Artificial intelligence is opening up new opportunities for agriculture: from autonomous robots and drones to intelligent image processing, data-driven decision-making and more resource-efficient production methods. However, turning technological potential into practical, market-ready products requires more than sophisticated algorithms. Companies need access to expertise, data, testing facilities, computing power, funding and the right partners.
This is where the projects AgrifoodTEF, EDIH AI5innovation and AI Factory Austria AI:AT, co-funded by the European Union and the Republic of Austria, come in. By working closely together, the three initiatives combine their expertise and infrastructure to provide companies with comprehensive support throughout the innovation process – from the initial idea and development to testing and validation under real-world conditions.
At “AI meets Agriculture”, an event organised by Josephinum Research on 19 October 2026 in Wieselburg, the three initiatives will demonstrate how this journey from concept to practical application can succeed, showcasing concrete projects, services and use cases. The central question is: How can AI move from concept to real-world application in agriculture?
Three Initiatives – One Shared Goal
AgrifoodTEF brings the collaboration between the three projects directly into the agricultural and food sectors. The European network provides companies and start-ups with access to infrastructure for testing and validating AI and robotics solutions under real-world conditions. In Austria, this includes experimental fields, livestock research facilities and digital testing environments.
EDIH AI5innovation supports Austrian companies in their digital transformation. Its services include “Test Before Invest” programmes, training opportunities, assistance in identifying funding options and access to the European network of digital innovation hubs.
AI Factory Austria AI:AT is Austria's national AI Factory within the framework of the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking. It combines high-performance computing infrastructure with a physical hub and serves as a neutral point of access for companies throughout their AI journey. Its services range from initial consultations and use-case development to AI and data implementation and access to European high-performance computing infrastructure, complemented by training and advisory services.
Connecting Expertise to Make Innovation More Accessible
The real added value emerges when the services offered by the three initiatives work together.
“Our aim is to connect our expertise and infrastructure in such a way that companies can access the services best suited to their specific challenges, regardless of which partner they approach first,” explains Heinrich Prankl, Head of Research at Francisco Josephinum and Managing Director of Josephinum Research, summarising the shared vision.
Companies should not have to identify for themselves which partner, infrastructure or support service is best suited to their next stage of development. Instead, the partners are connected through a strong innovation ecosystem that gives companies direct access to the expertise and resources they need.
AgrifoodTEF enables specialised testing and validation of AI and robotics solutions under real agricultural conditions. AI5innovation supports companies in developing ideas and implementing prototypes, while AI:AT provides cross-sector AI expertise and access to powerful AI infrastructure.
Federal Minister Norbert Totschnig reaffirms the importance of advancing and adopting modern technologies while ensuring that they are also accessible to Austria's small-scale agricultural sector.
“Artificial intelligence offers enormous opportunities to make our agriculture more efficient, resource-conscious and competitive. What matters is that technological progress reaches all farmers. Our small-scale family farms, in particular, need solutions that are simple, affordable and tailored to their operational needs. The TerraZo system developed at Francisco Josephinum demonstrates how this can be achieved. Using artificial intelligence, farms can generate variable-rate fertilisation maps and increase their fertiliser efficiency by up to ten percent. Innovations like these show how modern technology can help us use agricultural inputs more precisely, reduce costs and protect our natural resources at the same time.”
Deputy Governor of Lower Austria Stephan Pernkopf emphasises:
“Artificial intelligence should be used wherever it makes agricultural operations more efficient and easier to manage. This is why the State of Lower Austria supports an endowed professorship in data-centric artificial intelligence in agriculture at the Josephinum Campus of the University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt. The focus is on improving data quality to enable the development of high-quality AI solutions. This will ensure that new applications deliver direct benefits to agricultural businesses.”
In Austria, cooperation between the three initiatives is already well established. AgrifoodTEF and the European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) work closely together to connect regional companies with specialised national and European testing infrastructure.
“AI is not an evolution; it is a revolution. Particularly in production, AI opens up entirely new opportunities to become more efficient, effective and resilient, while sustainably strengthening the competitiveness of Austrian companies. Austria has outstanding AI expertise. The challenge lies in technology transfer. We need to bring our knowledge and research findings into industrial applications. To achieve this, we need simple, easily accessible instruments such as these three initiatives. The EDIHs, in particular, are a prime example of how technology transfer can work. By creating synergies across the individual initiatives and their respective boundaries, we generate additional value for Austria as a business and innovation location,” says Franz Sümecz of the TU Wien Pilot Factory, Project Manager and Coordinator of EDIH AI5innovation.
AI:AT is also closely integrated into this ecosystem. Through its connections with research institutions, companies and other innovation stakeholders, AI:AT provides access to AI expertise, infrastructure and European resources, helping to translate research into commercial applications.
“AI solutions for agriculture cannot be developed in isolation. Farmers, companies and researchers contribute their challenges, data and practical expertise. AI Factory Austria brings AI expertise and access to powerful infrastructure, while AI5innovation and AgrifoodTEF complement this with testing and validation under real-world conditions. This is how a promising idea becomes a market-ready solution,” says Karl Kugler, Co-Lead of AI Factory Austria AI:AT.
“Anyone developing AI for agriculture needs reliable computing power and clarity about where their data is stored. We are opening up access to European and national supercomputers for companies and research teams, with as few barriers as possible,” says Markus Stöhr, Co-Lead of AI Factory Austria AI:AT.
From Idea to Real-World Application
Agriculture, in particular, demonstrates why this kind of collaboration is essential. An AI application must not only work from a technical perspective; it must also prove its reliability under changing weather, soil and operating conditions while delivering tangible benefits to agricultural businesses.
AgrifoodTEF provides structured testing and validation opportunities for this purpose. AI5innovation and AI:AT complement these services with cross-sector expertise, tailored training programmes, broad digitalisation know-how, access to infrastructure and additional support.
“Our shared goal is to provide companies with easy access to the expertise, infrastructure and services they need to develop and implement innovative AI solutions,” the three project representatives state jointly.
The “AI meets Agriculture” event on 19 October 2026 at Francisco Josephinum in Wieselburg brings this collaboration to life. Following keynote presentations, project showcases and a panel discussion, the programme moves directly into practical demonstrations.
At Josephinum Research's “Field of Innovations”, participants will have the opportunity to experience first-hand the challenging real-world conditions that new agricultural technologies must be able to withstand.
The event highlights the ultimate purpose of connecting AI:AT, AI5innovation and AgrifoodTEF: to work together with companies to transform technological potential into practical, robust and market-ready solutions for agriculture.
Further Information and Contact
AgrifoodTEF
AI Factory Austria AI:AT
EDIH AI5innovation