ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA

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We present innovations, exports and economic opportunities from Austria. Stay informed with news, insights, and dialogue on Austrian companies and their role in international markets. Check out: www.advantageaustria.org

An infographic with information about the top 10 austrian brands and their combined value
Congratulations to Thomas Vallant, Günter Sauermoser and the entire team on winning Silver in the Industry category.
More than 50 years of "Automation by innovation": KEBA wins the 2026 Export Prize Gold in the Industry category. Founded in 1968 and headquartered in Linz, the company develops and produces systems for industrial manufacturing, banking, logistics and energy. The KEBA Group operates internationally through its own subsidiaries and industry-focused business areas. At the core lies a clear principle: "Automation by innovation". This approach drives continuous improvement and creates tangible value for customers around the world. A key focus is usability. KEBA's solutions are built to simplify complex processes and ensure straightforward operation. CEO Christoph Knogler shares more in our video.
Applied AI Conference. 24 September 2026. Vienna, Austria. Register now at www.aaic.forum
Austrian solutions drive plastic recycling worldwide
International Machinery Forum 2026. 19-20 November 2026. Vienna, Austria. Register now at machineryforum.at
How Austrian firms put circular economy into practice
Austria is strengthening its position as a leading AI user market
Austrian universities play a central role in innovation and economy.
Austrian control centre specialist increases revenue by over 20%
The Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) 2026 returns to Vienna for its 70th anniversary, following the 2025 victory of Austrian entry JJ (Johannes Pietsch) in Basel. As the world’s most widely broadcast TV event, the ESC attracts around 180 million viewers annually, plus millions of interactions across digital platforms. This year’s event, held at the Wiener Stadthalle from May 10th to 17th, highlights Vienna's international reputation as a premier city of music. Beyond the colorful spectacle of melodies and outfits, the contest serves as a significant economic engine for Austria. A pre-event study anticipates up to 88,000 extra visitors, generating an estimated €57 million in demand for goods and services across sectors like tourism, gastronomy, and event management. With a direct value-added effect of approximately €52 million, the ESC 2026 offers a strong return on investment, contributing roughly €1.70 to the economy for every euro of public funding. To ensure a world-class production, the broadcaster ORF is coordinating massive technical preparations, including the installation of 3,500 tons of equipment and 8,500 LED stage lamps. More than just a competition, the ESC remains a symbol of European integration and identity, honored by the Charlemagne Award for European Media. Under its official motto, "United by Music," the event promotes togetherness, solidarity, and tolerance on a global stage. Preparations are in top gear to welcome contestants and fans to a magnificent celebration of music and culture in the heart of Austria.
Innovation made in Austria. Patent registrations increased by 10% in 2025. Austria's innovation ecosystem is shining brightly. In 2025, Austrian companies and inventors filed 2,253 patent applications with the European Patent Office, marking a strong return to growth after two weaker years. The data underline Austria's strengths in technology‑driven industries. Growth is especially visible in specialist machinery, materials, metal technologies, and measurement systems. These are areas where Austrian expertise is well established. The highest number of patents filed by a single company was recorded by Borealis, with 173 applications. On a per‑capita basis, Austria performs well above the EU average. There were 245 patent applications per million inhabitants, compared with an EU average of 153. This innovative capacity supports productivity, high‑value jobs, and long‑term competitiveness. Find out more about patented Austrian innovations in our FRESH VIEW magazine on developing new medication.
The brain, revealed. An Austrian invention opens new ways to see the human brain. For the first time, the international science journal Nature Magazine has named an Austrian technology among its "Seven technologies to watch". The Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) earned this recognition with "LICONN", a microscopy method that could transform brain research. Instead "zooming in" on the sample, the ISTA team expands the tissue sample itself using a special hydrogel. The sample swells while keeping its structure, becomes transparent and increases resolution 16 times. Now we can see fine neural connections and pathways across thousands of synapses: This brings a full "wiring diagram" of the brain within reach. Because the technique is simple and affordable, it can be used in laboratories worldwide. Another strong signal of Austria's global innovation strength.
Smaller than bacteria: Vienna University of Technology has created the world's smallest QR code. It measures 1.98 square micrometres and is milled into a ceramic layer using focused ion beams. Each pixel is just 49 nanometres, which makes the code invisible to visible light. It can only be read with an electron microscope. Researchers at Vienna University of Technology carried out the project with Cerabyte, a company working on long‑term data storage technologies. Their shared focus lies in materials research. Conventional digital storage requires constant energy input, cooling systems and periodic data migration. Ceramic films behave differently. They remain stable under extreme conditions and preserve structural information over long periods. The experiment demonstrates that ceramic media can hold dense information in a compact and durable format.
Gateway to space: "Austria-Houston" in Graz prepares for a major upgrade while keeping missions active. Satellites TUGSAT‑1, PRETTY, OPS‑SAT, and UniBRITE have all contributed to Austrian space research from Inffeldgasse 12 at the Technische Universität Graz campus. This site is where the satellites were, and are, built and tested. It is also where they are controlled and monitored throughout their missions, which earned the ground station the nickname "Austria-Houston". The building from the 1970s will now undergo a full renovation. Around 10 million euros will be invested by 2028. The missions at a glance: 1. TUGSAT‑1 and UniBRITE, the first Austrian small satellites, launched in 2013. Both operated longer than planned, delivered data on the variability of bright stars, and completed their missions in 2025. 2. OPS‑SAT, a "flying test laboratory", tested new satellite concepts and technologies for more than four years. 3. The mission of the mini climate satellite PRETTY was recently extended until the end of 2026. "Austria-Houston" also includes a clean room for satellite assembly and facilities for essential pre‑launch tests. These tests range from temperature cycles between minus 40 and plus 80 degrees Celsius to trials in the vacuum chamber and on the vibration table. In the area of space technology, the entire spectrum is covered in Austria. From components for satellites and space vehicles to ground equipment and specialised measuring instruments.
Discover the home of winter sports excellence. Home to global market leaders in ropeways. Host of Interalpin, the world's leading fair for alpine technologies. Read more in our new Fresh View.
Austrian ultramarathoner Rainer Predl wins the Antarctic Ice Ultra🏆! 100 km in 9:55:44 hours, a record at -30°C. Extreme conditions, strong winds and icy trails - a triumph for Austria!
The Marietta Blau Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) was founded in 2025 through the merger of HEPHY (founded in 1966) and SMI (successor to the Institute for Radium Research, founded in 1910). It brings together over 100 employees and is Austria's largest centre for experimental and theoretical particle physics. The name honours Marietta Blau, whose pioneering work in the detection of subatomic particles contributed significantly to the international importance of Austrian physics. The institute works closely with the Vienna University of Technology, the University of Vienna and major international projects such as CERN. Around a quarter of the employees are doctoral students.
Austria had a 94% share of renewable energy in its electricity consumption in 2024, according to the report by E-Control. This increase in hydropower and photovoltaics, strengthens Austria's role in green technologies, grid services & H2 solutions.
VISTA Science Experience Centre (@istaresearch.bsky.social, Klosterneuburg) brings world-class Austrian research to life: interactive exhibitions, workshops and a science festival offer hands-on research experiences. VISTA connects the lab and the public - made in Austria
Austria is promoting synthetic natural gas: climate-friendly SNG is produced from CO2 and green H2 (and residual materials). It can be used via existing gas networks, strengthening supply security and the circular economy.