A newly constructed low-energy building is currently designated as Austria House in Whistler and will subsequently be transferred to the municipality, most likely to establish a home for the mountain bike movement. This is where the Otto Bock Evening was held within the framework of the ongoing Paralympics. Forum contributions by Professor Hans Georg Näder, Dr. Hans Dietl and Reini Sampl were moderated by former Minister of Health Maria Rauch-Kallat, who has been President of the Austrian Paralympic Committee since April 2009.
“In the past, Paralympic sports could be found in the health magazine ‘Praxis’; now it is found in the current sports section,” is how Professor Näder describes the favourable development of (so-called) disabled sports. In fact the performance of the athletes long since exceeds the abilities of most people who are not handicapped. “We have chosen high-performance sports and are seeking a challenge,” explains skiing ace Reini Sampl. “In order to do that, we need reliable, high-quality materials. We need Otto Bock.” Dr. Hans Dietl, CEO of Otto Bock HealthCare Products GmbH in Vienna, responded to the question of how proud he is of the research and development efforts at that location by pointing out the benefits: “Restoring quality of life is what makes us proud.”
Maria Rauch-Kallat asked Hans Georg Näder why he not only invests in product developments but also – for example with the Science Center Medical Technology in Berlin – into public relations. “We need the general public in order to satisfy real needs in cooperation with our customers, doctors and therapists – needs that will play an increasingly important role due to demographic change and a higher life expectancy.” The audience applauded the announcement that Otto Bock will create 250 new jobs in Vienna over the next three years. Currently, the company has 350 positions at that location.
