From Science to Society – Vienna’s Commitment to Meaningful Encounters

Hofburg, Michaelerplatz | Photographer: Paul Bauer | Copyright: © WienTourismus/Paul Bauer

In Vienna, meetings unfold in a city built for dialogue – shaped by a tradition of science, culture, and diplomacy that continues to define its character today. Centrally located in Europe, Vienna combines historic elegance with modern efficiency. Its venues, from contemporary congress centers to imperial palaces, provide the ideal setting for collaboration.

That environment helps explain why Vienna consistently leads the world’s association meetings. In the latest ICCA ranking, the city claimed first place globally, while the UIA placed it second worldwide. These results reflect decades of experience in partnering with associations and connecting them with Vienna’s academic and institutional ecosystem – ensuring seamless delivery and strong legacy potential.
 

Supporting the future of meetings

Vienna knows that successful meetings are built on partnership. To turn this philosophy into action, the Vienna Meeting Fund 2025–2028 provides financial support of up to €60,000 for congresses held in the Austrian capital.

With a total budget of €4 million, the programme promotes sustainable event planning and supports congresses held in less busy periods. This strategic approach empowers associations to design events that leave a lasting impression – locally and globally.

“With the Vienna Meeting Fund, we provide financial support to international organisers while encouraging them to plan more sustainably. This combination helps ensure that every congress supported by the fund contributes to Vienna’s reputation as a responsible and future-oriented meeting destination”, explains Anita Paic, Head of the Vienna Convention Bureau.
 

Labor IMP – Research Institute of Molecular Pathology | Photographer: David Payr | Copyright: © WienTourismus/David Payr

Creating impact that lasts: From Kidney Health to Climate Action

“Vienna’s role as a congress destination is not only to provide the stage, but to actively shape how meetings can drive scientific progress, social awareness, and environmental responsibility. In close cooperation with local partners, we enable international congresses to connect meaningfully with the city and its people – creating legacies that are authentic, measurable, and add value long after the event has ended”, Paic concludes. 

Two recent congresses clearly demonstrate Vienna’s approach: 
 

The 62nd European Renal Association (ERA) Congress gathered over 9,000 kidney specialists and healthcare professionals. In collaboration with the Vienna Convention Bureau, ERA expanded the traditional congress format with two initiatives that connected scientific dialogue to public awareness in the host city. Through the Kidney School Project, nephrologists visited local schools, teaching students about kidney function and health, and inspiring creative artwork that was later showcased during the congress. At the same time, a mobile kidney screening truck offered free health checks to the public. These initiatives reflected ERA’s commitment to education and prevention, showing how congresses in Vienna create impact beyond the conference halls.
 

In the same spirit, the ESA Living Planet Symposium brought together more than 6,900 participants to address critical topics in Earth observation and environmental science. Organised by the European Space Agency, the symposium brought space research into the heart of the city through a three-day open-air festival that combined science, art, and public dialogue – organised by UIV Urban Innovation Vienna GmbH and the Vienna Geospace Hub. At the same time, the LPS School Lab introduced more than 2,000 Austrian pupils to space and environmental science. 

More than a destination

Vienna’s success in global rankings is not merely a matter of numbers. It reflects a mindset: that meetings should matter. For associations seeking a destination that combines excellence with measurable legacy, Vienna offers something rare — a city where every congress becomes part of a larger story.
 

Discover how Vienna can elevate your next congress here.

Contact: Marina Knittel, Team Manager Associations at Vienna Convention Bureau.

Event pictures and ERA video, credited to © Rafael Bittermann

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