Since 2023, creative minds have the opportunity to implement their ideas and discuss them with others at Pioneer Garage in Salzburg. The open workshop is an innovation hub, co-creation workspace and workshop all in one. It has a wide range of machines for processing fabric, wood, metal and plastic. The Pioneer Garage at Science City in Salzburg is supported by the Research Promotion Agency (FFG), the Province of Salzburg, Innovation Salzburg and the Salzburg Chamber of Commerce and it clocked up over 5,200 machine hours with 1,500 visits during its first year. In addition to private individuals, the facilities are also used by start-ups, students, and school classes for developing prototypes, working on thesis projects, and for training purposes.
Working together to promote STEM fields
The cornerstone for the cooperation was laid by P21st, PALFINGER's internal incubator. Concrete projects evolved from this in close cooperation with employees who are training as apprentices. The cooperation began officially with a ceremony to award annual memberships to PALFINGER apprentices. As part of a year-round program, the aim is to reinforce the image of Salzburg as a region of plenty opportunities for education and careers. The overall goal of PALFINGER and the Pioneer Garage is to get more young people excited about STEM fields and increase the innovative power of future generations.
Learn from each other and share knowledge
The first step of the project was already taken during welding training at the PALFINGER Campus. Here, the employees of the Pioneer Garage learned all the key principles: from theory to commissioning and maintenance, through to welding various seams. Future activities include a visit as part of the PALFINGER children's holiday program in summer 2025.
“Working with a leading company like PALFINGER is a decisive step for Pioneer Garage to further strengthen Salzburg as a location for innovation and to provide both our team and our members with valuable insights into industrial processes,” says Bernhard Lehofer, managing director of Pioneer Garage Salzburg. “In return, we offer PALFINGER a platform to get in touch with innovative talents and create practical training opportunities for their young professionals. Together, we are helping to position the region as a hotspot for future-oriented technologies and to get young people excited about STEM fields”.
“Working with Pioneer Garage is not only about fulfilling our promise to young people, it also gives us the opportunity to network with other companies, start-ups and universities,” explains Maria Koller, highlighting the added value of the project for both organizations.
