Norbert Hillinger completed his studies in journalism and corporate communications at FH Joanneum in Graz. However, soon after finishing his degree, he discovered that his true interest lay in exploring questions and challenging assertions, not through a journalism career but within the field of trend and future research.
Following graduation, the Austrian native spent seven years working in various positions at the trend research firm TrendONE, based in Hamburg and Berlin. During this period, he delivered numerous international keynote speeches and facilitated workshops on diverse subjects for clients across Europe.
In 2013, he launched his own innovation consultancy. He assists clients from sectors such as retail, FMCG, financial services, and entertainment with trend scouting, strategic foresight, and innovation management.
Norbert Hillinger Lecture Topics
- Retail & AI: “AI can. AI wants to. AI is allowed to. AI must!?”
- Embodied AI and robotics in retail
- Future Retail – Theses and Trends on the Future of Retail
- Retail Reimagined: How Artificial Intelligence is Transforming the Value Chain in Retail
- Rethink Entertainment – Drivers for the Entertainment of the Future
- Putting AI in Banking – How AI is transforming the financial world
- How does the new come into the world? Between trends, innovation, and the future
- Impossible Future – What will be normal in the future
- Emerging Markets – How trends create new markets
- Artificial intelligence is not an IT issue – How to successfully build AI knowledge in your company
- The Industria Renaissance Project – Growth prospects for the industry of the future
As a co-founder of the Viennese New Work start-up GDOS Playroomrocks GmbH, which has been part of the edding Group since 2021, Norbert Hillinger has extensive experience in leading trend and creative workshops and is skilled in applying a broad range of co-creation and innovation techniques.
Norbert Hillinger, a TEDx speaker, regularly presents at international conferences and client events on future-related topics. For several years, he has managed the Berlin Retail Tour, hosting international trade delegations in the German capital to explore various concept and pop-up stores, innovation hubs, and start-ups as part of an educational journey.
In 2022, he created digital training programs at the Hasso Plattner Institute Academy in Potsdam, collaborating closely with leading experts on a variety of technology subjects. Under his guidance, over ten masterclasses were developed covering topics such as “The Future of Software Development – LowCode / NoCode,” “Ethical AI,” “Blockchain Fundamentals,” “Web3, Smart Contracts, and NFTs,” and “Quantum Computing.”
Also in 2022, Hillinger was appointed to the Future Panel of the Future Academy of Upper Austria. This think tank, comprising 31 experts from diverse fields, advises the Future Academy and contributes ideas across multiple policy areas.
For about 20 years, Norbert Hillinger has organized international learning trips to Silicon Valley for various futurology firms. He has served as Head of Foresight, leading the development of multiple futurology studies and strategic consulting projects aimed at shaping future visions.
Alongside his corporate foresight work, Norbert Hillinger is currently focused on education, particularly reskilling and upskilling in AI and GenAI. From 2021 to 2024, he supported the German edtech scale-ups ThePowerMBA and Ironhack.
Since summer 2024, he has been employed by Retail.ai GmbH, a corporate start-up of the Markant Group. As Head of Academy, he develops training programs for retailers centered on artificial intelligence and advises retail companies and consumer goods groups on implementing AI and GenAI.
