While numerous leading industrialized nations – including Germany, the USA, China and recently also the United Kingdom – have already had a long -term strategy for its industrial location, Austria has not yet had such long -term industrial strategy. A basic industrial policy orientation is required, especially in times of global upheavals. When developing the industrial strategy, the Federal Government has exactly this in mind: strategic guidelines for Austrian location policy, which gives companies planning security and prepares the soil for a competitive, innovative and resilient industrial location 2035.
“I am committed to a strong and competitive industrial location in Austria. Our industry is a guarantee of jobs and innovation, secures our prosperity and finances our welfare state. It needs a comprehensive plan to increase our competitiveness, from energy costs up to de -bureaucratization. It is clear as an exporting nation: Our companies must be able to assert themselves in the international markets. so Federal Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer.
“The current economic forecasts give hope. For us as a federal government, this results in the clear mandate of action to do everything in order to strengthen the emerging reversal of trends sustainably. We have already determined how we want to work out the industrial strategy. Today we will discuss this timetable with the president: but not only about the ‘how’, but it is already very important For my area of responsibility. Patent rights, “ so Federal Minister Peter Hanke.
“This federal government has made it its goal to not only renovate Austria, but also to reform and modernize – for the people, for the economic upswing, for entrepreneurial freedom, for a better future for everyone! The industry and its small and medium -sized suppliers are the backbone of our wealth. Therefore we have to ignite the relief turbo where it is possible: with exuberant bureaucracy for the company Digitization of the administration, the reporting obligations. so State Secretary Sepp Schellhorn.
“It is very good that the federal government is planning the urgently needed industrial strategy together with the social partners, because we can only shape the structural change together. We have already achieved a lot and will continue to invest in future -proof sectors in order to secure the economic future of Austria – and thus the future of the employees. We have three great strengths in Austria: our industry, our welfare state and our employees. If we do not simply let the structural change pass, but now define goals and make a structural plan. so Renate Anderl, President of the Federal Chamber of Labor
“The Austrian industry is the economic backbone of our country – it ensures employment, innovation and added value in all regions. But increasing costs, energy prices and bureaucracy put our businesses under massive pressure. If we want to secure our competitiveness, we need clear industrial policy priorities and a policy that makes investments possible. The new industrial strategy has to take a real return and interpretation be”, so Christoph Neumayer, Secretary General of the Industrial Association.
Industrial policy has been a stepchild in politics in recent years, which is why we have been calling for an industrial strategy for a long time, our experts: inside, work is committed and motivated. The Austrian industrial sector is an important engine for prosperity and innovation. Therefore, industrial production and high -quality production workplaces in Europe must be secured and expanded. We need a well -thought -out concept that promotes innovation and growth and gives industry security because the job secures. Affordable energy and future -oriented infrastructures are essential. The raw material strategy and circular economy must also be strengthened. It is essential for the industrial location that the dependence on uncertain trading partners is reduced and a stronger focus is on the European internal market
Social security is also an important Austrian location factor: good jobs, high-quality training and further education as well as specialists. The unions will make sure that not only the interests of the industry or the economic side are taken into account, but also those of the employees “so Wolfgang Katzian, ÖGB President
“Austria has a strong industrial basis and thus secure companies that secure our prosperity. If we want it to be a competitive industrial country in 2035, today we have to set the right course, with less bureaucracy, affordable energy, more flexibility and an active location policy. so Harald Mahrer, President of the Austria Chamber of Commerce.
Conception phase completed: agreement on target image
With the integration of the social partners, the federal government has agreed on a common target picture: What should the Austrian industrial location look like in 2035? At the beginning of every successful strategy process there is a clear one economic position. This has already been developed in preparatory work by experts from the IH and the WIFO and attested to Austria’s economy in a generally weak development in the width of the industrial sectors. Building on this position and one Industrial policy paper from the social partners Common objectives have been developed in the past few weeks. These are the basis for further development of the strategy. This not only derives the process itself, but also the integration of relevant actors as well as central key figures (KPIS) for measurement of success.
Five central objectives
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Securing location: Austria as a wealthy country with a strong industrial basis, good workplaces & qualified, powerful employees
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competitiveness: Austria’s industrial companies as successful players on the world market through productivity, quality and specialization
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Innovative strength: Austria’s industry as a willingness to invest, innovative & future -oriented industry
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Sustainable & circular production: Austria’s industry as pioneers of ecological and digital transformation
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Resilience: Austria’s industrial companies as capable of acting & resilient actors with contributions to national & European sovereignty
The implementation and success of the industrial strategy should be made measurable based on specific key figures (KPIS). These are based on the five central objectives of the strategy. Currently, the KPIs are well developed and coordinated with the integration of scientific experts – for example by IHS & WIFO.
Another timetable of the 2035 industrial strategy – participation process
Phase 1: Start of the participation process & development of a first strategy design
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SWOT Meta study on the Austrian industrial location, analysis of crucial factors for successful company settlements and extensions with the ABA and the location agencies of the federal states.
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Collection of inputs as part of Sounding Boards
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Open participation: Interested parties can contribute ideas and suggestions for the industrial strategy via a central e-mail address (industriestrategie@plattform industry40.at).
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Determination of central fields of action (e.g. energy, research & innovation, infrastructure, de -bureaucratization and internationalization).
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Build on it Development of a first draft strategy.
Phase 2: Feedback and detailed elaboration
The specific fields of action are in technical Expert workshops Discussed with entrepreneurs, the social partners, the social partners and the industrial association in detail, content is sharpened and measures are prioritized, among other things, in the course of a key technology/industry sum.
Phase 3: Dilitation and wording of the guidelines
After coordination with everyone involved, the results are compressed and industrial policy guidelines are formulated (see graphic “timetable”).
Width integration ensures practical relevance:
Sounding Boards consisting of representatives of the social partners, the industrial association, entrepreneurs, employees, employees as well as the location and funding agencies (ABA, AWS, AIT, CDG & FFG) are actively involved as input agency (see graphic “Sounding Boards”).
Industry 4.0 platform accompanies the process
Industry 4.0 platform was commissioned by the Federal Government to coordinate and process support for the development of industrial strategy 2035. As an established interface between industry, social partners, science and politics, it organizes the exchange, structures the feedback and accompanies the entire development process until the strategy is completed. The platform was founded in 2015 by the then Ministry of Infrastructure together with the social partners and is now considered a central competence center for digitization and industrial transformation in Austria.