Have a look at the latest startups, technology companies and research achievements in the VIENNA REGION
A new wave of attention
The VIENNA REGION — the joint force of Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland — is no longer a hidden gem. With global players setting up shop, startups raising record rounds, and scientists winning world-renowned awards, the question is no longer if this region matters. The question is: can you afford to miss out?
Microsoft’s cloud region – A game changer
In August 2025, Microsoft launched a brand-new cloud region in and around Vienna, including three local data centres. For businesses, this means secure data storage, low latency, and full compliance with EU regulations.
Even more impressive: Microsoft committed to running all Austrian data centres on 100% renewable energy by the end of 2025. That makes the VIENNA REGION a front-runner in sustainable digital infrastructure.
For Scandinavian and Baltic companies, where data sovereignty is a hot topic, this development is a signal: VIENNA REGION is now one of the safest and most forward-looking places in Europe to handle sensitive cloud and AI projects.
Startups on the rise in the VIENNA REGION
The numbers speak volumes.
- Startups from the VIENNA REGION have raised billions in funding across more than 130 companies.
- Big names include Bitpanda, Go Student, TTTech Auto, Adverity, and Gropyus, all headquartered in the VIENNA REGION.
- AgroBiogel based in Tulln an der Donau, the company is a spin-off of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). It focuses on the development and production of innovative and environmentally friendly solutions for forestry, agriculture, and substrates. With their product RETENTIS®, they are transforming water and nutrient storage in soils, setting new standards in both conventional and organic farming.
As one founder from Tallinn put it after relocating:
“What I love about Vienna is that you don’t get lost in the noise. If you have a good idea, people notice — and they’re willing to help.”
The ecosystem is smaller than Berlin or London – and that’s its advantage. Connections are closer, opportunities are more accessible, and startups from abroad integrate faster.
From nobel wins to global recognition with science excellence
Science is another reason why the Vienna Region is making headlines.
- In 2025, Professor Günter Blöschl of TU Wien received the Stockholm Water Prize — often called the “Water Nobel Prize” — for his pioneering research on water resources and climate adaptation.
- The Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) in Lower Austria now hosts 84 research groups and around 365 PhD students, producing spin-offs and breakthroughs in life sciences, physics, and AI.
- ISTA’s innovation arm, xista Science Park, together with ecoplus, has already raised aorund €45 million in early funds to back research spin-offs, creating more than 250 jobs in the region.
This combination of cutting-edge research and entrepreneurship is exactly what drives long-term innovation.
Support structures across the VIENNA REGION accelerate the success
Vienna Business Agency
The Vienna Business Agency supports startups and international companies with funding, affordable office space, and entry services. For newcomers, it’s often the first port of call when landing in the Austrian capital.
ecoplus – Lower Austria’s Business Agency
As the business agency of Lower Austria, ecoplus has been active since 1987. It has mobilised €1.5 billion in EU and regional co-financing, supported more than 3,670 projects, and created or secured over 26,000 jobs. With technology centres, regional clusters, and expert consulting, ecoplus is a backbone of the region’s economic ecosystem.
StartUp Burgenland
Since 2021, StartUp Burgenland, operated by the Business Agency Burgenland, has become a key driver for young companies in the easternmost part of Austria. From idea coaching to networking events and expert workshops, it ensures that founders don’t have to leave the region to succeed.
A mix of great incubators, international accelerators and strong networks
The VIENNA REGION hosts weXelerate, one of Europe’s largest open innovation hubs, where startups meet corporates, investors, and mentors. In Lower Austria, xista Science Park gives life science and deep-tech ventures direct access to labs and equipment. In Burgenland, the Startup & Founders Centre connects young entrepreneurs with established networks.
Add to this the presence of international organisations in the VIENNA REGION— such as the UN, OSCE, and OPEC — which frequently run innovation partnerships and events. For startups, this means exposure and global connections right at their doorstep.
The quality of life ensure that talents are staying with you
Vienna has topped the Mercer Quality of Living Index for more than a decade. Clean air, safe streets, rich culture, and affordable housing compared to many Western capitals make it highly attractive for talent.
Lower Austria offers wine country, hiking, and family-friendly communities. Burgenland adds lakes, sunshine, and renewable energy projects. Together, the three states balance professional opportunity with lifestyle that keeps employees happy and loyal.
One Nordic expat summarised it:
“In the VIENNA REGION, I can close a deal in the morning, bike along the Danube in the afternoon, and attend the opera at night. That balance is priceless.”
The key numbers you should know (Source: Austrian Startup Monitor 2024)
- ≈ 22% of Austrian startups are founded by women.
- ≈ 37% of startups include at least one female founder.
- ≈ 63% employ international staff.
- ≈ 48% expect to double revenue in the next 12 months; 22% plan to triple it.
These figures underline the diversity, internationality, and growth potential in the VIENNA REGION.
Why should Scandinavia and the Baltics care about this location?
For companies in Stockholm, Helsinki, Tallinn, or Vilnius, the VIENNA REGION offers a unique entry point to Europe:
- Strategic Location – Around 750 million consumers within three flight hours.
- Favourable Conditions – EU grants, R&D tax credits, and regional business agencies that actively support new arrivals.
- Research Depth – Nobel-winning scientists, ISTA, and dozens of specialised clusters.
- Growing Ecosystem – from software scale-ups to biotech spin-offs and renewable energy from Vienna over Lower Austria to Burgenland.
- Quality of Life – attracting and retaining top talent from across the globe.
A window of opportunity
The VIENNA REGION may not call itself the “next Silicon Valley” — it doesn’t need to. What it offers is something different, and in many ways better: a balanced, well-funded, research-driven environment where innovation and life quality go hand in hand.
For startups, corporates, and research institutions from Scandinavia or the Baltics, the time to look south is now.
