Austria is one of the hottest places for international startups. Discover why and find out how ABA can assist you in setting up business in Austria

1. Startup Hotspot

3. You Know Austria…

4. # 1 destination for winter sports

5. We Austrians like to waltz all day.
Every day!

6. # Do You Really Know Austria?

7. BMW in Austria
 5,200 people
 Export volume: 5 bn. €
 3 out of 4 BMWs are
powered by an engine „made
in Austria“

8. Otto Bock Healthcare
 Austrian subsidiary of
German med tech giant
 Launched the first Bionik
artifical limb in 2007
 600 people in Vienna, 200
in R&D
 „Vienna is one of the
innovation centers and a
driving force for our
company.“

9. Runtastic
 2008/09: University project
 Most successful fitness app
worldwide
 105 m. registered users
 Strategic partnership with
addidas: 220 m.€

10. Shpock
 Austrian flea market app
 Schibsted Classifieds Media
takes over in 2015
 Global brand

12. Austria is a Strong Industrial
Location
Contribution to GDP by sector, 2016
Source: OECD, Eurostat
15 % 28 %

13. Top Industries

14. Austria Invests in R & D
Increase of R & D expenditures, 2000 - 2015
EU: + 13%
Austria: + 62%

15. Research and
Development in Austria
 More than EUR 11 billion
were invested in R&D in
Austria in 2016
 With 3.14 % of GDP Austria
is above the EU average of
2.03 percent
 Research premium: 12%

16. Comprehensive Funding System
 Austria Wirtschaftsservice GmbH (AWS): funding bank for
corporate business development
www.aws.at
 Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG): promotes
R&D by companies along the entire innovation chain
www.ffg.at
 Austrian Science Fund (FWF): promotion of basic research
 At the regional level: additional funding and support

17. Startup Funding System - FFG
www.ffg.at/startups

18. Early Stage Funding - aws
www.aws.at

19. Austrian Cluster Landscape
More than 50 clusters
Approx. 3,500 companies
Approx. 420,000 staff

20. Labor productivity
15% above EU average
# 4 worldwide
In Austria You Find Productive and
Motivated Staff

22. „New“ Austrians
Source: Statistik Austria 2016
Largest foreign communities
176,517
116,739
116,053
93,966
82,971
70,255
63,608
57,604
35,355
31,151
25,324
Germany
Serbia
Turkey
Bosnia Herz.
Romania
Croatia
Hungary
Poland
Slovakia
Russia
Italy

23. Strong Economy in the Heart of Europe
Purchasing power 2016
EU: 100
Austria: 127

25. 90 m.
cconsumers
420 m.
consumers
760 m.
consumers

26. Vienna International Airport –
The Leading Hub to CEE and SEE
Austrian Airlines:
23 countries
35 destinations
451 flights per week
Source: Vienna Airport

27. Attractive for More than 360 Regional
Headquarters

28. Investor-friendly Tax System
Corporate tax rate: 25%
Modern group taxation
Tax premium for R&D: 12%
(14% from 2018)
No trade tax
No net worth tax
Double taxation treaties

29. Moderate Taxation of Profits
Maximum taxation in %, 2016
17
19
19
20
22
22
25
25
25
25
27.5
30
33.3
33.99
35
Slovenia
Czech Republic
Poland
United Kingdom
Slovakia
Sweden
Austria
Netherlands
Norway
Spain
Italy
Germany
France
Belgium
USA
Source: Statistik Austria

31. High Social Satisfaction - No Strikes
Working days lost to strikes per 1,000 employees –
annual average 2005-2014
1
2
5
5
8
8
15
23
55
63
71
84
110
124
132
Switzerland
Austria
Poland
Sweden
Netherlands
USA
Germany
United Kingdom
Norway
Spain
Finland
Belgium
Canada
Denmark
France
Source: WSI - Hans Böckler Foundation 03/2016

33. Unmatched Quality of Life
9.83
9.71
9.70
9.24
9.21
9.05
8.26
8.20
8.11
8.00
7.92
7.21
5.36
3.69
Switzerland 1
Austria 2
Norway 3
Netherlands 8
Germany 9
Belgium 12
USA 18
Czech Republic 19
Japan 20
France 23
United Kingdom 24
Italy 28
Poland 43
Hungary 57
Source: World Competitiveness Yearbook 2016
Maximum = 10

34. Start Your Startup in Austria
Access to …
funding
financing
talent clients
support

35. New Impetus for the Land of Founders
Digital one-
stop-shop
Startup visa
Business
Angel Fund
Reduction of
non-wage
labor costs
„founder
privileged“
GmbH
Startup package worth 185 m. €

36. Reduction of Non-Wage Labor Costs
Non-refundable grant to cover the ancillary wage costs (=
employer’s contribution to social security, etc.) for the first 3
employees
Assistance is provided for the first three jobs created by the
innovative startup whose head office is in Austria or which
operates business or industrial premises in Austria
Funding volumes:
100% of the employer contributions in the 1st year
67% of the employer contributions in the 2nd year
33% of the employer contributions in the 3rd year
www.aws.at/foerderungen/aws-lohnnebenkostenfoerderung

37. Risk Capital Premium
Non-refundable grant up to 20% of the fundable equity
stake or a maximum of 50,000 per investor
Designed to help mobilize private venture capital
Important: “Startup qualification”
The first step for the startup is to apply for the “startup
qualification“ enabling it to find financing more easily and
enabling the investor to benefit from the aws Risk Capital
Premium.
www.aws.at/foerderungen/aws-risikokapitalpraemie

38. What We Can Do
for You
 Cost free consulting services
 Company foundation
 Legal and tax aspects
 Location search
 Incentives
 Regulations
 Business contacts
... making your entry in Austria
easy

39. Interested?
For further information
please contact
Birgit Reiter-Braunwieser
Tel: +43 1 588 58 0
startup@aba.gv.at
www.investinaustria.at