The geographic location is an important decision criterion when choosing a business location. However, location alone is not enough: Without an infrastructure, comprehensive subsidy and service offerings and an adequate education and research environment, no location will be able to establish itself. Carinthia can offer both: a geographic pole position for the markets of Southern and South-Eastern Europe, and a well-prepared environment for industrial, commercial and research oriented businesses.

High-Tech in Carinthia

The first Technology Park emerged in 1991 in Klagenfurt, where approximately 40 companies are active today in the sectors of telematics, information technology and network technology. The University of Applied Sciences, also located on the Campus, supplies qualified employees. In order to establish Carinthia as a high-tech business location, the Lakeside Science & Technology Park was opened in 2005 on the park-like area surrounding Klagenfurt’s Alps-Adriatic University. All institutes for information and communication technology are located there, with the intent of bundling know-how in close cooperation with the businesses and creating a network between research and science, education and practice. At Technology Park Villach, the majority of the over 70 local companies operate in the sectors of electronics and microelectronics, renewable energies and geomatics. Approximately 22,000 square metres of rentable space have been developed to date; construction of the third centre is scheduled to begin in 2010.

Border Region of Arnoldstein

In immediate proximity to Slovenia and Italy, the regional Innovation Centre Arnoldstein features nearly 4,000 square metres of office and workshop space and two industrial production halls. Thanks to the comprehensive coverage of the entire town by an ultra-modern fibre optic network, a “Future Laboratory” is set to emerge here, where software companies can test applications with high data volumes. Also located in the municipal territory of Arnoldstein are the former premises of Bleiberger Bergwerks Union (BBU), which since the demise of the heavy industry have been converted into the multifunctional Euro Nova Industrial and Business Park Dreiländereck. Besides the settlement of 35 companies, Euro Nova has established an environmental competence centre with the goal of creating a centre for reprocessing secondary raw materials. In Fürnitz, not far from Villach, the existing rail, road and airport infrastructure is being exploited to expand ALPLOG Carinthia (Alps-Adriatic Logistics) into an international logistics hub between North and South. By doing this, ideal conditions will be created for commercial and industrial businesses with a connection to logistics.

Infrastructure, Environmental Technology and Energy

The areas of infrastructure, energy and environmental technology were the new central focus subjects of the CEE Economic Forum in Velden, which takes place in the fall of every year. Renewable energies are an industry with a promising future; this shows at the Industrial Park of St. Veit an der Glan, which has developed into a stronghold in the renewable energies sector. Internationally successful companies such as GreenOneTec, KIOTO Clear Energy AG and Sonnenkraft have been established here for some time. During the past few months, the Carinthian Development Agency (EAK - Entwicklungsagentur Kärnten) was able to welcome two new additions from the renewable energies sector to the industrial park which they are managing: The Italian company petraglas as well as the company EPS Industries are now also represented at the business location of St. Veit an der Glan. [ IN ]