The positioning of Upper Austria as Europe’s leading region for innovation! This is the vision of the new “Innovative Upper Austria 2010” strategic programme, which foresees a strong economy as the driving force for Upper Austria’s future and a source of employment, social security, prosperity and quality of life. Moreover, the programme also looks to ensure that the federal province maintains its leading position in international competition by means of innovation and education, which represent the most important prerequisites for competitive strength!

To this end, 250 leading experts drew up 18 strategies and 43 measures and by 2010, a total of EUR 600 million is to be invested in realisation. The focal point of the programme is formed by a concentration of capacity on five main areas comprised by R&D, professional qualifications, networks, Upper Austria as an economic and technology location and EU networking.    The programme was prepared in close co-operation with the Upper Austrian Research and Technology Council.

The Upper Austrian Research and Technology Council established three strategic principles as a basis for the new programme: Consolidate existing strengths and exploit new opportunities, leverage and Practicality.

• Consolidate existing strengths and exploit new opportunities: The current strengths of the Upper Austrian economic and technology location should be enhanced and new chances exploited.
• Leverage: Measures are to be promoted which offer the greatest possible public and private funding leverage for increased innovative and competitive capacity.
• Practicality: An emphasis is to be placed on measures which support Upper Austrian companies during the transition of their ideas into market success.

The Upper Austrian Technology and Marketing Company (TMG) is responsible for the management of programme implementation.

Research and Development - 13 measures

Major consolidation of the R&D field is a central objective of the "Innovative Upper Austria 2010"strategic programme. Focal points include a concentration of capabilities on five critical areas (mechatronics, information and communications technology, Life Sciences, innovative materials and logistics), even closer co-operation between business and research bodies and forward-looking supplementary funding for FFG projects (formerly FFF).

Qualifications secure employment and prosperity

Professional qualifications - 10 measures

Employment with a future and employees with innovation-oriented qualifications for the economy is a further goal that is to be reached through an extensive selection of measures. Young people and women should be encouraged to undertake a technical education, employee further training is to be intensified and professional training aligned with the needs of business and industry. In addition, top talent in Upper Austria is to be identified, nurtured and naturally, retained within the province.

Clusters and networks strengthen the Upper Austrian economy

Networks - 5 measures

Networks facilitate and accelerate innovation. They bring ideas to market maturity and provide success. Upper Austria has positioned itself as the competence region with regard to cluster initiatives and networks and now the "Clusterland" is to be stabilised, further developed and given an even more international orientation. The Human Resources, Logistics and Design&Media Networks are to be retained and supplemented with the new Environmental Technology Network and coaching during research projects.

Securing the Upper Austrian location

Economic and technology location Upper Austria - 9 measures

Upper Austrian location and technology policy is aimed at improving the preconditions for entrepreneurial activity and hence the securing of the attractiveness of the province to investors. In addition, the location should be the object of targeted advertising. An important factor in this regard is the direct address of companies, however, companies that are already resident should also be assisted with their expansion plans. Last, but not least, CATT Innovation Management GmbH, which advises companies in all matters relating to technology and mobility support, is to be expanded and broadband Internet is to be expanded, available to all.

An active role in Brussels

EU networking - 6 measures

The task in this area is to exploit the historic opportunity provided by the enlargement of the EU. Exchange relationships with the new member states constitute a focal point of the EU networking topic area. In addition, Upper Austria intends to present its positions in Brussels in a more proactive manner, for example through the placing of a greater number of Upper Austrians in EU institutions. Furthermore, funding programmes should be better employed and an increased number of partnerships entered into, above all in the new member states.