Eric Kirschner studied Environmental Systems Science and Economics at the Karl-Franzens University of Graz, the University of Twente in the Netherlands, and the University of Münster. He has been working at the Institute for Economic, Social, and Innovation Research (POLICIES) at JOANNEUM RESEARCH since August 2006. Since November 2015, he has headed the Regional Economics and Structural Policy research group, and since July 2024, he has been Deputy Director of the Institute. His work and research focus on regional location development, regional competitiveness, structural and demographic change, labor market policy, and policy consulting. He has held lectureships in economics and international economics at the Carinthia University of Applied Sciences, FH JOANNEUM, and the University of Graz, among others.