Location and Business Policy

Content of the site

Siting of Companies

The Austrian Business Agency

The Austrian business location agency Austrian Business Agency (ABA), a subsidiary of the Federal Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism (BMWET), makes Austria attractive to international companies, top talents and film producers. With its three business areas INVEST in AUSTRIA, WORK in AUSTRIA and FILM in AUSTRIA, the ABA advises and supports international companies, skilled workers and film producers free of charge on all issues relating to Austria as a business, research, work and film location.

ABA as the competence centre for business location issues

The ABA reported a new all-time high of 21,000 consultations in the year 2024, showcasing the unprecedented interest in its services as a business location agency.

INVEST in AUSTRIA is the key to Austria as a business location for all international companies and startups as well as for establishing business operations and further expansion steps. Since its founding in the year 1982, the ABA has supported more than 5,000 business location and expansion projects of international firms in Austria, which created more than 70,000 new jobs and invested a total of € 14 billion.

WORK in AUSTRIA promotes Austria as an attractive work location and supports employers in Austria in specifically appealing to suitable skilled workers from abroad. Using a variety of event formats and the "Talent Hub", the business location agency brings together companies and international talents, advising the latter on their way to Austria. Services include individual consultations on procedures for the "Red-White-Red-Card" and other residence permits, relocation assistance and onboarding in the new company.

FILM in AUSTRIA, in its role as Austria's national film commission, supports international film productions planning to shoot in Austria. James Bond, Mission Impossible and streaming productions such as "Nine Perfect Strangers" featuring Nicole Kidman are among the highlights of the 540 completed productions. The services offered range from consulting on film funding and support in the search for suitable locations to filming permits, finding co-production partners and networking with filmmakers.

Support to international companies in expanding to and within Austria

INVEST in AUSTRIA supported 309 international companies in 2024 in setting up or expanding their business operations in Austria. These companies invested a total of € 1.1 billion. More than 2,000 jobs were created within the context of these projects.

Comprehensive services in recruiting international skilled workers

WORK in AUSTRIA conducted close to 16,000 consultations for skilled workers in 2024 on the issue of living and working in Austria, more than double the comparable prior-year figure. This increase resulted from expanding the number of target markets as well as more intensive communications activities. The service centre ABA Immigration and Residence Services carried out close to 4,000 consultations in 2024 on issues such as the Red-White-Red-Card.

Welcoming Hollywood: The flourishing film location of Austria

FILM in AUSTRIA can look back at a successful year in 2024 featuring seven implemented film and TV projects in 2024, similar to its good results in 2023. "Der Spitzname", "Cliffhanger", "Very Best Ager" and "Crystal Wall" were among the productions realized in 2024 in addition to "Nine Perfect Strangers". The FISAplus funding programme targeting international productions in Austria had a positive impact in these cases.

The "Austrian Producers" platform

In cooperation with the professional association Film and Music Austria, the national film commission under the auspices of ABA has developed the platform "Austrian Producers". It is designed to enhance the international visibility of Austrian film producers and production service companies. Austrian production companies and production service companies which are members of Film and Music Austria in the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ) are entitled to register to join the platform.

How can ABA help?

Searching for suitable sites, personnel and film locations
Data, facts and trends on Austria as a business, work and film location
Establishing and expanding business operations
Labour law and tax issues
Relocation of highly qualified skilled workers from all over the world
Funding and financing possibilities
Establishing contacts and networking

Further information

Austrian Business Agency

Film

Here you can find all key information on the funding programme of FISA – Film Industry Support Austria, on existing film agreements as well as the recognition of co-productions.

FISA – Film Industry Support Austria

This film funding programme strengthens the competitiveness of the Austrian film industry and makes Austria attractive as a location for foreign co-production partners. Information and submission of application

Recognition of co-productions

It should be noted that an application for recognition of co-productions must be filed before shooting begins. The relevant time limits need to be observed. Co-productions are becoming increasingly important for the Austrian film industry. They generate enhanced funding options for individual films on the one hand, and help in seeing that the capital invested pays off (access to additional markets for sales) on the other. Films that are co-produced are deemed to be equivalent to films that are produced nationally and may receive the kind of support that is available in the country party to the agreement. The recognition of co-productions as well as negotiations on bilateral film agreements fall within the remit of the Federal Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism. The Federal Chancellery is responsible for the funding of films (Austrian Film Institute – Österreichisches Filminstitut) and the representation of Austria in international film forums.

Furthermore there are several International Film Agreements, which enable co-productions on an international level.

Women in Business

Supporting women in business is of great importance for the Austrian market in social policy, demographic and economic terms.

Location Policy

Business start-up: Information with a click to the Business start-up service (German)
Funding: Information with a click to the Financing Service (German)
Location Development Act (Standortentwicklungsgesetz – StEntG): Information with a click to the Standort-Entwicklungsgesetz (PDF, 455 KB)(German)

The goal of economic policy is to sustainably improve the quality of life of citizens by securing jobs as well as ensuring income growth and a fair distribution of income with due regard to appropriate social and environmental standards. Location policy is part of economic policy aimed at devising strategic positions and consistent long-term measures for improving the international competitiveness of an economic region in a sustainable manner. The basic thrust of the location policies pursued by the Federal Ministry for Labour and Economy is to create and design a business-friendly environment in Austria resulting in a positive sum game with long-term benefits for both employers and employees. With the transfer of important economic policy powers to the European level – in particular concerning monetary policy and the framework for budgetary policy – location policy has become a key instrument for steering the economy.

The quality of the Austrian economy as a business location has been constantly improved as shown by various rankings: economic downturns were met by Austria's economic policy with investments in research and education as well as efforts to strengthen entrepreneurial freedom and hone the framework conditions for businesses – the response thus chosen focused on structural improvement as a basis for sustainable economic growth. Traditional strengths of the Austrian regions such as high environmental quality, labour skills or economic and social stability were consolidated and further expanded.

Major structural improvements are expected to result from the 2012 increase of research spending to around 2.8 per cent of GDP, but also from the liberalisation of the Austrian Trade Act (Gewerbeordnung – GewO) and the privatisation of economically significant supply industries (already implemented in part), the liberalisation of the energy and telecommunication markets, the reinforcement of the capital market (in particular risk capital), administrative reforms and in particular simplified administrative procedures and the alleviation of the financial burden involved in business start-up processes.

Policies in recent years have encouraged market economic processes and initiated a trend reversal towards measures ensuring a balanced budget. In response to changes in society, policies have also been adapted to encourage self-autonomy and individual responsibility as well as to raise awareness regarding the necessity of taking ownership for one's actions, thus laying the cornerstone for a successful Austrian location policy.

Overview: Location-relevant policy areas by groups of instruments

Tax reform: corporate income tax rate (KöSt) reduced to 25 per cent
Sustainable budget consolidation: balanced budgets over the cycle
Targeted funding policy: institutional and programmatic restructuring
Policies of liberalisation: Trade Act, energy, telecommunication, shop-opening hours, facilitation of start-ups
Start-up policies focusing on technology and innovation
Privatisation policies
Administrative reform: New Public Management and e-Government
Reinforcement of the (risk) capital market
Efficient labour market policy and modernisation of the public employment service

Proposals for location development

The Location Development Act (Standortentwicklungsgesetz – StEntG) of the Austrian federal government aims to provide an accelerated procedure for projects of relevance (impact) to a region and of special public interest to the Republic of Austria. This Act establishes a framework which affords predictability with respect to decisions made by public authorities and enhances legal certainty for businesses and citizens. In the eyes of the Federal Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism, faster decisions and accelerated procedures are key to promoting new jobs, competitive strength and security of supply.

Experience has shown that projects of importance to the Austrian economy are at risk of getting stuck in complex administrative processes in spite of defined procedural time-limits. Excessively long procedures constitute a massive disadvantage for the Austrian market, inhibiting the involvement of private investors and wasting an opportunity for increasing competitiveness. With the Location Development Act, the federal government ensures that the developers of location-relevant projects can assert their claim to accelerated procedures. A location-relevant project within the meaning of this Act is a project that requires an environmental impact assessment. The Act is intended to encourage projects and result in value being added and jobs being created in Austria rather than being delocalised.

Applicants for location-relevant projects may submit their proposals at: AnregungStandortentwicklung.POST@bmwet.gv.at

Business Policy as a Key Element of Government Economic Policy

Within this context, business policy is an ongoing process aimed at optimising the framework conditions for companies of all sizes and sectors, while supporting areas with a potential to increase Austria's competitiveness and economic growth. The economic structure of the country, with more than 99 per cent made up of small- and medium-sized companies, explains why SME policy is the key element of business politics.

It is in the nature of things that some 328,900 SMEs, defined as companies with fewer than 250 employees, are very heterogeneous. They also include roughly 120,500 one-person enterprises (OPEs), meaning businesses which currently have no employees but frequently tend to grow and want to recruit staff, as well as roughly 5,500 medium-sized enterprises (50-249 employees). These data refer to 2016, the most recent data available from Statistics Austria. This signifies that the needs and concerns of SMEs vary greatly. Consequently, the business policy of the Federal Ministry for Labour and Economy involves sector- and size-specific measures, while at the same time pursuing the common interests of all business undertakings.

Business Start-up

Launching one's own business is an excellent opportunity for people who wish to work independently and are prepared to undertake above average efforts. New companies provide major impetus to domestic business, create new jobs and are thus important engines of growth. Austria needs these innovative and inventive workers who turn their professional strengths and qualifications into brands of their own, while generating growth, employment and structural effects. In particular in economically difficult times, the Federal Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism is very much interested in further optimising the framework for those wishing to set up business and offers support to business starters. The Start-up Service (German) of the Federal Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism will assist you in your first steps towards self-employment.

For further information and to establish business in Austria you can also consider the platform Unternehmensserviceportal usp.gv.at.

Figures:

29,935 business starters in 2017
44.5 per cent women's share in new start-ups in 2023
80 per cent still in business after three years, 68 per cent after five years

Contact

Location and Business Policy: wirtschaftsstandort@bmwet.gv.at