Austria’s National Strategic Roadmap for the Digital Decade

Austria’s National Strategic Roadmap for the Digital Decade is a comprehensive plan designed to lead the country through a significant digital transformation by 2030. This roadmap aligns with the EU’s broader vision of creating a digitally empowered Europe. The plan outlines Austria’s commitment to strengthening digital skills across its population, expanding its digital infrastructure, fostering innovation in key technology sectors like AI and semiconductors, and modernising public services through digitalisation.

The roadmap has four overarching goals: to equip the population with strong digital skills, ensure secure and sustainable digital infrastructure, drive digital transformation across businesses, and digitalise public services. These goals are broken down into specific targets that Austria aims to meet by 2030, with structured strategies and actions to ensure success. Below is a more detailed explanation of Austria’s digital transformation journey, focusing on key areas like digital skills, connectivity, AI, cloud computing, and public services.

Path to the digital decade

Austria’s journey towards its digital future begins with the European Union’s Digital Compass framework, which sets clear goals for the continent’s digital transformation. This initiative sets out to make Europe a global leader in digital skills, infrastructure, business transformation, and public services. Austria, through its Digital Austria Act, has built a national strategy that translates these EU goals into specific, measurable targets. The country’s roadmap will address challenges such as the digital skills gap, the need for robust infrastructure like gigabit internet and 5G, and the integration of advanced technologies like AI and semiconductors into the economy.

Austria’s approach prioritises not just technical infrastructure, but also a society-wide embrace of digital tools and services. This includes policies aimed at increasing citizens’ digital literacy, ensuring equitable access to high-speed internet, and supporting businesses in adopting cutting-edge technologies.

Digital skills

One of the foundational pillars of Austria’s digital transformation is ensuring that its population is digitally literate. As digitalisation touches every part of modern life, having the necessary skills to navigate this new landscape is essential for every citizen. Currently, 63% of the Austrian population between the ages of 16 and 74 have basic digital skills, and the roadmap sets the ambitious target of increasing this to 70% by 2026 and reaching 100% by 2030.

To achieve these goals, Austria is implementing a series of initiatives. The Digital Competences Office will coordinate efforts to increase digital skills, ensuring that digital education programs are effective and widely available. Schools are a key part of this transformation, with plans to expand digital education from primary school through to higher levels. The roadmap introduces the distribution of digital devices to both students and teachers to ensure equal access to digital learning resources. Additionally, specialised workshops, under initiatives like Digital Everywhere, will bring digital skills training to non-traditional learning spaces such as community centers and senior homes. This approach ensures that no demographic is left behind in the digital transformation.

ICT Specialists: Meeting the demand for tech talent

Austria recognises the growing demand for ICT (Information and Communication Technology) professionals as critical for its digital economy. The roadmap emphasises the need to increase the number of highly qualified ICT specialists, with a focus on closing the gender gap in the technology sector. Currently, only 19% of ICT specialists in Austria are women, and the government aims to significantly increase this percentage by offering targeted training and career support for women entering the field.

To address the overall shortage of ICT specialists, Austria will introduce a Digital Innovation School, which will provide graduate-level education tailored to the needs of the digital economy. This school will focus on producing top talent capable of leading digital transformation efforts within both the public and private sectors. Additionally, support for businesses in recruiting and training tech talent will be provided through various funding programs. This combination of education and practical training aims to address the shortfall in ICT specialists and prepare Austria for future technological challenges.

Connectivity

Ensuring fast and reliable internet access is fundamental to Austria’s digital future. The roadmap outlines ambitious targets for internet infrastructure, with the goal of achieving nearly universal coverage of gigabit internet and 5G by 2030. Currently, 55% of households have access to gigabit internet, and 92% have access to 5G. However, to meet the needs of the future, Austria must close the remaining gaps, particularly in rural areas where private-sector investment has been insufficient.

Austria’s Broadband Austria 2030 initiative is key to this effort. The program focuses on expanding high-speed internet access to underserved areas through public funding, particularly in rural regions where market conditions make private investment less likely. In parallel, Austria is working to ensure 5G connectivity across all populated areas, incentivising telecom operators to prioritise expansion in regions with poor coverage. This connectivity will lay the groundwork for a thriving digital economy, enabling businesses and citizens alike to access and leverage digital services.

Semiconductors: Strengthening Austria’s role in Europe’s digital supply chain

The global semiconductor industry is critical for almost every aspect of the digital economy, from smartphones to advanced medical equipment. As part of the EU’s Chips Act, Austria aims to bolster its semiconductor production capabilities. The Chips for Europe initiative, a central part of the Act, seeks to double Europe’s share of global semiconductor production from less than 10% to 20% by 2030. Austria, with its strong base of research-intensive companies in the semiconductor sector, is well-positioned to play a key role in this effort.

Austria’s participation in the IPCEI Microelectronics project will focus on advancing research and development in key areas such as energy-efficient chips, power semiconductors, and smart sensors. These technologies will support innovations in fields like electromobility, healthcare, and telecommunications, helping Austria strengthen its industrial capabilities while contributing to Europe’s technological sovereignty.

Artificial Intelligence and Big Data

The roadmap also emphasises the importance of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data in transforming Austria’s economy. By 2030, Austria aims for 75% of businesses to have integrated AI, big data, or cloud computing into their operations. Currently, only 9% of businesses are using AI, and the government is actively working to increase this through initiatives like the AI Marketplace, which connects AI providers with potential clients, helping companies integrate AI into their operations.

Austria’s AI Mission initiative provides funding for research in AI technologies, with a particular focus on sustainability. The AI for Green program, for example, supports the development of AI solutions aimed at addressing environmental challenges like reducing carbon emissions and optimising energy use. By fostering innovation in AI and big data, Austria aims to improve productivity across industries and position itself as a leader in sustainable technology solutions.

Unicorns and startups: Fostering innovation and entrepreneurship

Austria is committed to supporting startups and innovative businesses, with the goal of doubling the number of unicorns (startups valued at over $1 billion) by 2030. The roadmap includes a variety of measures to nurture entrepreneurship and innovation, including the aws Start-up Fund II, which provides venture capital to fast-growing startups in their early stages. The fund also aims to attract international investors, further integrating Austria into the global startup ecosystem.

Additionally, programs like aws First Incubator and aws PreSeed provide funding and support for deep-tech startups, helping entrepreneurs move from idea to execution. These initiatives are expected to increase the number of high-growth companies in Austria, fostering a vibrant startup culture and positioning Austria as a hub for innovation in Europe.

Digital public services: Making government services accessible online

As part of the digital transformation, Austria is also committed to modernising public services, ensuring that all essential public services are available online by 2030. Currently, 78% of public services for citizens are accessible through digital platforms, and the goal is to increase this to 100% in the coming years. Austria’s Digitales Amt platform and the oesterreich.gv.at portal already provide many public services, such as tax filings, marriage registration, and business permits, all of which can be accessed online. Expanding these services will simplify interactions between citizens and the government, making public services more efficient and accessible to everyone.