"Austria is an Outstanding Test Market for AI Solutions"

Interview with Alexander Thamm, Founder and CEO of [at][at] () 

You are the founder of Alexander Thamm [at], one of the leading data and AI consulting companies in the field of artificial intelligence, data science and big data in German-speaking Europe. Your declared objective is “a strong Europe with digital products and services, globally scaling and based on European values.” What does this mean to you? 

We must build up our technological sovereignty in Europe. This not only means that we have to do everything better or alone, but that we need digital products and services based on our values such as transparency, data protection and fairness. New technologies such as Agentic AI have enormous potential but we should develop them in a way which serve people – and not the other way around. Europe can play a leading role in this regard if we combine innovation with responsibility.  

In Austria, you are developing the chatbot hAIdi.ai, for example for the benefit of small hotels. How would you generally assess the market for AI in Austria? 

The AI market in Austria is very dynamic. Projects such as hAIdi.ai show how great the need is for AI solutions, also for medium-sized companies – from the family-run hotel to industry. A particularly positive aspect is the high technology acceptance, the access to excellent talents and the openness of political decision makers and the public administration for AI-related issues. Naturally, there are challenges, for example when it comes to data availability. However, in this regard, we sense a real spirit of optimism. 

Your company is located in Munich, Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Leipzig, Essen, Innsbruck, Vienna, and St. Gallen/ Gossau. What were the reasons for opening your two offices in Austria?  

It was a mixture of strategic proximity and genuine interest. Munich is where we have our headquarters. Accordingly, Vienna and Innsbruck are close to us, both geographically and culturally. However, the decisive factor is that Austria was very open to our focus areas early on. We developed our first training centre in the Zillertal Valley – our data castle in Kaltenbach, Tyrol. In turn, this resulted in a close connection. And in time, this was complemented by strong partnerships and exciting projects as well as a growing appreciation for the know-how which exists here in the country.  

You employ a total workforce of 500 people. Do you plan for further growth in Austria and how would you rate your access to talents in the country?  

We see considerable potential for the business to further expand in Austria. The talent market is excellent, the universities are producing highly trained specialists, especially in Innsbruck and Vienna, and we notice the fact that many young talents have the desire to work on meaningful, future-oriented projects. 

What opportunities and potential do you see for Alexander Thamm [at] in Austria? 

Austria is a core building block in our European growth strategy. We see a great deal of potential in fields such as energy, mobility and tourism, but especially in the public sector, where we have had very good experiences. Austria is also an outstanding test market for AI solutions, particularly for medium-sized companies. We are piloting AI solutions for this target group here, which we often also implement later in Germany. 

What are the biggest challenges you have faced in Austria? 

The biggest challenge was the handling of data, as is often the case. For example, the importance of data quality became quite evident in a project carried out together with the Austria Public Employment Service (AMS). However, we learned from this and managed to quickly develop solutions with the right team and a partner collaboration. It is important to keep in mind that Austria is not a homogeneous entity. Each region has its own characteristics. One must take this cultural diversity seriously. 

How did ABA support you? 

The support provided by ABA was extraordinary. From legal consulting to network events, we experienced ABA as a pragmatic, professional and solution-oriented partner. I can only recommend - especially for companies entering the market for the first time - that they intensively leverage these cost-free services. They not only helped us to establish a foothold but also opened up new doors for us.  

What do you see as the most important parameters and strengths of Austria as a business location in the field of AI? What is the country’s unique selling proposition? 

Austria combines many things an entrepreneur wants i.e., excellent education, political stability, a high quality of life and a pragmatic public administration which does not block but instead often supports innovation. I would particularly like to emphasize its “Hausverstand” or the ability to practice “common sense,” a typical Austrian pragmatism which Germany often lacks. Austria is small enough to enable short decision paths and big enough to implement relevant lighthouse projects. 

Finally, one last question: what you personally value the most about Austria?  

To be perfectly honest, the mixture of a down-to-earth attitude and openness. And the high quality of life. For me Austria is a place where one can not only work well but also live well.  

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