Today Vorarlberg ranks among Europe’s strongest economic regions. Its extremely high economic strength is based on a rate of industrialization above average combined with competitive trade, numerous innovative craft business and an effective tourist industry (e.g. Lech am Arlberg as the No. 1 Alpine destination).
Vorarlberg’s annual export volume of EUR 43,000 per employed person places the region far above such strong export countries as Switzerland or Germany. This high export rate is the result of the regional economy’s clear focus on new products, processes and services, which makes it possible to gain market shares even in saturated markets. Such power in innovation is also exemplified by patent statistics – Vorarlberg regularly ranks among Europe’s top 5 regions in terms of the number of patent applications filed with the European Patent Office per million inhabitants. The following perfect conditions, amongst others, for corporate employment play a decisive role in the leading position and economic power of Vorarlberg:
-
Strategically beneficial location in the midst of Europe’s strongest economic regions
-
Advanced infrastructure, also for the transport of goods and individuals
-
Business sites as professional technology and impulse centers
-
High availability of top qualified and motivated personnel
-
Labor productivity above average
-
Relatively low energy prices (e.g. electricity)
-
Great range of funding opportunities due to a healthy regional banking sector
-
Professional local supply industry
-
Attractive economic promotions for innovation and investment projects
-
Efficient administration with short distances and no red tape
-
Business-friendly local climate
-
High quality of life, numerous sports and leisure opportunities
Tertiary education
-
Hofen Castle, science and further education
Research
Research centers of the Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences:
-
Microtechnology
-
User-centered technology
-
Process and product engineering
-
Mechatronics
-
Social sciences and economics
-
Energy
V-Research GmbH – Industrial Research and Development:
-
Construction automation
-
Plant configuration
-
Tribological optimization
-
Damage analysis
University of Innsbruck, Institute for Textile Chemistry and Textile Physics
VIVIT Molecularbiological Laboratory
Clusters and theme networks
-
Smart Textiles Platform
- designforum Vorarlberg
-
Werkraum Bregenzerwald (trade and industry coalition in the Brengenz Forest area)
-
Vorarlberg Architectural Institute
-
IG Passivhaus (Passive House Association of Austria)
-
ARGE Vpack - Verpackungsland Vorarlberg (Working Group Vpack – Vorarlberg as a packaging specialist)
-
Verein Netzwerk Logistik-Region West (Association of Network Logistics – Region West)
Businesses
Key sectors
-
Mechanical engineering
-
Electrical/metal industries
-
Plastics
-
Computer sciences and IT
-
Manufacturing technology and medical engineering
-
Environment and energy technologies
