Johannes Hahn is the European Commissioner for Regional Policy since 2010 and is also vice-president of the European People's Party (ÖVP). Involved since an early age with the ÖVP, Hahn was elected in 2004 as leader of the regional branch of the ÖVP of Vienna. In 2007, he was proposed by his party as Minister of Science and Research in the grand coalition government. He occupied that position until his appointment to the European Commission after the 2009 European elections. Prior to his political career, Dr. Hahn was board member and CEO of Novomatic AG. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Vienna.