Austria gets new UNESCO center for Integrated River Research

At the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand (Uzbekistan) on November 8, 2025, all 194 member states unanimously approved the establishment of the new UNESCO Category II Center for Integrated River Research and Management (IC-Rivers). The center will be located at the BOKU River Lab in Vienna and is the first of its kind worldwide.

With the new center, Austria is taking on an international pioneering role in research on large river systems. In the future, IC-Rivers will conduct global assessments of up to 300 of the world's most important rivers, develop uniform scientific methods, and develop sustainable solutions for dealing with climate change, biodiversity loss, sustainable river use, and extreme events such as floods and droughts. The aim is to provide comparable data and recommendations to support governments, authorities, and international organizations in key decisions. This also creates new opportunities for the Austrian economy in a globally growing sector of the future.

Broad support in Austria

Three federal ministries—the Federal Ministry for Women, Science, and Research (BMFWF), the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management (BMLUK), and the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA)—as well as the City of Vienna support IC-Rivers.

Barbara Weitgruber, Head of Section at the BMFWF: “International research on water is central to better understanding processes and supporting decision-makers in finding sustainable solutions.”

Monika Mörth, Head of Section at the BMLUK: “In times of climate change and changing land use, sustainable river management is essential – for safety, the environment, and the economy.”

Regina Rusz, Head of Section at the BMEIA: “We are proud that Vienna is being strengthened as a hub for international organizations working on future and sustainability issues. Austria is committed to finding joint solutions to cross-border challenges.”

Science Coordinator for the City of Vienna Franz Oberndorfer: “The new center strengthens Vienna's position as a UN location and raises the profile of Austrian expertise worldwide.”

BOKU Rector Eva Schulev-Steindl: “We are proud to host IC-Rivers at BOKU and to further expand the international significance of water research.”

Helmut Habersack, Head of the BOKU River Lab and future Director of IC-Rivers: “IC-Rivers will promote the sustainable development of rivers globally – based on Austria's strong expertise in river research.”
 

Tasks and objectives of IC-Rivers

  • Coordinate the World´s Large Rivers Initiative and organize international meetings.
  • Coordinate regular global river conferences (next one in Africa in 2027).
  • Link research and river management more closely and network international river commissions.
  • Conduct a comprehensive assessment project for up to 300 large rivers and produce a global status report.
  • Develop a concept for a global observatory for large rivers.
  • Promote international cooperation and knowledge exchange.
  • Provide courses, workshops, exchange programs, and informational materials to make knowledge about river research widely accessible.
     

With IC-Rivers, Austria is becoming a globally visible center of scientific excellence in river research—and an active shaper of a sustainable future for the world's large rivers.

Contact:
Univ.Prof. DI Dr. Dr.h.c. Helmut Habersack
BOKU University
Institute for Hydraulic Engineering and River Research
Email: helmut.habersack(at)boku.ac.at
Phone: +43 6641313874