University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten (USTP) was founded in 1996 and has been growing continuously ever since. Around 500 full-time employees and 1,100 part-time lecturers (as of 31.12.2024) teach, learn, research and take on administrative and coordination activities together with more than 4,000 students in the fields of activity: academic teaching in education and training, applied research and development, knowledge transfer and innovation.
The professional positioning of USTP derives from the core competencies of the six departments in which teaching and research are organized:
As a locally anchored university, it is of great concern to the USTP to work together on concrete issues through joint projects and cooperations with regional partners, often in order to jointly contribute to the (further) development of the respective regions into smart and sustainable regions. To this end, USTP also pools its expertise with numerous external (scientific) partners at both national and international level. In addition to participating in more than 150 research projects, USTP leads or participates in projects to promote the innovation capacity of regions.
It is involved in nationally funded Digital Innovation Hubs (Digital Innovation Hub Ost, Digital Innovation Hub Süd), whose goal is to support SMEs in the challenges of digital transformation. In addition, she is a node in the House of Digitalization, networks in the Knowledge Transfer Center East and designed and coordinates the innovation program of the city of St. Pölten (SmartUp).
Since October 2020, it has been the first university of applied sciences in Austria to lead a European University Alliance (E³UDRES²) with partners from Belgium, Germany, Finland, Portugal, Hungary, Romania, Latvia and the Netherlands. E³UDRES² stands for Engaged and Entrepreneurial European University as Driver for European Smart and Sustainable Regions
and is looking for European solutions to regional problems. The commitment of USTP to regional networking and to promoting entrepreneurial thinking and action in order to contribute to the (further) development of the regions and to overcoming social challenges has been recognized both at national level (Spin-Off Austria Conference 2021: Leading Institution in the category of universities) and at international level (3rd place at the international Triple E Awards in the category: Young Entrepreneurial University).
