Traffic Infrastructure
Austria is not just the geographical heart of Europe – it’s also assuming a central position in the eyes of many international concerns as a distribution center and logistical hub between East and West.
The requirements for efficient and cost-effective transport of goods are a high-performance infrastructure, reliable transportation services and strategically favorable logistics regions. Austria offers precisely these advantages to its companies. The quality of the logistics infrastructure receives very high marks in international comparison.
The Austrian logistics infrastructure is characterized by modern terminals with high bay storage facilities, sufficient transshipment areas and good transport connections. A first-class communications infrastructure with broadband connections, nationwide mobile telephone networks and outstanding opportunities to electronically process business transactions are a matter of course.
ICT as an economic factor
The ICT sector in Austria generates about 6.4 % of total value creation. However, as generic technologies, ICT also impacts other sectors and enhances their productivity. An overall production value of EUR 36.6 billion including indirect effects can be assigned to the ICT sector. On balance, the ICT industry secures about 290,000 jobs in Austria (Source: Association of the Austrian Electrical and Electronics Industry).
Solid basis thanks to intensive Research
ICT research in Austria is conducted at a high level, whether in the Competence Centers for Excellent Technologies (COMET) strengthening the cooperation between industry and science, or at a university or non-university level. For example, the Software Competence Centre Hagenberg (SCCH) has played a pioneering role in software-related technological research and development trends. The Carinthian Tech Research Centre in southern Austria is a center of excellence for intelligent sensor technology. Austria is also a top location for visual computing, thanks to the Center for Virtual Reality and Visualization (VRVis).
Top positions on the global market thanks to Austrian know-how
Austria is a sought-after location for innovation in Europe in the field of information and communication technologies (ICT). Research in this field is one of the most important areas of research in Austria. For example, Near Field Communication (NFC) was developed with significant Austrian participation. Core strengths also include semiconductors, smart cards/near field systems, RFID and IT security. Silicon Austria, a world-class research center for microelectronics, is currently being established.
Multinationals such as Infineon are committed to Austria as a business location. The country is forging ahead with research with special funding programs, for example “ICT of the Future”. Vienna has emerged as an international hotspot for chatbots, and the platform Blockchain Austria is promoting the further development of blockchain technology.
Austria is European champion in e-Government
For years Austria has ranked among the trailblazers with respect to e-Government (PDF, 0.1MB) and has constantly achieved top ratings in international comparison. According to the “eGovernment Monitor 2018”, Austria’s use of digital administrative services clearly surpasses Germany and Switzerland. About three-quarters of all Austrians (74 percent) already take advantage of eGovernment services. In comparison, the usage rate in Switzerland is 55 percent and only 40 percent in Germany.
