Important role of the ICT industry
The growth-driving ICT sector plays an important role in Austria's economy and has been advancing for several years. The digitization of business and administration is progressing rapidly and will continue to be significantly expanded going forward. Austria has made it its goal to become one of the "leading digital nations" and is investing heavily in ICT innovations and research. In particular, it is driving innovations in the areas of microelectronics, autonomous driving, intelligent power grids, chatbots and blockchain technologies. Austria offers numerous funding opportunities and hubs for research, development and networking with other companies as well as with representatives from business, science and politics.
Promotion and networking opportunities for Swiss startups & companies
The promotion and networking opportunities are also open to Swiss companies in the ICT sector. They offer an excellent opportunity to expand investments in research and development and to promote cooperation with neighboring Austria. According to the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), Austria is even one of today's top three European ICT research locations. With initiatives such as digital Austria, Silicon Austria Labs and other measures, the Austrian federal government is setting the course for the ICT industry in the future. The promotional programs "ICT of the Future" and COMET (Competence Centers for Excellent Technologies) are among the most successful support initiatives in Austria, and companies and startups from Switzerland can also benefit from them.
Smart factory, autonomous driving and smart grids
In December 2018, the government also launched the "Silicon Austria Labs" initiative at several locations in Austria. The initiative saw world-class research centers for microelectronics opened in Graz, Villach and Linz. Topics such as microsystems for the "smart factory", "autonomous driving" or "intelligent power grids" are now being driven there. Vienna has become a hotspot for chatbots and for the ongoing development of blockchain technology. The underlying conditions for the generation of successful investments have been comprehensively revised and will be further improved in future. This creates a long-term perspective for research and innovation for companies from all over the world.
Networking opportunities and other events:
- IT Security – Trends & Outlook on 7 November 2019 in Vienna: Lectures and workshops on various IT security topics and trends for the future. You will find answer to questions such as: Which IT security topics will disappear due to new technologies and which new topics will come to the fore instead? What is the legal situation for 2020 and what does the IT security scene expect? It is free to attend for the target audience. Further information can be found here.
- Industry 4.0 – The IT Platform for Smart Manufacturing on 21 November 2019 in Graz: Above all, the event offers the industry an opportunity to get informed about current topics and developments and to exchange information with top decision-makers and key opinion leaders; keynote speeches will also offer insights into the industry. In addition, best-practice examples will be presented, controversial topics will be discussed in the relaxed atmosphere of round-table discussions and joint approaches to solutions will be developed.
Further links to grants and tenders (some subject to a fee)
- FFG support for ICT
- COMET Competence Centers for Excellent Technologies
- Netidee Förderungen (in German)
- Enterprise Europe Network: Förderungen & Finanzierung (in German)
- WKO: Innovationsförderung (in German)
- WKO: Vergabe-Plattformen (in German)
