Austrian Research and Technology Report 2020

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Austrian Research and Technology Report 2020
and archiving work and retaining relevant specialist 
expertise over a sustained period. However, it proves 
to be a stumbling block when there is a need to re-
spond efficiently and flexibly to all manner of differ-
ent interests amongst users and solutions to prob-
lems and to develop innovative services in interdisci-
plinary, institutional and international partnerships. 
The partial legal capacity that the two offices were 
granted in 1992 is not enough to make up for this 
shortcoming as the corresponding funds are ear-
marked for the respective projects. 
Motivation 4: generate interdisciplinary synergy 
effects, promote partnerships and bring innova-
tion into the range of services
The areas of expertise of the GBA and ZAMG – the 
atmosphere and lithosphere respectively – comple-
ment each other and come together at the Earth’s 
surface (see Fig. 1-38). Both have thus tackled this 
highly vulnerable “critical zone” of human civilisation 
as separate institutions up until now. 
Combining their expertise and wealth of data of-
fers significant innovative potential that is likely to 
generate substantial added value for research and 
practice. Interdisciplinary research and system-ori-
ented data management can form the basis for new, 
tailored services and, especially, for influencing deci-
sions that will have a direct impact on the action tak-
en. Besides cooperation with universities and re-
search institutions, this will also require close dia-
logue with those involved on the front line, such as 
the warning centres operated by the federal and re-
gional governments, the emergency response teams 
and the hydrographical services. In addition, involv-
ing civil society in research and development pro-
cesses (“citizen science”) can generate completely 
new insights that, amongst other things, can form 
the basis for policy action.