P19 Lunch in Alpbach: Key Future Topics in Payments Take Centre Stage in Expert Exchange
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Alpbach/Vienna, September 2, 2026 – European payment pioneers gathered at the P19 Lunch in Alpbach to exchange views on the key future topics shaping European payments – from the digital euro and WERO to cybersecurity and financial literacy. These topics will also take centre stage at this year's P19 Payment Festival on 25 November 2026 at the Vienna Sofiensäle (more information at www.p19.io).
P19 tracks current developments and positions itself as a platform for networking and knowledge transfer on the key future topics in the European payments and finance ecosystem. The goal is to bring together payment experts, companies, media and decision-makers to work towards a strong, sovereign European payments landscape.
These and other key topics, which P19 addresses year-round through its streams, will also be in focus at the P19 Payment Festival 2026:
| Digital EURO | Europe's answer to global payment solutions – for greater digital sovereignty in the eurozone |
| WERO | The new European payment standard connects banks and strengthens unified payment solutions |
| Strengthening Trade I Commerce I Tourism I Transport | Efficient payment solutions as a growth driver for key economic sectors |
| Regulation | Clear regulatory frameworks create security and predictability for the industry |
| Fraud | Cybersecurity | Effective protection against fraud and cyber risks safeguards trust in payments |
| Digital Assets | Tokenisation and digital assets open up new opportunities for the financial market and the economy |
"Our goal at P19 is to help shape a future-proof, sovereign payments landscape in Europe through knowledge transfer between payment experts," says Birgit Kraft-Kinz, initiator of P19.
Attendees at the P19 Lunch in Alpbach included: Birgit Kraft-Kinz (P19), Martin Sprengseis-Kogler (P19, bluesource), Birgit Berthold-Kremser, Georg Hanschitz-Halikias (jö Bonus Club), Christian Hamberger (Meridian Payments Europe), Thaddeus Jahn (Mastercard), Eva Landrichtinger (WKO), Hadi Hafez (Swissbit), Alex Neumayer (Pioneers), Petia Niederländer (OeNB), Rainer Schamberger (rs1.digital), Jennifer Schimanko (PAIR Finance), Astrid Steharnig-Staudinger (Österreich Werbung), Anil Rail (Verband der Bahnindustrie), Elias Danninger (Shoptimizer), Gertrude Schwebisch (Sparkasse), Heinz Stiastny (Arrow ECS Austria), Michael Aigner, Luisa Schiffke (Stiftung Unternehmerische Zukunft), Bettina Gusenbauer (OeBB), Eva Buzzi (OeBB), Andreas Moser (WKO), Josef Meichenitsch (OeNB), Alex Rauscher (Accilium), Daniel Mader (CYLAD).
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About P19:
P19 is the European platform for more than 1,600 Payment Pioneers. The Payment Pioneers are a fast-growing network working together to build visibility for the hot topic of payments & finance across Europe & internationally, and to foster collaboration. P19 stands for exchange and innovation for a sustainable European payments industry.
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Media contact:
Birgit Koch
p19@kraftkinz.com
+43 (0) 664 111 58 68
Gloriettegasse 13
1130 Vienna
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