OMV has been active in the exploration and production business in Austria for more than 60 years. But Austria not only plays a part in the company's international oil and gas production program, it is also the center for OMV's global research and development activities. Once these technologies have been successfully applied in Austria, they are then put to use worldwide by OMV's upstream units.

To showcase these technological innovations, OMV has built an Innovation & Technology Center, in Gänserndorf/Lower Austria where the exceptional technologies deployed by OMV are presented with the aid of state-of-the-art visualizations. As the Governor of Lower Austria, Johanna Mikl-Leitner, saw for herself recently when she unveiled the building in a very small circle because of coronavirus restrictions, with Johann Pleininger, OMV Executive Board member for Upstream and Deputy Chairman, and Reinhard J. Oswald, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of OMV Austria.

After mentioning the longstanding partnership, the Lower Austria Governor emphasized OMV's talent for innovation: 'You can literally experience Austria's pioneering spirit here. The goal of making OMV's technological achievements easy to understand has been impressively achieved. The OMV Innovation & Technology Center is a great stage for roots and visions, for thinking big and for global innovation 'Made in Lower Austria''. During the event, Governor Mikl-Leitner was able to have conversations with apprentices on site and to convince herself of the innovative and high-quality apprenticeship training offered by OMV. OMV is currently training 77 apprentices for technical and economic professions.

For Johann Pleininger, the Innovation & Technology Center in Gänserndorf is a reflection of OMV's innovative strength and technology development: 'Oil is a valuable resource that can not only be used as energy, but can also be further processed into vital medicines and high-quality plastics. We started producing oil and gas here in Weinviertel more than 60 years ago. Today we are taking the data, experience and innovative developments gathered here over decades and applying them worldwide. They allow us to remain competitive and to do justice to the challenges of today and of future generations'.

The surprises start with the external form of the building. The idea originated from a twist - like the rotating movement of a drill string. For this, the original basic cube was turned at a 15-degree angle, yielding a building with three-dimensional twisted edges and vaulted surfaces, with views that offer a direct line of site into Weinviertel.

Inside, a ramp curves along the building's walls over two floors, where various innovations and technologies are presented using audiovisual effects. The main focus is on the technology areas geology & geophysics, drilling technology, production technology (artificial lifting), Smart Oil Recovery, material & corrosion, water treatment and Nano technology. In the middle is the centerpiece: a 360-degree theater with a diameter of eight meters and a height of six meters that takes visitors on a seven-minute-long journey through the upstream world of OMV, above and below ground.

The building is designed for large visitor groups. Starting with OMV employees, current and future partners, and OMV stakeholders. An additional program is already being developed for universities and schools. At a later stage, the building should also open to a broader audience.

KeyFacts Energy: OMV Austria country profile