Location

Main cities: St. Pölten (Capital), Amstetten, Krems, Wiener Neustadt

The region of Lower Austria is the largest province in Austria. It is situated in the north-east of the country along the borders of the Czech and Slovak Republics. Totally enclosed within the region is the province of Vienna (Austria’s capital city). Air, road, rail and water links are very good, with the River Danube flowing right across the region.

Co-ordination

Amt der Niederösterreichischen Landesregierung,
Abteilung Wirtschaftsförderung WST3
Irma Priedl

Landhausplatz 14
A-3109 St. Pölten, Austria

Tel: +43 2742 9005 / 16123; Fax: +43 2742 9005 / 16240
e-mail: irma.priedl@noel.gv.at; http://www.ris-noe.at; http://www.noe.gv.at

The economic structure in Niederösterreich is very heterogeneous - a high level of industrialisation is apparent in the region around Vienna and the areas along the major rail arteries, the southern route from Vienna to Graz and the western route from Vienna to Linz. In the northern Wald- and Weinviertel as well as in big parts of the south the dominant sectors are still agriculture and forestry.

Niederösterreich has been recording economic growth levels above the Austrian national average for a number of years now - and there are various reasons for this, internal and external. As a result of the lifting of the Iron Curtain and Austria's membership to the European Union Niederösterreich has seen a significant upturn in investment and a massive rise in its external trade relations both in the European internal market and with Eastern Europe - currently about 63% of Austria's exports go to the European Union, but also, over 17% go to Eastern Europe.

Vienna has over recent years been able to attract a lot of investment, mainly due to the strong purchasing power of its population, the good economic infrastructure and the proximity to the former Eastern States. This agglomeration known as the VIENNA REGION which includes both Vienna and the neighbouring parts of Niederösterreich and the Burgenland is characterised by a formidable economic dynamism which is benefiting not only the countless suppliers in the surrounding area but also the economic position of Niederösterreich as a whole.

Economic Data

Participation in EU-Programmes

52 % of the population lives in objective 2 (and phasing out region)
The objective 2 covers 73 % of the total region

Economy Sectors

• metal processing
  
• wood and paper
  
• food
  
• chemicals including polymers
  
• oil refining
  

Main Companies

• Berndorf
  
• Böhler
  
• Battenfeld
  
• Magna
  
• ÖMV
  
• Welser
  
• Baxter
  
• Schöller Bleckmann
  
• Huyck
  
• Felten und Guillaume
  
• Testfuchs
  
• Effem (Master Foods)
  
• Bene
  
• Umdasch

Research Institutions

• ARCS Austrian Research Centers Seibersdorf, www.arcs.ac.at
• ECHEM – competence center for applied Electrochemicals, www.echem.at
  
• WOOD Composites & Chemistry Competence Center, www.kplus.at/olr-pages/76.html
  
• International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), www.iiasa.ac.at

Education

• Danube University of Krems: post graduate university, www.donau-uni.ac.at
  
• Fachhochschule Wiener Neustadt, www.fhwn.ac.at
  
• Fachhochschule Krems, www.fhwn.ac.at
  
• Fachhochschule St. Pölten, www.fh-stpoelten.ac.at
  

Incubators

• RIZ Holding Niederösterreich with 4 Regional Innovation Centers in Lower Austria, www.riz.at
  
• GTZ Gründer- und Technologiezentrum St. Pölten, http://wko.at/wknoe/uti/tip/gtz.htm
  

Technology Transfer and Innovation Support

• above mentioned organisations
• Chamber of Commerce Lower Austria:
  
• Technology and Innovation Partners (TIP) and Innovationsagentur Niederösterreich
  
  in close cooperation with government of Lower Austria (http://www.ris-noe.at/products);

further departments

• ECO PLUS Regional Development Agency of Lower Austria, www.ecoplus.at
  
• NÖBEG – Niederösterreichische Kapitalbeteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, www.noebeg-noekbg.at
  
• NÖ Landesakademie, www.noe-lak.at
• Regional Managements
  

Innovation Support by Amt der NÖ Landesregierung,
Abteilung Wirtschaftsförderung

• Development of the innovation policy within Lower Austria according demand and potentials of the Lower Austria companies, www.ris-noe.at, www.noe.gv.at
  
• Monitoring of the innovation activities of the SMEs in Lower Austria and marketing, www.infinoe.at
  
• Funding and monitoring of innovation projects, www.wirtschaftsfoerderung.at/fs_fue.htm
  Enhancing cooperation of the SMEs, www.kooperationen.net
  
• Development and support of Cluster projects and Competence Centers, http://www.ris-noe.at/products
  
• Start-up support, www.genius.or.at
  

Publications

Regionale Innovations Strategie Niederösterreich (02/1999)
Regionales Innovations System Niederösterreich (06/2001), www.ris-noe.at