ReviewThat was Connecting the Dots 2026

Invited by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy and Tourism and the Creative Industries Council, the afternoon focused on the future of the Austrian creative industries and the question of how we can further strengthen their innovative power in times of ecological, digital and social transformation.

Among the guests were representatives of KAT, participants of our we:transform program, experts from design, architecture, digital services, film and media production, games, cultural institutions and consulting creative professions. The mix of established players and new voices made the exchange diverse.

A special highlight was the presentation of the Creative Industries Report 2026 by Gerin Trautenberger, Chairman of KAT. The latest figures once again highlighted the contribution that the creative industries make to value creation in Austria and how important it is to integrate creative skills into economic policy developments at an early stage.

This was followed by a lively exchange on topics that affect the creative industries today, such as
new ways of collaboration, innovation & design, internationalization and European opportunities as well as the responsible use of AI. It was particularly exciting to look beyond our own disciplines. Different perspectives encountered similar challenges and this is precisely where strong impetus was generated.

It became clear time and again that when we think about topics such as AI, design and education together rather than separately, the creative industries can unleash their full innovative power. The event provided the ideal setting for this with good discussions, fresh ideas and plenty of space for networking.

Connecting the Dots thus showed how much Austria can benefit from an active, courageous and well-connected creative industry. Formats like this create orientation, open up new spaces for discussion and bring together people who really want to shape change.