Brigitte Tiefenthaler is working as an Associate Consultant at the Vienna office after having been part of Technopolis since 2007. The focus of her work at Technopolis has been on the evaluation of research policy measures, studies on the governance and funding of research institutions and universities, as well as the development of strategies. She has extensive knowledge of the Austrian and European science and research systems and the relevant policies.

Brigitte is particularly interested in how science and research can contribute to addressing major societal challenges and has therefore delved deeper into this topic during an educational sabbatical, exploring how the transformation to a sustainable economy and society can be achieved. She has also examined sustainability-related aspects of research and RTI policy in numerous studies, including the evaluation and impact analysis of programs aimed at tackling climate change, developing future-oriented production technologies, and designing sustainable mobility systems. She has also focused extensively on the collaboration between research and practical stakeholders that have so far been less addressed by RTI policy (e. g. civil society institutions, schools, citizens, sectoral ministries, and public administration) and on participatory types of research, especially citizen science, as well as on social issues such as gender equality and equal opportunities.

Before joining Technopolis, Brigitte Tiefenthaler worked for nearly six years as an advisor to the Austrian Council for Research and Technology Development, which (until 2023) advised the Austrian federal government on all matters of research, technology, and innovation policy. She was part of the founding team of the Council’s office, established in early 2001, and contributed to the development of strategies and recommendations. Among other things, she conceptualized and led the development of inter-ministerial strategies for research on sustainable development and for the promotion of women in RTI.

From 1997 to 2001, Brigitte Tiefenthaler worked as head of unit for industrial and materials technologies and transport at the Office for International Research and Technology Cooperation (now part of the Austrian Research Promotion Agency, FFG). From 1995 to 1997, she was a project manager at the Institute for Polymer Engineering at Joanneum Research (now part of the Polymer Competence Center Leoben), where she conducted research on the long-term properties of recycled plastics for technical applications.

Brigitte Tiefenthaler holds a degree in Materials Science (Montanuniversität Leoben). In addition to her native German, she is proficient in English, both spoken and written, and has basic knowledge of Italian.