1. General Information

The protection of your personal data is of particular concern to Know-Center GmbH Research Center for Data-Driven Business & Big Data Analytics, commercial register number 199685 f, Sandgasse 36/4, A-8010 Graz, (“we” or “us”). We process your personal data exclusively in accordance with the legal provisions, in particular the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Data Protection Act (DSG), and the Telecommunications Act 2021 (TKG 2021). In this privacy information, we inform you, as the data controller, about how we collect and process your personal data when:

  • Using our website
  • Subscribing to our newsletter
  • Making contact inquiries
  • Participating in our AIlevator project
  • Initiating and concluding contracts
  • Submitting job applications
  • Attending events

The legal basis for the processing is:

  • Your consent to the processing for specific purposes (e.g., to receive a newsletter from us),
  • The necessity for the performance of a contract or the initiation of a contract,
  • Legal obligations (e.g., to fulfill tax obligations), and
  • Our legitimate interest in processing your data, unless your interests, fundamental rights, and freedoms prevail.

The German version of these General Data Protection Notice shall prevail. The English version serves for information purposes only.

2. Personal Data

According to Article 4(1) of the GDPR, personal data refers to information relating to an identified or identifiable person (e.g., name, contact details, IP address, billing information, data on physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity).

3. Storage Period

We store your personal data until the purpose of the respective processing has been fulfilled or as long as required by legal regulations. Personal data will be deleted after the expiration of the statutory retention period, unless they are still necessary for the fulfillment or initiation of a contract or for the enforcement of legal claims. A longer storage period is only applicable until the expiration of relevant limitation periods, statutory retention periods, or any legal disputes, as well as upon obtaining consent for further processing. You can revoke this consent at any time without stating reasons.

4. How We Process Your Personal Data

4.1. Data Protection When Using Our Website

Processed Personal Data

During your visit to our website, we collect the following data:

  • Date and time of accessing a page on our website
  • IP address
  • Name and version of the web browser
  • Website (URL) visited prior to accessing our website
  • Information provided by you as a user and/or customer (e.g., within the framework of an inquiry in contact forms)

Your data is not used to personally identify you. Your data will not be disclosed to third parties. If the processing of your personal data is not necessary for the fulfillment of obligations arising from a contract with you, there is no obligation to provide the data that we request on our website.

Purpose of Processing

We process your personal data for the following purposes:

  • Provision of the website
  • Continuous improvement and development of the website
  • Generation of user statistics
  • Detection and prevention of attacks on our website

Legal Basis of Processing

The processing of your data is based on our predominant legitimate interest in achieving the aforementioned purposes.

Cookies

A cookie is a text file that can be stored on your computer when you visit a website. Cookies cannot access, read or modify any other data on your computer. We use cookies to optimize our marketing activities.

You can block cookies (except for necessary cookies) or delete them if they have already been stored. You can find more information using the “Help” function of your browser. Please note that blocking cookies may affect the user experience of the website.

We use the LinkedIn Insight Tag on our website. The LinkedIn Insight Tag uses browser cookies to collect data on our website.

Processed personal data

  • Site activity
  • URL and referrer URL
  • IP address
  • Device and browser properties
  • Timestamp, job title, employer and branch of industry if you are an active LinkedIn member.

IP addresses are shortened or hashed. This allows your behavior to be tracked after you have clicked on an ad on LinkedIn.

Purpose of processing

We use the LinkedIn Insight Tag for statistical and market research purposes and to optimize future advertising measures. Please also note LinkedIn’s cookie policy.

Web Analytics Tools

Our website uses “Matomo” for reach and usage analysis. We use “Matomo” in no-cookie mode, which means that no so-called “cookies” are stored on your computer and transmitted to the server for the purpose of reach and usage analysis.

Links

Please note that this privacy information only applies to services directly offered by us. It does not apply to links that we provide on our website. When using these links, the privacy policies of the linked websites’ providers (e.g., YouTube) apply.

4.2. Data Protection Regarding Newsletter Subscription

Processed personal data

If you subscribe to our newsletter, we process the following personal data:

  • First and last name
  • Email address
  • Company affiliation (if you provide us with this information)
  • Date and time of subscription
  • IP address

We process your personal data in connection with your newsletter subscription until you revoke your consent to receive the newsletter.

Purpose of processing

We send our newsletter to inform you about interesting news (research projects and content, events, etc.).

Legal basis for processing

You will only receive a newsletter from us if you have given your consent to receive it. You can revoke your consent to receive the newsletter at any time by using the unsubscribe link in your newsletter profile.

4.3. Data Protection Regarding Contact Inquiries

Processed personal data

If you submit a contact inquiry to us, we process the personal data you provide, which typically includes:

  • First and last name
  • Address
  • Email address
  • Title (prefix or suffix)
  • Phone number
  • Company affiliation
  • Other content of your inquiry

Purpose of processing

We process your personal data in the context of contact inquiries to be able to respond to your inquiries.

Legal basis for processing

The processing of your personal data is based on your consent, which you give us by submitting your inquiry.

4.4. Data protection Regarding our AIlevator program

Processed personal data

We process the following personal data as part of our AIlevator project:

  • First and last name
  • Email address
  • Telephone number (if you provide us with this information)
  • Company affiliation
  • Position in the company (if you provide us with this information)
  • Date of registration

We will process your personal data in connection with your AIlevator account until you withdraw your consent to this data processing.

Purpose of processing

Through our website, you can send us proposals for collaboration or specific project requests in the course of the AIlevator project. We use your personal data as part of the AIlevator project to contact you and to identify potential joint projects.

Legal basis for processing

We only process your personal data within the AIlevator project if you have registered for this project on our website. You can withdraw your consent at any time by emailing marketing@know-center.at.

4.5. Data Protection During Contract Initiation and Conclusion

Processed personal data

When initiating and concluding a contract with us, we store the following personal data:

  • Contact details (name, address, email address)
  • Position in the company
  • Bank details
  • Contractual data

We transmit your personal data to banks/payment service providers, tax consultants, and, within the scope of funded projects, to our funding agencies, if the transmission of your data is necessary to ensure the proper use of the funding. Transmission takes place to recipients in Austria and the EU.

Purpose of processing

The purpose of data processing is the fulfillment of pre-contractual obligations, contract processing, and the fulfillment of any reporting obligations in the field of funding.

Legal basis for processing

The legal bases for data processing are our legitimate interest in the successful processing of the contract and our reporting obligations. If you do not provide us with the mentioned information, no contract can be concluded.

Direct advertising

We will also use your contact details to send you information about our services and invitations to events. You can object to this processing of your data for the purpose of direct advertising, which we carry out until the termination of the contract, at any time and without stating reasons by sending an email to office@know-center.at. Your objection does not affect the processing of the contractual relationship with us in any way and does not affect the legality of the processing carried out up to that point.

4.6. Data Protection Regarding Applications

Processed personal data

In the context of applications, we process the following personal data:

  • First and last name
  • Contact details
  • Date of birth
  • Data from your resume and other application documents provided (certificates, etc.), as well as information you provide during an application interview

Your personal data transmitted in the course of your application will be made accessible to the relevant positions within our organization, which are also obliged to maintain confidentiality. This includes our external payroll accounting and tax consulting, if required for the application process and for registration with social security.

Your personal data transmitted in the course of your application will be stored for a maximum of seven calendar months from the receipt of your application. After that, it will be deleted. A longer retention period and keeping evidence can only be done with your explicit consent.

 

 

Purpose of processing

We assure you that your personal data transmitted to us during the application process will be treated confidentially and used only for the purpose of processing the application and, if applicable, transferring it to the personnel file.

Legal basis for processing

The legal basis for processing is the fulfillment of pre-contractual obligations and, in the case of employment, the fulfillment of associated legal obligations (e.g., registration with social security).

4.7. Data Protection at Events

Processed personal data

In the context of our events, we reserve the right to take photographs and videos as well as maintain visitor lists. For this purpose, we process the following personal data:

  • Photographs and videos
  • First and last name
  • Title
  • Email address
  • Affiliation with a company
  • Position in the company

We publish your photos in print and online media (including LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.). You always have the right to reject individual photos and request their deletion. Please note that it is not possible to obscure images in already issued print media. Deletion from online media will be done within the technical capabilities.

Purpose of processing

As a funded COMET center, we are obliged to report transparently on our activities and initiatives as part of the COMET reporting system. The photos and videos taken during our events are used to fulfil this obligation as well as to present our activities and for marketing purposes.

Legal basis for processing

The legal basis for processing is our legitimate interest in fulfilling the aforementioned reporting and marketing purposes.

5. International Data Transfer

We use service providers from third countries (e.g., Microsoft – Office 365) and use various social networks (including LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter). Therefore, it is possible that personal data may be processed outside the EU as well. We cannot exclude the risk that authorities in third countries may access the data for security and surveillance purposes without informing you or allowing you to exercise legal remedies, thus making it difficult to enforce your data subject rights.

However, data transfer to third countries (countries outside the European Union – EU or the European Economic Area – EEA) only takes place if it is necessary for the execution of your orders, is legally required, you have given us your consent, or one of the derogations of Articles 44 ff of the GDPR is met. In addition, it is ensured that an adequate level of protection is guaranteed in individual cases, for example, through further security measures. For this purpose, we conclude, for example, standard contractual clauses.

6. Profiling

We do not carry out automated decision-making or profiling.

7. Your Rights Regarding Data Processing

You have the following rights in connection with the processing of your personal data:

  • Right to information
  • Right to correction, completion or deletion
  • Right to restriction of processing
  • Right to data portability
  • Right to withdraw previously given consent
  • Right to object to processing
  • Right to be informed of the identity of third parties to whom your personal data are transferred
  • Right to file a complaint with the Austrian data protection authority (Barichgasse 40-42, 1030 Vienna, e-mail: dsb@dsb.gv.at) if you believe that the processing of your personal data violates data protection law or that your data protection rights have been violated in any other way. In this regard, we also refer you to the homepage of the data protection authority, which can be accessed under the link https://www.dsb.gv.at.8

8. Our Contact Details

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the processing of your personal data, please contact:

Know-Center GmbH
Research Center for Data-Driven Business & Big Data Analytics
A-8010 Graz, Sandgasse 36/4
Tel.: +43 316 873 30801
Email: datenschutz@know-center.at

Alternatively, you can also contact our data protection officer:

Data Protection Officer of Know-Center GmbH
A-8010 Graz, Sandgasse 36/4
Email: dpo@know-center.at