message: research that connects disciplines, thinks in networks, and generates knowledge for the benefit of society—“ideally in a way that remains true, good, and beautiful even 100 years from now, just like our new home,” Thurner added.
