Hattmannsdorfer/Hanke/Schellhorn: Industrial strategy starts with participation phase Summit with social partners, Platform 4.0 commissioned to accompany the process

While numerous leading industrial nations – including Germany, the USA, China and, more recently, the United Kingdom – already have a long-term strategy for their industrial location, Austria does not yet have such a long-term industrial strategy. Especially in times of global upheaval, a fundamental industrial policy orientation is needed. In developing the industrial strategy, the federal government has precisely this in mind: strategic guidelines for Austria's location policy, which will give companies planning security and prepare the ground for a competitive, innovative and resilient industrial location in 2035.

"I am committed to Austria as a strong and competitive industrial location. Our industry is a guarantor of jobs and innovation, secures our prosperity and finances our welfare state. We need a comprehensive plan of measures to increase our competitiveness, starting with energy costs through to reducing bureaucracy. In addition, we need a clear focus on central key technologies in research in order to further expand existing areas of strength. As an export nation, it is clear that our companies must be able to hold their own on international markets. Our location and funding agencies, experts, entrepreneurs, social partners and the Federation of Austrian Industries will be involved in this process," says Federal Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer.
"The current economic forecasts give us hope. For us as the Federal Government, this gives us a clear mandate to do everything we can to sustainably strengthen the emerging trend reversal. We have already determined how we want to develop the industrial strategy. Today we will discuss this roadmap with the presidents of the social partners. However, this is not just about the ‘how’, but also very much about the ‘what’, i.e. specific content. The efficient use of funds in the area of research and innovation is essential for my area of responsibility. My focus will be on the targeted promotion of those key technologies that have the greatest potential for the location. In addition, I will deliberately stimulate the economy in the area of transport infrastructure and work on the further development of our systems with the aim of driving forward the innovative strength of the domestic economy, for example in the area of patent law," says Federal Minister Peter Hanke.
"This federal government has set itself the goal of not only restructuring Austria, but also reforming and modernizing it - for the people, for economic recovery, for entrepreneurial freedom, for a better future for everyone! Industry and its small and medium-sized suppliers are the backbone of our prosperity. That's why we need to ignite the relief turbo where possible: with excessive bureaucracy for companies, with the digitalization of administration, with reporting obligations. It's about value creation, it's about jobs, it's about the prosperity of us all," says 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 structural change together. We have already achieved a great deal and must continue to invest in future-proof sectors in order to secure Austria's economic future - and thus the future of its employees. We have three great strengths in Austria on which we can build: our industry, our welfare state and our employees. It is important that we do not simply let structural change happen, but define goals now and turn structural change into a structural plan. The Chamber of Labor will place employees at the center of the discussions, because without the necessary measures to ensure sufficient skilled workers, the best plan will not work. Qualification, initial and further training and apprenticeships must be integral components of the industrial strategy," says Renate Anderl, President of the Federal Chamber of Labor.
"Austrian industry is the economic backbone of our country - it provides employment, innovation and added value in all regions. However, rising costs, energy prices and bureaucracy are putting our companies under massive pressure. If we want to secure our competitiveness, we need clear industrial policy priorities and a policy that makes investment possible. The new industrial strategy must be the starting signal for a real return to growth and confidence," says Christoph Neumayer, Secretary General of the Federation of Austrian Industries.
Industrial policy has been the poor relation of politics in recent years, which is why we have been calling for an industrial strategy for a long time, and our experts are working with commitment and motivation. The Austrian industrial sector is an important driver of prosperity and innovation. Therefore, industrial manufacturing and high-quality production jobs in Europe must be secured and expanded. We need a well-thought-out concept that promotes innovation and growth and gives industry planning security because this secures jobs. Affordable energy and sustainable infrastructure are essential. The raw materials strategy and circular economy must also be strengthened. It is essential for the industrial location that dependence on uncertain trading partners is reduced and a stronger focus is placed on the European single market. Social security is also an important Austrian location factor: good jobs, high-quality education and training as well as skilled workers. The trade unions will pay very close attention to ensuring that not only the interests of industry and the business side are taken into account, but also those of the employees," says Wolfgang Katzian, ÖGB President.
"Austria has a strong industrial base and therefore companies that secure our prosperity. If we want Austria to remain a competitive industrial country in 2035, we need to set the right course today, with less bureaucracy, affordable energy, more flexibility and an active location policy. The social partners are playing a constructive role in securing Austria's industrial strength in the long term," says Harald Mahrer, President of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber.

Concept phase completed: Agreement on a target vision

With the involvement of the social partners, the federal government has agreed on a common vision: What should Austria as an industrial location look like in 2035? Every successful strategy process begins with a clear economic picture. This has already been drawn up in preliminary work by experts from the IHS and WIFO and attests to Austria's economy's generally weak development across all industrial sectors. Based on this situation report and an industrial policy paper by the social partners, joint objectives have been developed in recent weeks. These form the basis for the further development of the strategy. Not only the process itself is derived from this, but also the involvement of relevant stakeholders and key performance indicators (KPIs) for measuring success.

Five central objectives

  • Safeguarding the location: Austria as a prosperous country with a strong industrial base, good jobs and qualified, high-performing employees
  • Competitiveness: Austria's industrial companies as successful players on the global market through productivity, quality and specialization
  • Innovative strength: Austria's industry as an innovative and future-oriented sector that is willing to invest
  • Sustainable and circular production: Austria's industry as a pioneer of ecological and digital transformation
  • Resilience: Austria's industrial companies as capable and resilient players with contributions to national and European sovereignty.
  • The implementation and success of the industrial strategy should be made measurable using specific key performance indicators (KPIs). These are based on the five central objectives of the strategy.

Further roadmap for the 2035 industrial strategy - participation process

Phase 1: Start of the participation process & development of an initial draft strategy

  • SWOT meta-study on Austria as an industrial location, analysis of decisive factors for successful company relocations and expansions with the ABA and the location agencies of the federal states
  • Collection of inputs within the framework of sounding boards
  • Open participation: Interested parties can submit ideas and suggestions for the industrial strategy via a central e-mail address (industriestrategie@plattformindustrie40.at)
  • Definition of key fields of action (e.g. energy, research and innovation, infrastructure, cutting red tape and internationalization)
  • Building on this, development of an initial draft strategy.

Phase 2: Feedback and detailed elaboration

The specific fields of action are discussed in detail in specialist expert workshops with entrepreneurs, social partners and the Federation of Austrian Industries, content is sharpened and measures are prioritized, including in the course of a key technology/industry summit.

Phase 3: Consolidation and formulation of the guidelines

After consultation with all participants, the results are condensed and industry policy guidelines are formulated.

Broad involvement ensures practical relevance

Sounding boards consisting of representatives of the social partners, the Federation of Austrian Industries, entrepreneurs, employees and the location and funding agencies (ABA, aws, AIT, CDG and FFG) are actively involved as input providers.

Industry 4.0 platform supports the process

The Industry 4.0 platform was commissioned by the federal government to coordinate and support the process of developing the 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 regarded as the central competence centre for digitalization and industrial transformation in Austria.