AI, Security & Society Lab
Project Description
t.b.d.
Promoting Financial Literacy among the Young - Development of Specifications for an Educational App
Project Description
The objective of the project is to promote financial literacy among the young by developing the basis for an (educational) app that helps users to acquire financial knowledge, skills, attitudes and financial common sense that will contribute to their financial wellbeing throughout their lives. Financial literacy is a key topic in the OECD and the EU (incl. member states). The project complements existing activities by conceptualizing an app that improves users' actual financial decisions.
Implementation: Based on existing EU and OECD frameworks and recommendations, financial concepts will be selected that are essential to building financial literacy. Taking into account the expertise from specialized didactics, insights from psychology, and gamification elements, a concept for an app (running on smartphones/tablets) will be developed that integrates with the users' financial behavior. Learning in the app occurs over an extended period of time, which is essential to have a lasting effect.
The main project result will be detailed, scientifically based specifications for the app, which are ready to be implemented. While these specifications will be made public and hence could be implemented by anyone, we are confident to secure the funding required for the implementation from non-profit foundations. Once the app is used by a large number of young people in Europe, it is expected to positively influence the users' financial literacy and lead to better financial decisions.
Implementation: Based on existing EU and OECD frameworks and recommendations, financial concepts will be selected that are essential to building financial literacy. Taking into account the expertise from specialized didactics, insights from psychology, and gamification elements, a concept for an app (running on smartphones/tablets) will be developed that integrates with the users' financial behavior. Learning in the app occurs over an extended period of time, which is essential to have a lasting effect.
The main project result will be detailed, scientifically based specifications for the app, which are ready to be implemented. While these specifications will be made public and hence could be implemented by anyone, we are confident to secure the funding required for the implementation from non-profit foundations. Once the app is used by a large number of young people in Europe, it is expected to positively influence the users' financial literacy and lead to better financial decisions.
Participating Institutions
Towards socially sustainable densification in the Alpenrheintal: the role of land policy and company structure
Project Description
This project looks at how land ownership and real estate development are changing in Liechtenstein and Vorarlberg, and what this means for housing affordability and urban growth. In both regions, more and more housing projects are being developed by companies instead of private owners or non-profit associations. This trend raises questions about transparency and the social impact of urban densification. To address these questions, the project combines statistical data, company research, and expert interviews. In addition, the corporate law frameworks in Austria and Liechtenstein will be compared. The study will examine which legal forms are suitable for carrying out residential construction projects and whether there are any differences between the Austrian and Liechtenstein legal systems. Together with local partners of affordable housing, workshops will explore which measures can make urban development more socially sustainable. The project aims to provide practical knowledge and recommendations for affordable housing, transparent land policies, and fair urban development in Liechtenstein and the wider region.
Participating Institutions
Towards socially sustainable densification in the Alpenrheintal: the role of land policy and company structure
Project Description
This project looks at how land ownership and real estate development are changing in Liechtenstein and Vorarlberg, and what this means for housing affordability and urban growth. In both regions, more and more housing projects are being developed by companies instead of private owners or non-profit associations. This trend raises questions about transparency and the social impact of urban densification. To address these questions, the project combines statistical data, company research, and expert interviews. In addition, the corporate law frameworks in Austria and Liechtenstein will be compared. The study will examine which legal forms are suitable for carrying out residential construction projects and whether there are any differences between the Austrian and Liechtenstein legal systems. Together with local partners of affordable housing, workshops will explore which measures can make urban development more socially sustainable. The project aims to provide practical knowledge and recommendations for affordable housing, transparent land policies, and fair urban development in Liechtenstein and the wider region.
Participating Institutions
Building Capacity - Case Study Catalogue
Project Description
The research project investigates how urban design and spatial planning initiatives can contribute to building capacities for future-oriented landscapes, settlements, societies, and economies. It responds to the limited effectiveness of traditional sustainability models and develops a new, constructive understanding of development that equally integrates ecological, social, and economic dimensions. At the core of the project lies the Building Capacity principle, which comprises three interrelated dimensions: Regeneration, Inclusion, and Production. This triad understands planning as a reflexive and co-operative process that regards transformation as a shared societal responsibility. Through international case studies, the project analyses the qualitative and quantitative impacts of sustainable initiatives to reveal mechanisms that enable successful transformations. The project is conceived as basic research within the Urban Design and Spatial Development research group at the Liechtenstein School of Architecture.
Relevance to Liechtenstein
In doing so, the project helps position Liechtenstein as an innovation hub for sustainable urban and spatial development, while strengthening knowledge exchange between research, planning, and society.
Scientific, Economic and Societal Impact
Upon completion, the research project will make it possible to better understand and demonstrate the feasibility of holistic sustainable planning according to the Building Capacity principle, based on documented urban and spatial planning projects. The findings can also be transferred to other contexts and projects, creating the potential for the Principality of Liechtenstein to realize an exemplary spatial development with international visibility and impact.
Participating Institutions
Trustworthy AI: Controllability and Interpretability in Critical Applications
Project Description
Deep learning (DL) has transformed predictive modeling across different domains, enabling unprecedented accuracy and decision-making capabilities. However, many DL models operate as "black boxes," providing accurate predictions without explaining the underlying reasoning. This lack of transparency poses significant challenges in high-stakes applications, where explainability and controllability are as crucial as predictive performance. The rapid emergence of generative and agentic AI, i.e., systems that autonomously generate content or perform complex tasks, further amplifies these challenges, as users must understand, anticipate, and, when necessary, intervene in model decisions to ensure safety, reliability, and trust.
This project addresses these challenges by investigating methods to enhance the explainability and controllability of deep learning models, with a particular focus on generative and deep learning-based agentic AI. Concept-Based Models (CBMs) are explored as a promising approach, enabling users to explain and control predictions through intermediate, human-understandable variables while maintaining predictive performance. To assess their applicability, the investigated methods will be further evaluated in high-stakes domains, such as healthcare, finance, and industrial automation, exploring their relevance in realworld applications.
This project addresses these challenges by investigating methods to enhance the explainability and controllability of deep learning models, with a particular focus on generative and deep learning-based agentic AI. Concept-Based Models (CBMs) are explored as a promising approach, enabling users to explain and control predictions through intermediate, human-understandable variables while maintaining predictive performance. To assess their applicability, the investigated methods will be further evaluated in high-stakes domains, such as healthcare, finance, and industrial automation, exploring their relevance in realworld applications.
Relevance to Liechtenstein
This project focuses on investigating methods to enhance the explainability and controllability of deep learning models, with a particular emphasis on generative and deep learning-based agentic AI.
These aspects are becoming increasingly important for Liechtenstein, as the country advances its digital transformation and key economic sectors, such as healthcare and finance, face rising demands for AI systems that are reliable and transparent. Moreover, by engaging with local stakeholders through workshops, knowledge-sharing events, and applied collaborations, the project will ensure that its findings contribute meaningfully to the regional innovation ecosystem.
These aspects are becoming increasingly important for Liechtenstein, as the country advances its digital transformation and key economic sectors, such as healthcare and finance, face rising demands for AI systems that are reliable and transparent. Moreover, by engaging with local stakeholders through workshops, knowledge-sharing events, and applied collaborations, the project will ensure that its findings contribute meaningfully to the regional innovation ecosystem.
Scientific, Economic and Societal Impact
This project responds to the growing need for AI systems that can be used in a transparent and responsible way, particularly as generative and agentic models become more integrated into professional and decision-support processes. The ability to understand and, when necessary, intervene in AI-driven reasoning is essential not only for maintaining user trust but also for ensuring the safe and reliable operation of systems that impact socially and economically sensitive areas.
Its practical relevance becomes especially evident in high-stakes domains where AI is already in use. In healthcare, for instance, transparent and controllable models are vital for supporting clinical decisions and ensuring that automated suggestions can be interpreted and assessed by medical professionals. In finance, organizations face increasing expectations regarding fairness, explainability, and regulatory compliance, making opaque models difficult to justify in areas such as risk assessment or fraud detection.
Its practical relevance becomes especially evident in high-stakes domains where AI is already in use. In healthcare, for instance, transparent and controllable models are vital for supporting clinical decisions and ensuring that automated suggestions can be interpreted and assessed by medical professionals. In finance, organizations face increasing expectations regarding fairness, explainability, and regulatory compliance, making opaque models difficult to justify in areas such as risk assessment or fraud detection.
Participating Institutions
Vertical Equity under Transformation: Family Change, Cross-Border Mobility, and Sustainability in Public Pension Systems
Project Description
Public pension systems face mounting fiscal pressure from population aging and declining fertility. To ensure social protection, they rely on vertical equity, redistributing toward lower income groups. While this promotes fairness, it raises concerns about long run sustainability. At the same time, shifting social patterns are reshaping redistribution: higher female employment strengthens individual entitlements; the rise of non marital unions questions the role of income splitting and survivor pensions; and migration and cross border commuting produce fragmented contribution histories.
This project examines how family structures, labour market patterns, and cross-border mobility shape vertical redistribution in pensions. Using dynamic microsimulation and distributional decomposition, we will evaluate reform scenarios that balance equity and fiscal sustainability, with transferable insights for Liechtenstein given its close institutional proximity to Switzerland.
This project examines how family structures, labour market patterns, and cross-border mobility shape vertical redistribution in pensions. Using dynamic microsimulation and distributional decomposition, we will evaluate reform scenarios that balance equity and fiscal sustainability, with transferable insights for Liechtenstein given its close institutional proximity to Switzerland.
Participating Institutions
Corporate resilience and its effect on firm performance
Project Description
Corporate resilience has emerged in recent years as a key topic in management research. Despite its high relevance, the concept remains conceptually and empirically ambiguous, as resilience is described variously as a capacity, a process, or an outcome. Existing measurement approaches, such as VOLARE or the model proposed by Ortiz-de-Mandojana & Bansal (2016), have provided important impulses but have thus far proven unconvincing in practice, leaving open essential requirements for comparability and applicability. The proposed project, therefore, aims to develop a novel, reliable, and valid resilience measure that systematically captures the multidimensionality of the construct. In doing so, it will strengthen the theoretical foundation and provide a basis for robust empirical research, while at the same time equipping companies and investors with a practical instrument to use resilience as a strategic indicator and to measure and compare their capacity to withstand crises in a sustainable way.
Relevance to Liechtenstein
Research on corporate resilience helps companies in a small, closely interconnected, yet internationally oriented economic area such as Liechtenstein to better respond to external pressures and structural dependencies. By developing reliable measurement approaches, regional firms gain a solid foundation to realistically assess and strategically strengthen their resilience. This benefits not only the stability of individual businesses but also the reliability of regional value creation and supply chains, creating tangible added value for Liechtenstein and the surrounding region.
Scientific, Economic and Societal Impact
Corporate resilience is essential for maintaining successful business practices, yet reliable quantitative methods to systematically capture it are still lacking. The development of new measurement approaches aims to make this previously vague concept clearer and more comprehensible. This will enable companies to better identify where they are vulnerable, and which areas should be strengthened. In practice, such measurability offers the opportunity to deliberately integrate resilience-enhancing structures and processes into decisions and workflows. The FFF project thus supports the long-term stability and competitiveness of companies on a transparent, empirical basis.
Participating Institutions
Publications
SPARK – Structured Project Analysis for Research on AI Knowledge. Design Thinking, AI Agency and Organizational Learning
Project Description
This research project aims to systematically analyze AI integration in Design Thinking processes through a comprehensive literature review and the construction of a structured dataset from 40 currently unstructured Design Thinking project cases. The focus lies on understanding how different AI technologies are employed within Design Thinking methodologies and how AI agency manifests in organizational Design Thinking environments. AI agency refers to the degree of autonomy and collaborative capability that AI systems demonstrate when integrated into creative problem-solving processes. Building on rigorous empirical analysis and transparent methodological approaches, the project will transform dispersed, unstructured project data into a coherent, usable dataset that serves as a foundation for understanding AI integration in Design Thinking contexts. The literature review will provide theoretical grounding by synthesizing current knowledge on AI applications in innovation and creative problem-solving processes, while the dataset construction will offer empirical insights into real-world implementations. The resulting database will serve as a template for analyzing AI usage patterns in projects, examining AI agency development, and supporting organizational learning initiatives. Through systematic documentation and validation, this study contributes to both theoretical understanding of AIenhanced innovation methodologies and practical frameworks for implementing AI in educational and organizational contexts.
Relevance to Liechtenstein
The project makes an important contribution to strengthening Liechtenstein’s position in the digital innovation landscape by creating systematic knowledge about AI integration in design thinking processes. For Liechtenstein’s knowledge-intensive sectors—including fintech, education, and consulting—the ability to systematically leverage AI in design thinking processes represents a competitive advantage. Moreover, synergies emerge with existing initiatives such as the Erasmus+ project “Design Thinking for AI”, positioning the University of Liechtenstein as a research leader in AI-supported innovation methods.
Scientific, Economic and Societal Impact
The structured data foundation and methodological framework developed through this research provide a scientifically grounded basis for educational institutions, businesses, and public organizations to understand and optimize their use of AI in creative and problem-solving contexts. The project generates direct benefits by offering templates and frameworks that can be immediately applied in university programs, professional training initiatives, and organizational innovation processes.
Participating Institutions
Self-Leadership Development for Nascent Entrepreneurs
Project Description
Nascent entrepreneurs operate in an environment characterized by uncertainty, high time pressure, scarce resources, and continuous disruption (McMullen & Shepherd, 2006). In such contexts, the quality of self-regulation determines whether goals are set precisely, priorities are pursued consistently, setbacks are processed adaptively, and the groundwork for effective leadership is laid (D'Intino et al., 2007; Neck & Houghton, 2006). Against this backdrop, the project examines the effectiveness of a six-week online training program designed to foster self-leadership among master's students in entrepreneurship. Self-leadership refers to the process of intentional self-influence through which individuals apply cognitive and behavioral strategies to enhance their personal effectiveness and performance (Neck & Houghton, 2006). The training integrates behavior-focused strategies (self-observation, goal setting, self-cueing), natural reward strategies (strengthening intrinsic motivation), and constructive thought patterns (positive self-talk, visualization of successful performance). Mindfulness is embedded through the component of self-observation to sharpen attention and deepen self-regulatory learning processes (Bishop et al., 2004; Furt-ner et al., 2018). Recent research highlights that self-leadership is not merely a supportive competence but represents the essential drive for entrepreneurial success: nascent entrepreneurs with well-developed self-leadership skills respond more resiliently to challenges, make more proactive use of opportunities, and significantly enhance their entrepreneurial self-efficacy (Furtner et al., 2024).
Relevance to Liechtenstein
This project strengthens the University of Liechtenstein's entrepreneurship education and deliberately cultivates competencies that are critically important for the country's start-up and innovation capacity. By integrating a scientifically grounded self-leadership training, students are empowered to handle uncertainty, time pressure, and complex decision-making processes with confidence. Throughout the program, participants learn to set clear goals, engage in constructive self-talk, and mentally visualize successful outcomes - techniques that increase their resilience and enhance their entrepreneurial self-efficacy. In doing so, the project helps lay a solid foundation for future entrepreneurial activity in Liechtenstein and sustainably bolsters the region's capacity for innovation.
Scientific, Economic and Societal Impact
This project establishes an evidence-based, scalable online training format designed for seamless integration into entrepreneurship education and early-stage start-up support programs. The intervention focuses on the structured development of core self-leadership strategies-such as self-observation, structured goal setting, constructive self-talk, and the use of intrinsically rewarding behavioral patterns. These cognitive-behavioral techniques foster intentional self-regulation and enhance individuals' capacity to maintain agency, focus, and adaptability in entrepreneurial contexts. Implementing these strategies has demonstrable positive effects on key psychological resources, including stress management, resilience, self-regulation, intrinsic motivation, and entrepreneurial self-efficacy. The training thereby strengthens the psychological readiness of future founders and enhances their ability to respond proactively and reflectively to complex demands. The findings of the project will inform actionable, research-based recommendations for entrepreneurship education and contribute to the sustainable development of self-regulatory leadership competencies among nascent entrepreneurs.