Official Name
AI Austria – Association for the Promotion of Artificial Intelligence in Austria
§ 1: Name and Registered Office
(1) The association bears the name "AI Austria – Association for the Promotion of Artificial Intelligence in Austria" ("AI Austria – Verein zur Förderung von Künstlicher Intelligenz in Österreich").
(2) It has its registered office in Vienna and carries out its activities both within Austria and internationally.
(3) The establishment of branch associations is possible.
§ 2: Purpose
(1) The association, as an independent and open think tank and a platform for information, networking, and public outreach, whose activities are not profit-oriented, aims to promote, coordinate, and organize the exchange of knowledge, research & development, teaching, application, discourse, and opinion-forming, as well as the creation and further development of the economic and social framework conditions concerning topics in the field of Artificial Intelligence and related research and economic sectors (collectively referred to as "Artificial Intelligence", "AI", or "KI"). It pursues this purpose and related activities on scientific, technological, economic, social, ethical, and societal levels.
(2) It may furthermore carry out all activities aimed at networking its members with stakeholders in the AI field and building an AI ecosystem. In particular, the association aims:
a. to develop Austria into a global leader (top 10) in the field of Artificial Intelligence.
b. to strengthen the international competitiveness of Austria, its companies, and research institutions in the AI field and through the application of AI.
c. to strengthen Austria as a location for research, education & teaching, talent, companies, institutions, innovation, projects, and start-ups in the AI field.
d. to increase the national and international visibility of the Austrian AI ecosystem as a whole, both among relevant professional communities and among the general public.
e. to develop Austria into an open and educated society and a model country in the social, personal, economic, and political handling of AI and its applications.
f. to advance public and professional discourse surrounding Artificial Intelligence and the objective communication of national and international developments, positive and critical information, challenges and issues, achievements, multifaceted opinions, and the like, in order to foster awareness-raising and opinion-forming.
g. international networking, exchange, and cooperation with players and stakeholders in the AI field.
h. the active participation of, and influence by, Austria, its companies, and institutions on international developments, standards, and regulatory frameworks in Artificial Intelligence.
(3) The association further pursues the non-profit purpose of promoting the competitiveness of its members. This includes the mediation, support, education, supervision, and accompaniment of projects, initiatives, professionals, and funding in the field of Artificial Intelligence.
(4) For the pursuit of its purpose, the association may establish companies or additional associations and may participate in or join other organizations (companies or associations).
§ 3: Activities and Means for Achieving the Association's Purpose
(1) The purpose of the association shall be achieved through the activities and financial resources set out in paragraphs 2 and 3.
(2) The activities intended to realize the purpose are:
a. the establishment and operation of websites and other electronic media and their use for communication, press relations, and public relations work.
b. the publication of publications, commissioned works, surveys, analyses, statistical investigations, studies, and the bundling and provision of information from the AI ecosystem. This also includes the publication of aggregated opinions of association members and the AI community.
c. the organization of and participation in discussions, assemblies, lectures, panels, seminars, conferences, trade fairs, events, workshops, data competitions, hackathons, and Kaggle competitions.
d. research collaborations and cooperation with universities, higher education institutions, and other institutions.
e. the provision of education and training through courses as well as the operation of an academy.
f. a placement exchange for professionals, internships, providers, projects, and service providers.
g. the establishment and management of databases containing ground-truth data, model data, and algorithms.
h. exchange and active cooperation with relevant governmental, European, and international bodies and institutions, as well as cooperation at the political level to improve and adapt the legal situation and financial framework conditions in Austria in line with the purpose described in § 2.
i. the creation of, participation in, issuance of, and oversight over certificates, standards, regulatory frameworks, and guidelines relating to Artificial Intelligence, as well as the conduct of audits, training sessions, and workshops connected therewith.
j. support for idea development in the AI field through incubation, creation of hubs, and facilitation of access to financiers such as investors, funds, VCs, and business angels.
(3) The required financial resources shall be raised through:
a. membership fees and joining fees.
b. proceeds from lectures, seminars, workshops, and other events.
c. public and private subsidies, grants, and funding.
d. proceeds from commissioned work for third parties such as publications, studies, and expert opinions.
e. donations, collections, bequests, and inheritances.
f. income from sponsorship and advertising agreements, patronages, and partnerships.
g. income from consulting, qualification, certification, and audits.
h. income from education and training.
i. asset management (interest, other investment income, income from letting and leasing).
j. other ancillary economic activities connected with the association and its purpose.
§ 4: Categories of Membership
(1) The members of the association are divided into ordinary members, extraordinary members, supporting members, and honorary members.
a. Ordinary members are those who actively participate in the work of the association. They have the right to vote and the right to stand for election.
b. Extraordinary members are those who participate in the activities of the association to a limited extent and primarily support it through payment of a membership fee set for them. They neither have the right to vote nor the right to stand for election and are not entitled to vote in the General Assembly.
c. Supporting members support the association ideologically and/or financially. They neither have the right to vote nor the right to stand for election and are not entitled to vote in the General Assembly.
d. Honorary members are persons appointed as such on account of special merits rendered to the association or to the field of Artificial Intelligence. They neither have the right to vote nor the right to stand for election and are not entitled to vote in the General Assembly.
§ 5: Acquisition of Membership
(1) All natural persons as well as legal persons and partnerships may become members of the association if they have personal or professional points of contact with, or an active interest in, the field of Artificial Intelligence.
(2) The Board decides on the admission of ordinary, extraordinary, and supporting members. Admission may be refused without stating reasons.
(3) Until the association comes into existence, provisional admission of ordinary and extraordinary members is effected by the founders of the association, or, where a Board has already been appointed, by that Board. Such membership becomes effective only upon the coming into existence of the association. If a Board is appointed only after the association has come into existence, definitive admission of ordinary and extraordinary members shall likewise be effected by the founders of the association until such appointment.
(4) Appointment as an honorary member is made by the General Assembly upon proposal of the Board.
§ 6: Termination of Membership
(1) Membership terminates upon death, or, in the case of legal persons and partnerships, upon loss of legal personality, as well as by voluntary withdrawal or expulsion.
(2) Withdrawal may only take effect at the end of a quarter. It must be communicated to the Board in writing at least one month in advance. If notice is given late, it becomes effective only on the next withdrawal date. Timeliness is determined by the date of posting.
(3) The Board may expel a member if, despite two written reminders and the setting of a reasonable grace period, the member remains in arrears with payment of membership fees for more than six months. The obligation to pay the fees that have become due remains unaffected.
(4) The Board may also expel a member for gross violation of other membership obligations or for dishonourable conduct.
(5) Withdrawal of honorary membership may, for the reasons stated in paragraph 4, be resolved by the General Assembly upon proposal of the Board.
§ 7: Rights and Duties of Members
(1) Members are entitled to participate in all events of the association and to make use of the association's facilities, insofar as these are not subject to separate conditions. The right to vote in the General Assembly and the right to vote and stand for election are vested exclusively in ordinary members.
(2) Each member is entitled to request from the Board a copy of the statutes or electronic access to them.
(3) Members are obliged to promote the interests of the association to the best of their ability and to refrain from everything that could impair the reputation or purpose of the association. They must observe the association statutes and the resolutions of the association's bodies.
(4) Ordinary and extraordinary members are obliged to pay the joining fee and membership fees punctually in the amounts resolved by the General Assembly.
§ 8: Bodies of the Association
The bodies of the association are the General Assembly (§§ 9 and 10), the Board (§§ 11 to 13), the auditors (§ 14), and the arbitration panel (§ 15). In addition, an advisory board may be established.
§ 9: General Assembly
(1) The General Assembly is the "meeting of members" within the meaning of the Austrian Associations Act 2002 (Vereinsgesetz 2002). An ordinary General Assembly shall be held no more than once per year, but at least once every three years.
(2) An extraordinary General Assembly shall be held within three months upon:
a. resolution of the Board or the ordinary General Assembly,
b. written request of at least one tenth of the members,
c. request of the auditors (§ 21 para. 5 first sentence VereinsG),
d. resolution of an auditor (§ 21 para. 5 second sentence VereinsG; § 11 para. 2 third sentence of these statutes),
e. resolution of a court-appointed curator (§ 11 para. 2 last sentence of these statutes).
(3) All members must be invited to ordinary General Assemblies at least two weeks before the date, by email (to the email address made known to the association by the member). The convocation shall be effected by the Board (para. 1 and para. 2 lit. a-c), by an auditor (para. 2 lit. d), or by a court-appointed curator (para. 2 lit. e). Extraordinary General Assemblies are fully quorate, with all members of the association represented, in all respects and for all items on the agenda regardless of formal requirements for convocation and the place at which such General Assembly is held.
(4) Motions for the General Assembly must be submitted to the Board by email at least two days before the date of the General Assembly.
(5) Valid resolutions, except resolutions on a motion to convene an extraordinary General Assembly, may only be adopted on items included on the agenda.
(6) All members are entitled to attend the General Assembly. Only ordinary members are entitled to vote. Each member has one vote. Legal persons are represented by an authorized representative. Transfer of voting rights to another member by means of written authorization is permitted.
(7) The General Assembly has a quorum if at least half of the members entitled to vote are present.
(8) Elections and resolutions in the General Assembly are, as a rule, carried by simple majority of the valid votes cast. However, resolutions by which the statutes of the association are amended or the association is dissolved require a qualified majority of two thirds of the valid votes cast and the approval of the Board.
(9) The General Assembly is chaired by the Chairperson and, in their absence, by their deputy. If the latter is also absent, the oldest Board member present shall chair the meeting.
§ 10: Tasks of the General Assembly
(1) The General Assembly is reserved the following tasks:
a. adoption of the budget.
b. receipt and approval of the statement of accounts and the annual financial statements, with the involvement of the auditors.
c. election and removal of the members of the Board and the auditors.
d. approval of legal transactions between auditors and the association.
e. discharge of the Board.
f. determination of the amount of the joining fee and membership fees for ordinary, extraordinary, and supporting members.
g. granting and revocation of honorary membership.
h. resolutions on amendments to the statutes and the voluntary dissolution of the association.
i. deliberation on and resolution of other matters included on the agenda.
§ 11: The Board
(1) The Board consists of seven members. These are: the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson, the Treasurer, the Secretary, the Chief Science Officer, the Head of Partnerships & GenAI, and the Research & Industry Lead.
(2) The Board is elected by the General Assembly. If an elected member leaves office, the Board has the right to co-opt another eligible member in their place, subject to subsequent approval at the next General Assembly. If the Board ceases to exist altogether without self-replacement by co-option, or if it is unable to act for an unforeseeably long period, each auditor is obliged to convene without delay an extraordinary General Assembly for the purpose of electing a new Board. Should the auditors also be unable to act, every ordinary member who recognizes the emergency situation must without delay apply to the competent court for the appointment of a curator, who shall immediately convene an extraordinary General Assembly.
(3) The term of office of the Board is three years; re-election is possible. Each office on the Board is to be exercised personally.
(4) The Board is convened by the Chairperson, or in their absence by their deputy, either in writing or orally. If the latter is also prevented for an unforeseeably long period, any other Board member may convene the Board.
(5) The Board has a quorum when all its members have been invited and at least half of them are present.
(6) The Board adopts its resolutions by simple majority of votes; in the event of a tie, the vote of the chair decides.
(7) The Board is chaired by the Chairperson, or in their absence by their deputy. If the latter is also absent, the chair is assumed by the oldest Board member present or by the Board member designated for this purpose by majority of the other Board members.
(8) Apart from death and expiry of the term of office (para. 3), the office of a Board member terminates upon removal (para. 9) and resignation (para. 10).
(9) The General Assembly may remove the entire Board or individual members thereof at any time. Such removal becomes effective upon appointment of the new Board or Board member.
(10) Board members may declare their resignation in writing at any time. The notice of resignation must be addressed to the Board, and in the case of resignation of the entire Board, to the General Assembly. The resignation becomes effective only upon the election or co-option (para. 2) of a successor.
§ 12: Tasks of the Board
(1) The Board is responsible for managing the association. It is the "management body" within the meaning of the Austrian Associations Act 2002. It is entrusted with all duties not assigned by the statutes to another association body. Its sphere of responsibilities includes in particular:
a. representation of the association externally.
b. establishment of accounting appropriate to the association's requirements, including ongoing recording of income and expenses and maintenance of an asset register as a minimum requirement.
c. preparation and convocation of the General Assembly in the cases of § 9 para. 1 and para. 2 lit. a-c of these statutes.
d. informing the members of the association about the association's activities, financial management, and audited annual accounts.
e. management of the association's assets.
f. admission and expulsion of ordinary, extraordinary, and supporting association members.
g. hiring and dismissal of employees of the association.
§ 13: Special Duties of Individual Board Members
(1) The Chairperson conducts the day-to-day business of the association. The Secretary assists the Chairperson in conducting the association's business.
(2) The Chairperson represents the association externally. Written documents of the association require, in order to be valid, the signatures of the Chairperson and one additional Board member. Legal transactions between Board members and the association require the consent of another Board member.
(3) The Board may grant powers of attorney to represent the association externally; however, the power of attorney to sign on behalf of the association in legal transactions may be granted exclusively by the Chairperson together with one additional Board member.
(4) In cases of imminent danger, the Chairperson is entitled, under their own responsibility, to issue instructions independently even in matters falling within the sphere of the General Assembly or the Board; internally, however, such instructions require subsequent approval by the competent association body.
(5) The Chairperson chairs the General Assembly and the Board.
(6) The Secretary keeps the minutes of the General Assembly and of the Board.
(7) The Treasurer is responsible for the proper financial administration of the association.
(8) In the event of the Chairperson's inability to act, their deputy takes their place.
§ 14: Auditors
(1) Two auditors are elected by the General Assembly for a term of three years. Re-election is possible. The auditors may not belong to any body, with the exception of the General Assembly, whose activities are the subject of the audit. At least one auditor may be appointed externally.
(2) The auditors are responsible for ongoing business control and for auditing the financial management of the association with regard to the correctness of the accounts and the use of funds in accordance with the statutes. The Board must provide the auditors with the necessary documents and information. The auditors must report to the Board on the result of the audit.
(3) Legal transactions between auditors and the association require approval by the General Assembly. In all other respects, § 11 paras. 8 to 10 apply mutatis mutandis to the auditors.
§ 15: Arbitration Panel
(1) The association's internal arbitration panel is responsible for the settlement of all disputes arising from the association relationship. It is a "conciliation body" within the meaning of the Austrian Associations Act 2002 and not an arbitral tribunal under §§ 577 et seq. of the Austrian Code of Civil Procedure (ZPO).
(2) The arbitration panel is composed of three ordinary members of the association. It is constituted in such a way that one party to the dispute designates a member as arbitrator to the Board in writing. Upon request by the Board within seven days, the other party to the dispute shall, within 14 days, designate in turn a member of the arbitration panel. After being notified by the Board within seven days, the designated arbitrators shall, within a further 14 days, elect a third ordinary member as chair of the arbitration panel. In the event of a tie, the lot decides among the proposed candidates. The members of the arbitration panel may not belong to any body, with the exception of the General Assembly, whose activities are the subject of the dispute.
(3) The arbitration panel renders its decision, after hearing both sides and in the presence of all its members, by simple majority of votes. It decides to the best of its knowledge and belief. Its decisions are final within the association.
§ 16: Voluntary Dissolution of the Association
(1) The voluntary dissolution of the association may only be resolved in a General Assembly and only by a two-thirds majority of the valid votes cast and with the approval of the Board.
(2) The General Assembly must, insofar as association assets exist, resolve upon liquidation. In particular, it must appoint a liquidator and resolve to whom the remaining association assets are to be transferred after settlement of the liabilities. Such assets are to be used for charitable or benevolent purposes within the meaning of §§ 34 et seq. of the Federal Fiscal Code (BAO). To the extent possible and permitted, they should accrue to institutions that pursue the same or similar purposes as this association.
(3) The last Board of the association must notify the competent association authority in writing of the voluntary dissolution within four weeks after the resolution is adopted.
§ 17: Use of Association Assets upon the Departure of Members, upon Dissolution of the Association, or upon Cessation of the Privileged Purpose
(1) Upon leaving the association, or in the event of dissolution of the association, members shall not receive back more than their paid-in capital shares and the fair market value of their contributions in kind, calculated based on the time of contribution.
(2) In the event of dissolution of the association or cessation of the privileged purpose of the association, association assets shall, insofar as they exceed, after settlement of the liabilities, the paid-in capital shares of the members and the fair market value of the contributions in kind made by the members, be used for charitable, benevolent, or ecclesiastical purposes within the meaning of §§ 34 et seq. of the Federal Fiscal Code (BAO). To the extent possible and permitted, they should accrue to institutions that pursue the same or similar purposes as this association.