Regaining a sense of agency requires embracing nuanced thinking and giving greater weight to long-term perspectives rather than immediate emotional reactions. @iwm.at​ offers a space for exactly this kind of reflection at the Vienna Humanities Festival 2026: https://www.humanitiesfestival.at/

Ever wondered what economic education looks like in practice? At Kleine Sperlgasse Secondary School in Vienna, economic education is part of the regular curriculum. We join a lesson with the pupils of class 3A, some of whom express an interest in starting their own business one day.

Tomorrow’s Entrepreneurs - ERSTE Foundation

A Secondary School in Vienna is inspiring its pupils through innovative economic education, helping them to develop business skills, creativity and real-world financial understanding from an early age.

erstestiftung.org

»Democracy needs imagination, and it needs this free conversation.« Jakub Gawkowski, curator of Biennale Matter of Art​ 2026. »Necessary Wishes« is the fourth edition of the Biennale, organised by tranzit.cz. youtube.com/shorts/HOv9e...

VIEWS with Jakub Gawkowski

YouTube video by ERSTE Foundation

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»Death is a problem of the living,« wrote French sociologist Norbert Elias. His reflection is as relevant today, as it was back in 1982. How do we, as a society, deal with death, dependency, vulnerability and mortality? In recent years, discussions about the end of life ...

Two years after the full-scale invasion began, Yaroslava Melnychenko returned to Kyiv and gained access to the Taras Shevchenko National Museum. What she found wasn't visible destruction, but absence: the paintings had been evacuated, leaving only pale outlines on the walls where they once hung.

On 13 May @anneapplebaum.bsky.social​ took the stage at Vienna's Judenplatz to deliver this year's Speech to Europe, »The European Moment«. Read the full speech in our journal: https://www.erstestiftung.org/en/a-speech-to-europe-2026-the-european-moment/

"You cannot celebrate European civilization while simultaneously attacking the legal and political order invented here, or while openly seeking to undermine the institutions that protect pluralism and dissent" An answer to Vance and Rubio: www.erstestiftung.org/en/a-speech-...

A Speech to Europe 2026 »The European Moment« - ERSTE Foundation

In her speech »The European Moment«, Anne Applebaum warns of global threats to democracy and the EU and calls for greater European sovereignty and cohesion.

erstestiftung.org

Die 𝐖𝑼 𝐖𝐢𝐞𝐧 hat Boris Marte, Senior Adviser to the Board der @erstestiftung.org​ und langjährigen CEO, den Ehrensenator-Titel verliehen - eine der höchsten Auszeichnungen der Universität: https://short.wu.ac.at/w9az

Art historian Katia Denysova on keeping culture alive under pressure, & why Ukraine's struggle demands our continued attention. In a world of many crises and shifting headlines, Ukrainian culture refuses to stop. Full interview: https://www.erstestiftung.org/en/three-questions-to-katia-denysova/

4 years ago today, Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. We all read the headlines. But for most of us, it is hard to imagine what daily life in Ukraine looks like right now. Anna Makhno from our Next Visionaries programme takes us along on one day in Kyiv.

»Europe is on the colonial menu« – @nathalietocci.bsky.social on Russia, Trump's America, and rising nationalist forces in »East Side Stories« with Martyna Czarnowska & @thomasseifert.bsky.social 🎧 www.diepresse.com/20523255/nat...

Nathalie Tocci: „Europa steht auf dem kolonialen Speiseplan”

Nathalie Tocci im Gespräch über die trianguläre Bedrohung Europas durch Russland, Trumps Amerika und interne nationalistische Kräfte.

diepresse.com

On 18 January, the next edition of our Debating Europe series will examine the rise of the tech bros and Silicon Valley's influence on US politics and beyond. Our first panelist is @marietjeschaake.bsky.social. 🎫 Tickets & more info: buff.ly/Y3EsneY 🤝 BURG, @erstestiftung.org, @derstandard.at

#Ukraine background: My @europesfutures.bsky.social colleague Balazs Jarabik on recent changes in the power structures in #Kyiv @erstestiftung.org @iwm.at www.ips-journal.eu/topics/democ...

Kyiv’s great re-shuffle

Ukraine’s top power shift signals deep securitisation and a careful balancing of rivals as the war enters a volatile phase

ips-journal.eu

Darauf freu ich mich sehr: Cesy Leonard @radikaletoechter.bsky.social, @maxoehl.bsky.social und ich haben Bücher geschrieben, die zum Handeln anregen. Darüber diskutieren wir am 21.1. auf Einladung der @erstestiftung.org, moderiert von @vedrandzihic.bsky.social: www.erstestiftung.org/de/events/de...

Demokratie braucht dich: Handeln statt sudern! - ERSTE Stiftung

Vertrauensverlust in politische Institutionen, wachsende Polarisierung und der Rückzug vieler Menschen aus dem demokratischen Diskurs stellen die Demokratien in Europa vor große Herausforderungen. Ces...

erstestiftung.org

Marie-Helene Ametsreiter of Speedinvest shows graph with US companies founded in last 50 yrs with market capitalization of >10 billion. The little spots on the right side are respective companies in EU! We have no systematic mechanisms to grow them. Time to Decide summit, Vienna, @erstestiftung.org

Join us as we explore critical questions shaping our shared future in the #TimeToDecide2025 livestream at www.youtube.com/live/GQcRySg...

Time To Decide Europe Summit 2025

YouTube video by ERSTE Foundation

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“If people stop identifying with the system, stop believing that there is a better future with this system, we have a problem in democracies”, says Philipp Blom at event on Europe’s future organised by @erstestiftung.org and @stiftunggenshagen.bsky.social in Vienna tonight.

Time to Decide! On 2 December, leading thinkers, policymakers, and experts will gather in Vienna to explore Europe’s place in a shifting world order. Get ready for a day full of bold ideas from some of today's most influential voices! 👉 www.iwm.at/event/time-t... 🤝 @erstestiftung.org

📣 Together w/ @erstestiftung.org, we invite you to a conversation with renowned historian & author Philipp Blom: “EU(dys)topia – Imagining Europe’s Future(s)”, accompanied by contributions from young European artists & scholars. 🗓️ Vienna & online, 25 Nov, 6 pm 👉 bit.ly/event_25_nov... #EUmeetsEurope

Vergangenen Sonntag diskutierte eine hochkarätige Runde bei Europa im Diskurs im Wiener Burgtheater über Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der europäischen Verteidigungspolitik. 📺 Die Aufzeichnung zum Nachsehen gibt es hier: www.youtube.com/watch?v=isrB... 🤝 BURG, @erstestiftung.org, @derstandard.at

Krieg oder Frieden? Europas Verteidigungspolitik am Prüfstand

Europa im Diskurs Krieg oder Frieden? Europas Verteidigungspolitik am Prüfstand 9. November 2025, 11:00 CET Burgtheater Wien Europas Sicherheit ist bedroht. Mannigfaltig. Durch Russlands Krieg in…

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Am 9. November geht Europa im Diskurs in die nächste Runde! Es diskutieren Petra Erler, Markus Reisner und Ursula Plassnik über Verteidigungspolitik in EU & Ö, moderiert von @pestui.bsky.social. In Kooperation mit der BURG, @erstestiftung.org und @derstandard.at. 🎫 www.iwm.at/event/krieg-...

📣 We are proud to welcome a new cohort of Europe's Futures fellows! As the liberal order faces unprecedented challenges, they will explore how #liberalism might be rethought and renewed. w/ @frankfukuyama.bsky.social @leaypi.bsky.social 👉 www.iwm.at/news/2025-20... 🤝 @erstestiftung.org

80 years of Alpbach: more than a conference. A place where curiosity sparks dialogue, ideas turn into action, and perspectives meet. Our colleagues share why it’s special. Happy 80th, #EuropeanForumAlpbach! Join us: www.erstestiftung.org/en/events/re...

Happy 80th, European Forum Alpbach!

YouTube video by ERSTE Foundation

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This August in Alpbach: connect, reflect, recharge. Under the theme #RechargeEurope, #EFA25 unites young voices with leaders from politics, business, culture & science to shape a democratic future. Join ERSTE Foundation’s activities. More: www.erstestiftung.org/en/events/re...

European Forum Alpbach 2025

YouTube video by ERSTE Foundation

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If nonprofits ran as efficiently as big corporations, their impact would grow, says Gábor Lajos Nagy, Co-Founder of SIMPACT & partner of the Marc Impact Programme. Want to grow your impact with your social business in 🇦🇹🇭🇺🇷🇴🇷🇸🇨🇿 ? Apply by 29 September: marc-impactprogramme.net/application/

VIEWS with Gábor Lajos

YouTube video by ERSTE Foundation

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The full program of this year's Vienna Humanities Festival, themed ON EDGE / UNBEHAGEN, is now available online: www.humanitiesfestival.at/programm-2025 A project by IWM and Time to talk; in cooperation with @erstestiftung.org, @wien.gv.at, Ö1 Intro, @akbild.bsky.social, Wien Museum & Volkstheater.

The lack of affordable housing is one of the most pressing issues in CEE. Florian Bauer, Executive Director Social Finance and Impact Investment at ERSTE Foundation, explains why solving the crisis is key to building a resilient society. 🎥 www.youtube.com/shorts/e7AKr...

VIEWS with Florian Bauer

YouTube video by ERSTE Foundation

youtube.com

A Speech To Europe 2025: »A world in which nobody is forced to leave their home« by @leaypi.bsky.social What does Europe mean today — and how can we hear its voice in a city’s heart? The full speech: www.erstestiftung.org/en/a-speech-...

On 15 May 18h at Judenplatz @leaypi.bsky.social reflects on migration and democracy. In this @falter.at interview, she touches on some themes of her Speech to Europe 2025. Event by IWM, @erstestiftung.org & Wiener Festwochen in cooperation with Jewish Museum Vienna www.falter.at/zeitung/2025...

Festwochen-Rednerin Lea Ypi: „Nicht die Migration, der Kapitalismus ist schuld“

Die albanisch-britische Philosophin gilt als eine der wichtigsten Denkerinnen Europas. Heuer hält sie die “Rede an Europa“ am Judenplatz – und nimmt im Falter-Interview die Schwächen des Westens ins V...

falter.at

📚“We never lose our inner freedom; the freedom to do what is right.” – Free by @leaypi.bsky.social A sharp, moving memoir about growing up in Albania during the collapse of communism. Personal & political, it explores freedom and ideology. Available in EN & DE at the ERSTE Foundation Library.