Where entrepreneurship and science meet: Anadi Bank and University of Klagenfurt start strategic cooperation

Combining the strengths of business and academia: Anadi Bank and the University of Klagenfurt are collaborating to promote young talents and jointly drive the development of promising topics such as digitalization and AI in Carinthia.

Klagenfurt, 23.10.2023 – The central concern of the cooperation between Anadi Bank and the University of Klagenfurt is the targeted promotion of outstanding students. In this way, excellent academic work is to be recognized and at the same time the professional development of students is to be supported. The students are going to gain increased insights into everyday working life, gather practical experience and develop their skills based on concrete problems.

"The University of Klagenfurt is known beyond the borders of the province for the high quality of its scientific research and teaching. We at Anadi Bank have recognized the potential of a collaboration and are looking forward to the joint implementation with great anticipation", says Christian Kubitschek, CEO of Anadi Bank.

Strategic cooperation with the University of Klagenfurt on digitalisation and AI

Anadi Bank is working on the future field of artificial intelligence in its internal Digital Banking division, which already employs around 40% of the workforce (excluding branches). The topics of AI and digitalization are also the focus of the cooperation with the University of Klagenfurt, which combines the strengths of business and academia: Anadi Bank and the University of Klagenfurt promote young talents as part of an extensive strategic cooperation and jointly drive the development of promising topics such as digitalization and AI in various projects and formats.

"The interface between science and practice is a significant growth driver. As a digital bank, we want to make a noticeable contribution from Carinthia in our strategic cooperation with the University of Klagenfurt. This cooperation is very close to our hearts because the close cooperation between research, teaching and application can leverage extensive growth potential and should be an elementary component of strategic HR management. Even more topics such as AI, blockchain and digitalization in general will shape the coming decade," says CEO Christian Kubitschek.

Promoting scientific progress and young talents together

Within the framework of the cooperation, Anadi Bank - in close coordination with the institutes of the University of Klagenfurt - develops concrete topic areas to which students can devote themselves as part of their Master thesis. Master theses that address these research questions receive funding of € 1,000 each from Anadi Bank. The aim is to promote the progress of research in the banking and digital sector at an academic level as well as to arouse the students' interest in the selected issues. In addition, Master students have the chance to receive a monthly grant of € 300 provided by the City of Klagenfurt and Anadi Bank.

Building a bridge between theory and practice

The package of measures is also intended to increase the practical relevance of the degree programme. One measure, for example, is "job shadowing": Anadi Bank employees who are graduates of University of Klagenfurt present their jobs to the students and thus offer exclusive insights into practice. In addition, Anadi Bank and the University of Klagenfurt are planning a voluntary course, the Interactive Talent Programme, in which students can work on real projects in close cooperation with Anadi Bank. This is not only an opportunity for the students to gain a practical insight into working life, but also allows Anadi Bank to get to know young talents in a working environment and to benefit from the perspective of this generation.

About Anadi Bank

Die Anadi Bank setzt neben den Geschäftssegmenten Retail Banking, Corporate Banking und Public Finance auf das Hauptwachstumsfeld Digital In addition to the business segments of Retail Banking, Corporate Banking and Public Finance, Anadi Bank is focusing on the main growth area of Digital Banking. The bank is therefore consistently and vigorously expanding its digital offering. In the Austrian market, the Bank has already successfully launched digital consumer loans and tablet-based banking, which are offered under the brands "MARIE" (cooperation with tobacco shops) and "Anadi Connect" (cooperation with financial service providers). On the German market, Anadi Bank has already gained extensive experience since its entry in 2021 with the digital SME working capital loan, which it intends to use in the coming years for further expansion in the digital SME lending area. The strategic partnership with CAPTIQ for German chamber professionals underlines this commitment. The institution's digital DNA is also visible in the bank's internal digital area, in which more than 40% (excluding the branch network) of Anadi Bank's approximately 250 employees are already active. For the approximately 58,000 clients and as the principal bank of numerous companies in trade, industry, real estate as well as many municipalities and public sector institutions, the bank uses the advantages of long-standing relationships of trust between clients and client advisors, high innovative strength, digital competence and lean structures.