TU Wien defines its research profile on the basis of existing strengths and competences, and has therefore specified five Research Focal Areas for the university in the Research Matrix .

The TU Focal Areas of Research have been taken out of the faculty structure and assigned with TU Wien fields of research. They represent cross-faculty areas of competence within TU Wien’s research expertise, and thus provide the basis for the scientific profiling.

A detailed evaluation of the research activities carried out at TU Wien, correlated with the research profiles of the scientists, revealed that approx. 80% of the research is carried out in the fields of research within the TU Focal Areas of Research.

In order to promote clustered research according to specialism outside of the five key areas, four ‘Additional Fields of Research’ have been added to the TU Research Matrix.

Outlook: Research Spheres – Further Development of Research Strengths 

For nearly twenty years, the existing research matrix has documented the interdisciplinary areas of expertise within TU Wien’s research portfolio, thereby establishing the university’s scientific profile.

As part of a participatory process (involving relevant stakeholders from the TU Wien research community as well as cooperation partners), the existing research matrix is currently being further developed and redefined into “Research Spheres.” This initiative aims to increase the visibility of both existing research achievements and new research topics (“Emerging Fields”). In the future, these core areas are intended to serve as regional knowledge hubs for pooling mission-oriented expertise.

The implementation of the Research Spheres and community-building measures are planned to begin in mid-2026.