INSPIRE Energy Summit: 17th VERBUND Scholarship for Women awarded to three students of TU Wien

For many years, VERBUND has been engaged in activities aimed at attracting more women to technical occupations. The VERBUND Scholarship for Women worth EUR 5,000 is awarded annually to outstanding female students, in cooperation with TU Wien’s Career Centre.

This year's VERBUND Scholarship for Women was awarded at VERBUND’s INSPIRE Energy Summit in St Wolfgang on Lake Wolfgangsee, Austria. Every year, the VERBUND Scholarship for Women provides a customised support package worth EUR 5,000 to three female students of TU Wien and supports their personal and professional development for a year. VERBUND also offers other benefits, such as supervision of master’s and diploma dissertations, insights through trade conferences, workshops and power plant tours. Applications for 2026 are expected to open from March 2026

“The key objective of the VERBUND Scholarship for Women is to get more women interested in exciting technical fields. Every year, the VERBUND scholarship recipients impressively demonstrate how successful women can be in technical fields and how much enjoyment and enthusiasm they show. This makes them positive role models for many others who are about to choose a university course or a career,” said VERBUND CEO Michael Strugl at the award ceremony.  “We awarded the first VERBUND Scholarship for Women in 2009. Since then, around 45 women in technology have been given the scholarship and received customised support packages for a year.”

The 2025 scholarship recipients

The three VERBUND scholarship recipients impressed the jury with their outstanding academic achievements, practical experience and exceptional social skills. They will enjoy tailored support for their careers for one academic year.

Lisa Fraunschiel

The aspiring civil engineer wants to focus professionally on structural design and construction management. “What appeals to me most is the task of combining innovative, technical and constructive solutions with efficient project management. I’m also very keen to create sustainable and future-oriented buildings that contribute to the transition to clean energy and resource conservation.”

Technology offers a wide range of possibilities for actively shaping the future.

Not only does it open up exciting and varied fields of activity, it also offers excellent career opportunities and secure career prospects. Precisely because women continue to be underrepresented in technical professions, it is all the more important that more girls take this path and, in doing so, bring new perspectives to the industry too.

Johanna Reisinger

After gaining her bachelor’s degree, Johanna Reisinger is currently completing a master’s degree in computational science and engineering at TU Wien. She says she wanted to “discover how the world around me works, even as a child. I first became interested in technology and computer science at a robotics workshop where I encountered programming for the first time. The logical approach and way of thinking fascinated me immediately and have had me hooked ever since.”

“I would definitely encourage young women who are interested in technology to consider training in this field. If you have a genuine interest in technology, this curiosity will be strengthened time and time again by what you learn. As the field is constantly evolving and changing, you’ll be able to keep on learning for a lifetime.” With the VERBUND Scholarship for Women, Johanna Reisinger wants to spend a semester abroad in Norway and undertake further professional training and acquire further certifications.

Elisabeth Seifried

Elisabeth Seifried, master’s student in electrical energy technology and sustainable energy systems, is currently spending a semester abroad in Australia. She has already worked in various companies in the energy industry during her studies and as an intern. “Thanks to my summer internship and various study visits, I was able to get to know VERBUND better and understand its key role in shaping the future of energy. When I learnt about the scholarship from the TU Career Centre, it was clear to me that the Scholarship for Women was a great opportunity to advance my career.”

After graduating, Elisabeth Seifried wants to "work on the current tasks involved in the transition to clean energy. The expansion of renewables brings with it exciting questions in terms of grid technology and energy management. These particularly interest me professionally.”