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Life Sciences

Biotechnology, pharmaceutical industry and medical technology: the life sciences sector in Austria is characterised by outstanding networking, international research and a growing corporate landscape.

Life Sciences

Biotech, pharmaceutical industry, and medical technology: The life sciences sector in Austria is characterized by optimal networking within a strong research network, active both nationally and internationally.

The close collaboration between universities, research institutions, and life sciences companies fosters the development of innovative products and technologies.

Furthermore, the growing corporate landscape in this sector offers a promising environment for investments and new business initiatives. Austria's strong expertise and commitment in the life sciences contribute to positioning the country as a leading location for medical research and development, as well as in the mobility industry or deeptech technologies.

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Austria: Top centre
for life sciences

Austria is one of the most important centers of the European life sciences scene, with both SMEs and many multinationals. A total of 1.174 life sciences companies, including biotech, pharmaceutical, and medical technology industries, operate in Austria. Major players such as Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, and Ottobock are part of this vibrant system. There is a hive of activity, particularly in Austria’s core areas of expertise such as cancer research, gene therapy research and medical products.

The high degree of networking between producers, suppliers and service providers makes Austria an outstanding location for life sciences companies with international research. The life sciences sector accounts for 8,3% of GDP, thus making a key contribution to national gross value added. It is responsible for more than 73.400 highly qualified jobs.

The business location of Austria stands out because it offers not one but several advantages i.e., an excellent infrastructure (including laboratory space) and highly qualified, motivated employees. The availability of data and donors makes Austria an ideal location for medical research, complemented by the research tax credit and a strong funding landscape. In 2022, Austria launched a new funding programme with a volume of € 50 million for pharmaceutical and life sciences companies, also for financing clinical studies.

Life Sciences in Austria

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Expertise in life sciences
at a glance

1,174 companies
73,437 employees
€ 40.0 billion in revenue
56 research institutions
24,294 R&D employees

Life Sciences Companies in Austria:
A System Full of Opportunities

01
Hub for companies, start-ups and research

Companies and startups in the fields of therapy, medical technology and diagnostics create a dynamic environment for research. Every second biotech company is active in the hotspot of Vienna. Oncology, neurology, vaccines and immunology as well as precision medicine and e-health are important focus areas.
02
Investment in innovation

The life sciences sector is by far the most innovative. It has the highest research ratio (20.5%) and accounts for 8,3% of GDP. Each year, Austrian life science companies invest more than € 1 billion in R&D, comprising almost every sixth euro invested in R&D by the private sector.
03
Health system of global repute

A great health system, world-renowned clinics, excellent research facilities make Austria's locational advantages for the medical technology sector are crystal-clear. A total of 642 medical technology companies particularly focus on electromechanical medical technology, software development and digital health.

04
Hotspot of cancer research

For decades, a pivotal goal of research has been to successfully combat cancer. The Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) Vienna of the Medical University of Vienna and of Vienna General Hospital links all professional groups of these two institutions. Accordingly, the CCC brings together the competent, interdisciplinary medical care of cancer patients with clinical research and basic research as well as teaching at the highest academic level.
05
Success through networking

Creative, interdisciplinary ecosystems are a secret to Austria's success. Top researchers and serial entrepreneurs work side by side. Clusters and centres of competence with a regional focus promote the collaboration between the business and scientific communities. These include LISAvienna, the Vienna BioCenter, the Life Sciences Cluster Tirol, the Human Technology Cluster Human.Technology.Styria and Technopol Krems.
06
Bundled competence

Numerous universities, universities of applied sciences and non-university research facilities, 56 in total, actively operate in Austria in the life sciences sector. Almost 25,000 employees work in research and education, with approx. 68,000 students comprising the young talents for this future-oriented field. The life sciences budget of these research facilities equals € 1.91 billion. These underlying conditions are visible and tangible thanks to research that grabs headlines.

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