More Europe Than You Think
You expected cosy coffee houses.
You get one of Europe's most connected business hubs.
- The center of Europe: access to 600 million consumers
- Austrian market: high purchasing power
- Vienna as a location for many regional headquarters of international organizations and companies
- Hub between East and West of Europe
Take your seat in the EU with a cup of coffee and support from us.
Close to Europe's key markets – by design
Austria combines central positioning with excellent connectivity, making it easy to reach Europe's most important business hubs.
- Gateway to a market with around 600 million consumers in the heart of Europe
- Location of many international organizations (e.g., UN, OPEC, and IAEA) and more than 400 regional headquarters
- Hub between East and West – ideal for international expansion and business contacts
600 Million consumers
450 Million consumers
100 Million consumers
More talent than you think
- Expertise & loyalty: In Austria, you get highly skilled employees that are extremely motivated and loyal – on average, they stay with a company for about ten years.
- STEM experts: International companies highly value the specialised expertise of Austrian employees, e.g. in STEM areas such as artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, bioinformatics, cyber security, data science or power electronics. More than 30% of graduates in Austria are from STEM areas, which makes Austria #3 in the EU.
- Dual training system: The dual apprenticeship system and advanced technical collages focus on practice-oriented skills. Austria’s young specialists win awards regularly - they won 12 medals at the 2025 European Skills Championships.
- English proficiency: Austria holds a top position in the English Proficiency Index and a quarter of all Austrians grow up bilingual.
What is so special about the ecosystem in Austria?
We found a very collaborative framework and a business culture of innovation and openness. We've discovered awesome manufacturers but also good research institutes we collaborate with and most importantly a brand of excellence. This strategy of Austria to Europe has grown even more and the more we are spending time in Austria and working with Austrian companies.
Austria as an industrial nation
- Industry as a Pillar of the Economy: At 26.8%, Austria’s share of industrial production in GDP is significantly above the EU average of 24.7%. In comparison, tourism, although also important, contributes 13,6% to the GDP.
- 275 Leading Industrial Companies in Austria: Many of them are “hidden champions", such as Andritz AG, voestalpine, Rosenbauer, Miba, Lenzing, and Doppelmayr.
- More than 1 million employees: More than 1 million people work in Austria’s manufacturing sector, and approximately 14,000 apprentices are trained in the industry.
- Export-oriented: Austria is also among the top three foreign investors in Eastern and Southern Europe.
More success stories
How we make your access easy?
We quickly provide you with information that gets right to the point, and thus reduce complexity. Support and advice - completely free of charge and always up to date.
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Establishing contacts and networking
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Talent pool
FAQs
- 01
Why should companies consider Austria for expanding into Europe?
Austria offers international companies a stable and predictable business environment, a well-developed infrastructure and a high quality of life. As an EU member state in the heart of Europe, Austria gives companies access to a market of more than 600 million consumers and is closely connected to Central and Eastern European markets.
- 02
How can Austria help companies enter the EU market?
Austria’s central location makes it an attractive base for companies planning to grow in Europe. More than 412 international companies already use Austria as a location for their regional headquarters, benefiting from its strategic position, stable conditions and access to European markets. Austria also offers direct access to more than 100 million consumers in the German-speaking region and strong connections to CEE and SEE markets.
- 03
What kind of skilled workforce can companies find in Austria?
Austria offers highly qualified, motivated and loyal specialists. Companies value the job-specific expertise and practice-oriented skills of Austrian employees, who stay with a company for around ten years on average. Austria’s dual education system links schools with businesses and enables practice-oriented learning aligned with company needs.
- 04
Is Austria a strong location for STEM, engineering and digital skills?
Yes. Austria’s 23 universities and 21 universities of applied sciences offer programs that address current digitalization needs, including artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, bioinformatics, cybersecurity, data science and power electronics. More than 30% gratuate in STEM fields, which makes Austria #3 in Europe. Robert Bosch AG, for example, is increasingly relying on Austria as an engineering location in areas such as automotive radar systems, artificial intelligence and electrolysis for green hydrogen.
- 05
What makes Austria an ideal location for research and development?
Austria is a dynamic research location with a strong innovation ecosystem, direct research funding and a 14% research premium. The research ratio increased from 1.53% in 1994 to 3.35% in 2024, positioning Austria among Europe’s strongest research and development locations. Companies benefit from close cooperation between business and science, including universities, research institutes, suppliers, customers and startups.
- 06
What support is available for companies setting up operations in Austria?
INVEST in AUSTRIA supports international companies before entering the Austrian market, during the settlement process and after operations have been established. Services include up-to-date information on Austria as a business location, relevant facts and figures, networking with industry representatives, information on funding programs, support with site selection and assistance in finding suitable land or real estate. These services are provided free of charge.
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- Top infrastructure & central location
- Stable framework conditions
- Supportive environment for innovation