The Vienna City Council has approved funding for the creation of a new Center for Educational Innovation, which is anticipated to open in spring 2025. The center, operated by a consortium led by Impact Hub Education, aims to provide a collaborative space for educational professionals to share, develop, and implement innovative teaching methods.
Vice Mayor and City Councilor for Education Christoph Wiederkehr highlighted the center’s importance, calling it a “crucial step” for Vienna’s education system. “For the first time, Vienna’s educational community will have a dedicated space for networking, learning, and exchanging ideas,” Wiederkehr said. “This will enable effective solutions to reach kindergartens and schools faster, helping ensure that all children in Vienna enjoy attending school and kindergarten.”
The funding approval comes after a city jury chose the Impact Hub Education-led consortium as the center’s operator in June. With this decision, preparations for the center’s development are now accelerating. Nicole Berger-Krotsch, SPÖ City Councilor and educational spokesperson emphasized the project’s significance, stating, “By swiftly implementing the Center for Educational Innovation, we’re sending a strong signal about the future of education in Vienna. This center will make innovative, forward-thinking approaches in education a reality.”
The Center for Educational Innovation is expected to serve as a hub for teachers, administrators, and education professionals to collaborate on new strategies for Vienna’s schools. In addition to hosting educational workshops and seminars, the center will promote the rapid dissemination of successful teaching methods across the city’s education system.
Hinnerk Hansen, Managing Director of Impact Hub, noted that the center has already garnered widespread interest across the education sector. “We’ve been receiving ideas and applications almost daily,” said Hansen. “We’re excited to finalize our plans and soon share details about the location and offerings of the center.”
The center will be located on a ground-floor property with convenient access to public transportation. Hansen emphasized that the space will be designed with input from architects, designers, community representatives, and educational partners. “This will be a home for Vienna’s education community, built on the solid foundations of our existing locations, but incorporating new approaches and ideas.”
Impact Hub, a global social and ecological innovation leader, currently operates in over 100 cities across 60 countries. Impact Hub has already established three locations in Vienna focused on social innovation, climate neutrality, and healthcare. The new center will add to its mission of fostering collaboration and innovation, specifically within the education system.
The project is also part of a broader commitment to addressing societal challenges, such as improving educational access for all children regardless of their background, combating climate change, and enhancing the quality of life in Vienna.
