Institutional Change in Old Industrial Areas – Lessons for ... - UMAR

several patented applications (e.g. electrolytically coated, organically coated or hot
dip metal coated).
The Long Product Division comprises Upper Styrian enterprises’, all grouped and
embedded in geographical proximity to each other. The Division includes the
VÖEST-Alpine-Schienen Ltd. (rail), Stahl Donawitz Ltd. (see above), Austria Draht
Bruck/Mur (wires) and Stahlrohr Kindberg (steel-pipes). The Alpine-Schienen Ltd. for
example early recognised the high demand of western European railroads for highspeed
rails. It now sets standards e.g. with the manufacture of ultra-long, weld free
railroad rails at lengths of up to 120 metres or head special hardened qualities (see
Annual Report VÖEST-Alpine Stahl AG, 1998/99).
Those partly privatised and reorganised enterprises regained some decision-making
functions in the process of decentralisation within the group. In Upper Styria,
restructuring resulted in substantial unemployment and some plant closures (see
Tödtling/Sedlacek, 1997, p.50).
4.3 Improvement of Infrastructure
4.3.1 Enterprise Support Institutions
Based on the Obersteiermarkstudie (a broad an innovative economic analysis of the
problems of Upper Styria, commissioned by the province of Styria and the Federal
Chancellery, ÖIR et al. 1982), a broad net of research- and technological
infrastructure was installed in the late 1980s. Although the success of these
institutions could not always be judged, successful institutions could be identified
when their activities were oriented towards regional enterprises with their specific
demand and capacities. Further success indicators are present qualification- and
vocational training institutions (Niklasdorf) as well as motivated key actors.
The great number of facilities calls for a more co-ordinated division of labour. Steiner
et al. (1993) propose a stronger co-operation and networking of these institutions.
They point out present co-operations, e.g. the relocation of established enterprises
from one enterprise support institution to the other (in this case Niklasdorf, a
Technology Centre to Kapfenberg, a Business Incubator) or supportive technology
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