Austria

Austria is a well-known country in Central Europe. In the winter months the Alps provide enough opportunity to enjoy winter sports. Austria is one of the European countries with the biggest forestry. Combining this with the agricultural fields–which are found up until 800 meters altitude–Austria has a very diverse nature which is very popular for cycling or walking.

Next to the diverse nature Austria is also an innovative country. Without research and innovation there is no chance for a society to grow. In Austria, most of the research is carried out in small to medium-sized enterprises, which ensures competitition but also growth and innovation. Because of this Austria is placed 7th on the Innovation Union Scoreboard (IUS) which is an European scoreboard that combines research and innovation.

During the study tour we will visit the cities Vienna and Graz where we will visit Universities and technological companies. Furthermore, we will visit cultural locations that are technologically interesting or can teach us more about the culture of Austria.

Germany

Germany is one of the larger countries in Europe featuring the largest economy in Europe and global leadership in several industrial, scientific and technological sectors. Historically, German scientists have made large contributions to modern physics and the automotive- and aviation industry.

Munich is the capital of the Bavaria, one of the sixteen states that make up the republic of Germany. It is the thrid largest city in Germany and is an important centre of culture, finance and technology. The Ludwig Maximilian University is one of the oldest universities in the country.

Switzerland

Switzerland is a country located in the west of Europe, with Zürich, Geneva and Basel as the largest cities and economic centers. Science and technology play a major role in their economy and the country has very few natural resources. With CERN (the European Organisation for Nuclear Research) being one of the most famous institutes for their role in particle physics research. With the study tour we will be visiting technological companies and institutes in both Geneva and Zürich.

France

Being famous for its long history in technology due to the Académie des Sciences, founded by Louis XIV in 1666, France shouldn’t be left out of this tour. France, being the largest country in the European Union, is also one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations with a whopping 89.3 million tourists in 2018.

We will be visiting Grenoble, home to many leading labatories and known for its leading scientific research center. Grenoble prospered as an industrial town at the end of the 19th century with the development of hydroelectric power in the surrounding region. Today its numerous industries include electronics and electrical equipment, machinery, chemicals, plastics, and food processing.

Italy

Italy is a country in south Europe and a member of the European Union. Its official name is Repubblica Italiana. The Italian flag is green, white and red. Italy is a democratic republic and is a founding member of the European Union. Its President is Sergio Mattarella and its Prime Minister is Mario Draghi. Italy is also a member of the G8, as it has the eighth largest Gross Domestic Product in the world.

Before 1861, it was made up of smaller kingdoms and city-states. Italy still has city-states like the Vatican City and San Marino that are countries. The country has become famous for its wine, as well as its food. Some foods are different between regions. Famous dishes from Italy are Spaghetti, Pizza, Lasagna and Risotto, Olives are much used in wines.

The country’s capital, Rome, is one of the most famous cities in the world, as it was the capital of the Roman Empire. Milan is the financial and economic capital of Italy. Other famous cities in Italy include, Venice, Florence, Genoa, Turin, Naples, and Palermo.