Inside Business: Vienna Blood Donation Center Opens Its Doors to the FERNFH Alumni Network
Blood donation saves lives and is a cornerstone of healthcare in Austria. The first edition of “Inside Business – Networking Meets Practice,” organized by the FERNFH alumni network, took alumni, students, and faculty on a tour of the Vienna Blood Donation Center and demonstrated just how complex and indispensable the processes behind every donation are.
With the launch of the new event series “Inside Business – Networking Meets Practice” on May 22, 2026, the FERNFH alumni network introduced a format that provides practical insights into organizations and companies. To kick things off, alumnus Peter Völkl, in his role as commercial director, opened the doors to the Vienna Blood Donation Center and demonstrated how many people, processes, and steps are necessary to ensure the supply of blood products in Austria.
Vienna Blood Donation Center: An Overview of the Blood Donation Process
During the tour, participants were divided into several small groups and given a comprehensive overview of the entire donation process. From donor registration and blood collection to processing and potential transfusion, the entire journey of the blood was clearly explained. Staff members explained each step on-site, making the processes easy to understand.
The importance of the blood supply is often underestimated in everyday life:
- Every 90 seconds, a unit of blood is needed in Austria, which amounts to about 1,000 units per day.
- Only about 3.35 percent of the population donates blood regularly, and each person is allowed to donate only once every 4 or 3 months.
- A unit of blood has a shelf life of only 42 days.
- Conclusion: Every single donation remains crucial for providing medical care.
It became particularly clear just how much medical and organizational effort goes into every single unit of blood. Extensive laboratory analyses and multi-stage safety checks ensure that blood products are not delivered to hospitals until they have undergone rigorous testing. At the same time, it became evident just how dedicated the staff at the Vienna Blood Donation Center are in their daily work.
Stem Cell Donation in Austria: Registration and Significance
In addition to managing the blood supply, the Vienna Blood Donation Center also maintains the nationwide stem cell donor database. This has highlighted just how difficult it is to find compatible donors. The probability of a complete match in tissue characteristics is about 1 in 500,000. This makes it all the more important to encourage as many people as possible to register. In addition to on-site registration, “registration kits” for stem cell donation were also distributed during the event.
Conclusion: Insight, discussion, and direct assistance
The event highlighted the importance of blood donation and stem cell donation, and how both contribute to medical care. While blood donation helps meet the ongoing needs of the healthcare system, stem cell donation makes life-saving treatments possible for patients with serious illnesses.
At the end of the event, participants took the opportunity to donate blood themselves, thereby making a direct contribution to the blood supply. The well-organized procedures on site demonstrated that donating blood today is straightforward, flexible in terms of timing, and easy to fit into one’s daily routine.
The first edition of “Inside Business – Networking Meets Practice” clearly demonstrated just how valuable direct insights into organizations and socially relevant infrastructure can be. At the same time, it became clear how easily each individual can make a difference.
Donating blood saves lives! Here you’ll find all the information you need about donating blood: www.blut.at or about registering as a stem cell donor: www.roteskreuz.at/stammzellen/
Become a host for Inside Business!
Give our community a behind-the-scenes look at your organization or company. Share firsthand insights, exchange experiences, and connect with students, alumni, and faculty.
Contact: alumni@fernfh.ac.at
Event Series: Inside Business – Networking Meets Practice
Inside Business – Networking Meets Practice is a series of events organized by the FERNFH alumni network. The format offers insights into companies and organizations and creates opportunities for professional exchange and networking. Graduates, students, and faculty get to know organizations firsthand, discover new perspectives, and make valuable connections, while companies can present themselves authentically and network with potential professionals. The alumni network developed this format to promote practical encounters and strengthen lasting connections between education and professional practice.
Host: Austrian Red Cross
TheAustrian Red Cross – Blood, Stem Cells, and Biotherapiesensures the supply of blood products in Austria. At the Vienna Blood Donation Center, every step—from donation to delivery—is centrally managed, monitored, and coordinated to ensure a safe and uninterrupted supply to hospitals. More information:www.blut.at
Organizer: FERNFH Alumni Network
The FERNFH Alumni Network connects graduates, students, and faculty, creating opportunities for exchange, professional development, and mutual support. Through events, networking meetings, and professional insights, it provides a platform for staying in touch, learning from one another, and gaining new perspectives. Alumni Network website.
Photo Gallery
