Speakers
- Peter-Jan Hendrikx – ChipNL Competence Centre
- Gerlinda Gahleitner – Director Western Europe, Austrian Business Agency
- Michael Leopold – Business Developer and Innovation Manager, Silicon Alps
Austria plays an important role in the European semiconductor landscape, supported by a strong network of companies and research organizations covering the entire microelectronics value chain.
The country has the third-highest R&D intensity within the European Union. Attractive research funding, favorable conditions for companies, and a well-developed research infrastructure contribute to a strong environment for innovation-driven industries such as microelectronics.
Clusters of research institutions and companies are particularly located in Upper Austria, Vienna, Carinthia, and Styria. The regions of Carinthia and Styria are often referred to as the Silicon Alps, a highly specialized industrial ecosystem.
Austria’s Niche Leadership
Austria has developed strong positions in various specialized semiconductor fields, including:
- Micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) and sensor technology
- RFID and NFC technologies
- Power electronics and applications in the automotive and machinery sector
- Embedded systems in which hardware and software are integrated
- Photonics research centers and production facilities
Additionally, Austria has strong capabilities in specific semiconductor niches. Austrian companies hold about 90% of the world market for security chips used in passports. Similar figures are around 55% for optical light sensors and about 20% for technologies necessary for the production of energy-efficient chips.