Vienna hosted a key gathering for the IT sector this week as over 650 industry professionals converged at the Erste Campus for the annual Arrow Forum [[1]]. The event,themed “Showcasing the Future,” provided a platform for networking,education,and demonstrations of cutting-edge technologies from over 20 manufacturers. Attendees included IT resellers, system integrators, and end-users, all eager to explore the latest advancements in infrastructure, security, and digital transformation.
| Tobias Seifried
| 23.11.2025
Over 650 attendees experienced innovations from more than 20 manufacturers, technical workshops, a racing simulator, entertainment, and a festive Christmas networking party featuring a high-profile keynote speaker at the Erste Campus.
The IT sector convened at the Erste Campus in Vienna’s “Quartier Belvedere,” the headquarters of Erste Group, for this year’s Arrow Forum, themed “Showcasing the Future”. Heribert Karrer, Regional Director, hosted the event alongside his teams from Linz and Vienna.
Diverse Program Attracts Industry Professionals
The congress was designed for IT resellers, system integrators, and end-users interested in cutting-edge technologies in infrastructure, security, and digital transformation. The event featured keynote addresses, strategic insights, technical breakout sessions, live demonstrations, and networking opportunities, complemented by a comprehensive exhibition area.
More than 650 participants, including national and international partners, manufacturers, and end-users, used the event as a platform for collaboration. The exhibition showcased the full Arrow portfolio, with partners including BlueShield, Check Point, Citrix, Commvault, Dell Technologies, Fortinet, Huawei, Igel, Illumio, Kaspersky, NetApp, Microsoft, Objekt First, Sophos, Splunk, Symantec, Carbon Black, Tenable, Thales, Trend Micro, Tufin, Veeam, and VMware. The breadth of representation underscores Arrow’s position as a key distributor in the European IT landscape.
Alongside the exhibition, attendees participated in technical breakout sessions that provided hands-on demonstrations of the latest systems, products, and innovations. Topics ranged from security architectures and cloud solutions to IT learning modules.
Interactive Experiences and Entertainment
A variety of side programs added to the event’s appeal. A photo booth offered attendees commemorative photos, while the Education Wheel provided opportunities to win prizes and specialized IT learning modules. Throughout the day, guests enjoyed regional culinary specialties.
Highlights included a Formula 1 simulator with a McLaren theme – reflecting Arrow’s official sponsorship of the racing team – and a performance by magician Nikolaus Fortelni. The fastest simulator drivers received “Goody Packs,” and VIP tickets for the Formula 1 race at the Spielberg Ring in 2026 were also raffled off.
Networking and a High-Profile Keynote Address
The event culminated in the well-known ArrowPartner Xmas Weihnachtsparty, organized by Arrow Public Business Manager Heinz Stiastny, and attended by over 750 guests. The entertainment was opened by the cabaret quartet “Comedy Hirten” – featuring Christian Schwab, Herbert Haider, Peter Moizi, and Angelika Niedetzky. Following the performance, Innovation Minister Peter Hanke delivered a keynote address focused on relevant industry themes. Heribert Karrer then took the stage in the Erste Campus auditorium to answer questions from the audience. The evening concluded at midnight.
LEADERSNET covered the event. Photos are available in their galleries here and here.
