Which factors influence the Linz economy?

lndustrial strength is maintained through intelligent and climate-neutral transformation. Linz is securing its economic future by strategically linking industry, technological innovation and clean technologies.

lndustry as a strength transformation as a necessity

Linz is one of Austria's most important industrial centres. This is traditionally represented by the steel production of voestalpine AG. On top of that, more than a quarter of Upper Austria's highestrevenue companies are headquartered in Linz. Alongside voestalpine AG, other internationally successful leading companies such as Swietelsky AG, Kontron AG and LAT Nitrogen Austria GmbH are based here and rank among the country's top ten.

This concentration of industry generates added value, jobs, and international links. At the same time, the sector is under immense pressure to transform and is also heavily dependent on global political and economic developments.

The future of a location is increasingly being determined by international competition between production and research centres. Operations are distributed globally, meaning that the quality of regional operating conditions is determined to a greater extent by location decisions. At the same time, the issue of securing a business's location is shifting from the overall success of individual companies to competition between international locations.

The ecosystem analysis for the greater Linz area identifies two strategic horizons for industry in Linz. There is a great deal of potential here that still needs to be developed:

A key opportunity for the region as a business hub lies in applying its existing expertise in artificial intelligence to core industrial processes. To succeed in this area of industrial intelligence, the City of Linz needs to act in line with the Al Excellence Strategy of the Province of Upper Austria and the Austrian government's industrial strategy. Linz can build on its existing strengths and expertise to drive this development:

• World-leading research in Al (particularly at JKU, led by Professor Hochreiter's team)
• Skilied workers are available at the business location, and more are in training
• lndustry offers potential for applications and a wealth of data
• A growing Al start-up scene in the region (e. g. Emmi.ai, NXAI, DanubeDynamics)

These framework conditions make it possible to play an active role in shaping this transformation. That is why it is important to determine how Linz can maintain its industrial strength while at the same time becoming a pioneer in the development of climate-neutral industries.

• Linz is harne to four of Upper Austria's ten highest-revenue companies
• The Linz business location plays a key role in the performance of the Linz-Wels NUTS 3 region
• Transformation is a way of life in this city: internationally recognised flagship projects in the fields of industrial intelligence (e. g. Emmi.AI) and Clean Technologies (e. g. greentec steel der voestalpine)

lndustrial transformation hub

Our aim is to develop Linz into a centre for industrial Al applications at European and international level.

• Work together with the province of Upper Austria on the implementation of our Al excellence strategy
• Support for international flagship projects to position the region as a centre of excellence for industrial intelligence
• Structurally improve technology transfer to industrial applications (centres of excellence, reference architectures, joint ventures, test environments, etc.)
• Establish an industrial data space and data centre infrastructure (compliant with the NIS 2 standard)

Transformation requires energy

A successful business location needs affordable energy and a power supply with a high level of reliability. A robust energy infrastructure is essential to enable transformation while safeguarding sovereignty.

• Expansion of renewable energy and an increase in short- and long-term storage capacity
• Creation and use of land for photovoltaic installations
• Support for the development of H2 and C02 infrastructure
• Use of industrial waste heat and continuation of the "Future Heat Highway" project

The city of Linz as a pioneer

• Develop greenhouse gas monitoring into a management and decision-making tool in the long term
• Networking between regulatory authorities at European level to learn from examples of best practice (IMPEL project)
• Expand sustainable procurement and give greater consideration to sustainability as a criterion in economic development funding
• Partner with businesses to achieve carbon neutrality
• Ongoing implementation of the measures set out in the climate neutrality strategy
• Buildings owned by the City of Linz and ILG: climate-resilient refurbishment and a focus on C0₂ - optimised building materials and the use of recyclable building products in new construction