📖 About Graz

Graz is Austria's second-largest city and the capital of the Styria region. Its historic Old Town was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 for its outstanding medieval and Renaissance architecture. With over 310,000 residents, Graz combines a rich cultural heritage with modern innovation, earning designation as a UNESCO City of Design in 2011.

The city has emerged as a major technology and innovation hub. The Technology Impact Summit 2025 brought together experts from science, business, and politics to discuss Europe's path to technological sovereignty through artificial intelligence and smart cooperation. Science Park Graz provides incubation, mentoring, and infrastructure for technology startups, while the Graz Accelerator Programs help founders validate ideas and connect with investors.

Graz hosts eight universities with over 60,000 students, creating a vibrant academic atmosphere. Graz University of Technology (TU Graz), founded in 1811, is Austria's oldest technical university with 17,000 students. Its Aerospace Team won the European Rocketry Challenge in 2023 and 2025. The University of Graz partners with TU Graz on natural sciences research and the annual Technology Impact Summit.

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💼 Economy & Culture

Graz's economy combines traditional manufacturing with cutting-edge technology sectors. The automotive industry, led by companies like Magna Steyr, anchors the industrial base. The growing tech ecosystem includes over 20 TU Graz spin-off companies, research centers like the Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology and Virtual Vehicle, and a thriving startup scene supported by Science Park Graz and accelerator programs.

The city's cultural life is exceptionally rich for its size. As European Capital of Culture 2003, Graz developed world-class cultural infrastructure. The Kunsthaus, with its biomorphic architecture, symbolizes the city's embrace of contemporary art alongside historic treasures. Student culture enlivens the city center, while traditional Styrian gastronomy—including famous pumpkin seed oil—complements international cuisine in numerous restaurants.

📜 History

Graz's history dates back to Slavic settlement in the 6th century; its name derives from "gradec" (small castle). The city grew as a fortress protecting against Ottoman invasions in the 15th and 16th centuries. The Habsburg dynasty made Graz a secondary residence, and its Old Town preserves remarkable Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture from this prosperous period.

Archduke John of Austria founded the Joanneum museum (1811) and what became TU Graz, establishing Graz's scientific tradition. The 20th century brought industrialization and expansion. Post-WWII, the city developed as an educational and cultural center. UNESCO inscription of the Old Town (1999) and Schloss Eggenberg (2010), plus designation as City of Design (2011), recognized Graz's exceptional heritage and contemporary creativity.