Walter Prutej isthe Managing Director of SURAAA (pdcp GmbH) and is considered one of Austria’s leading experts and implementersin the field of automated mobility solutions. For over ten years, he hasled national and European R&D projects and has played a key role in developing real‐world
applications for autonomous driving.
He works at the intersection of technology, business, politics, administration, and society and regularly contributes his expertise to expert committees and innovation platforms. With an academic background spanning Austria, Germany, the USA, and China – and a global partner
network – he combines strategic know‐how with deep insight into technological transformation.
Professionally, he has worked in the energy sector, business development, media, and university communications. Since 2017, he has been responsible for Austria’s flagship project SURAAA – Smart Urban Region Austria Alps Adriatic – which, together with consortium partner ARTI, was
recognized as a finalist in the Dubai World Challenge for Self‐Driving Transport in early 2025.
- Under hisleadership, the dedicated SURAAA team has achieved numerous pioneering milestones:
- First autonomous shuttle service in Austria (since 2017, Pörtschach am Wörthersee)
- Daily scheduled operation of autonomous shuttles in public transport since 2018
- First fleet and on‐demand operation of autonomous vehicles in Austria (since 2024, Klagenfurt)
- Participation in over 15 R&D projects on AI, remote operation, smart infrastructure, business models, and user acceptance
- Ongoing cooperation with industry, public authorities, and academia in 5G and Smart City contexts
Since 2019, Walter Prutej has also led consulting projects on autonomous driving in Germany. For 2025/26, further implementation projects are planned under his leadership in Germany, Croatia, Italy, and Austria.
He is also the founder of the cross‐border business network Forum Velden (since 2006) focusing on Eastern Europe and China, the EUROPAPREIS EUROPAEUS (since 2009), and the innovation and start‐up hub see:PORT (since 2018).
With SURAAA’s participation in the Dubai World Challenge 2025, he is presenting Austrian innovation on the global stage. As a speaker at the Dubai World Congress for Self‐Driving Transport, Walter Prutej contributes hands‐on insights into digital infrastructure, governance and regulation, social acceptance, and forward‐thinking business models.
His credo:
“Technology alone doesn’t change the world – but the will to use it wisely does.”
