iconannual 2015 - The European Business and Investment Magazine

Issue 2015 

Official Magazine of iconvienna _ The European Business and Investment Forum 

presented by 

2015 

MAKE CONTACTS TO CONTRACTS

SETTING NEW 

STANDARDS 

THE INDEPENDENT 

EUROPEAN IP 

INSTITUTE 

www.europeanbrandinstitute.com

iconvienna 

Editorial 

Innovation and 

Entrepreneurship to 

strengthen Europe 

KR DI Dr. Gerhard Hrebicek 

President iconvienna 

Editor 

ıconvıenna 

ınvestments for europe 

Aufgrund der großen Akzeptanz der im Vorjahr 

erstmals publizierten Festschrift zum 10-jährigen 

Jubiläum des European Business & Investment 

Forums freuen wir uns, das iconannual 

ab sofort als jährliches Magazin für international erfolgreiche 

Unternehmen mit innovativen Spitzenleistungen 

fortzuführen. 

Mit dem diesjährigen Schwerpunkt: „East-West 

Summit on Regional Cooperation through Innovation 

and Entrepreneurship“ begrüßen wir unseren neuen 

Kooperationspartner: CEI-Central European Initiative 

mit ihren 18 Mitgliedsländern. Erfahren Sie auf 

den nächsten Seiten welchen Beitrag die Central European 

Initiative zur Europäischen Integration seit 

nunmehr 26 Jahren leistet. Vertreter des Diplomatic 

Corps for Latin America and Carribean, welcher alle 

lateinamerikanischen und karibischen Länder vereint, 

informieren über innovative Kooperationsmöglichkeiten, 

abseits von gängigen Tourismusprojekten, in einer 

spannenden Wirtschaftsregion. 

Mein besonderer Dank geht auch dieses Jahr wieder 

an die Stadt Wien und den Bürgermeister Dr. Michael 

Häupl für seinen Ehrenschutz und unsere weiteren 

Partnern wie der Wirtschaftskammer Wien und Österreich, 

Ministerien und Botschaften, Vertretern von Regionen 

und Städten, Unternehmen, Medienpartnern, 

sowie an alle unsere Beiratsmitglieder und das European 

Brand Institute. 

Für die Zukunft wünsche ich Ihnen gute Beziehungen. 

Nutzen Sie dieses Magazin ganz nach unserem 

Motto “MAKE CONTACTS TO CONTRACTS“! 

Viel Spaß beim Lesen! 

Due to the big acceptance of the last year’s magazine, 

published on the occasion of the 10th anniversary 

of European Business and Investment Forum we 

are delighted to pursue issuing iconannual as an 

annual magazine for internationally successful companies 

with innovative peak performance. 

With this year’s key topic “East-West Summit on Regional 

Cooperation through innovation and entrepreneurship” 

we are delighted to welcome our new cooperation 

partner CEI-Central European Initiative and its 18 member 

states. Learn about Central European Initiative and how it 

is supporting the European integration over the past 26 

years. Representatives of the Diplomatic Corp for Latin 

American and Carribean, which unifies all Latin American 

and Carribean countries, provide information about 

innovative cooperation opportunities apart from popular 

tourism projects in an upcoming economic region. 

I would particularly like to thank the City of Vienna 

and the Mayor Dr. Michael Häupl again this year for his 

patronage and our other partners such as the Austrian Federal 

Economic Chamber, Vienna Chamber of Commerce 

and Industry, ministries and embassies, region and city 

representatives, companies, media partners, as well as 

our council members and the European Brand Institute. 

For the future I wish you successful relationships! 

Use this magazine according to our motto “MAKE 

CONTACTS TO CONTRACTS“! 

Enjoy reading! 

Foto: Katharina Schiffl 

The European Business and Investment Magazine iconannual 3

MONEY BACK 

WITH EVERY PURCHASE 

Company profile 

Lyoness negotiates special shopping conditions with companies from 

the retail and service sector, which subsequently are given to the 

Lyoness members in form of shopping benefits (Cashback, 

Shopping Points). This way, consumers are able to save 

money and companies can expand their customer base 

and attract new customers. 

The group has operative as well as development 

know-how in the fields of e-commerce, multichannel 

marketing and shopping 3.0. The company 

was founded in 2003 and is active globally in 46 

markets today. As of March 2015, Lyoness has 

4.5 million members, 47,000 loyalty merchants 

and more than 1,000 employees worldwide. 

With every purchase with Lyoness members and 

loyalty merchants automatically support the 

Child & Family Foundation and the Greenfinity 

Foundation in implementing aid, education and 

environmental protection projects. 

Products & Services 

Cashback: With every purchase at a loyalty 

merchant members receive a part of the 

purchase value (up to 5%) and when 5 Euros* of 

Cashback have been collected this money will be 

transferred to their private bank account. 

Shopping Points: In addition to Cashback 

members receive Shopping Points with every 

purchase made. These Shopping Points can be used 

for exclusive deals at loyalty merchants and much 

more at any time. 

Service Packs: Since autumn 2013 Lyoness has 

committed itself to promoting the development and 

strengthening of the international SME network. The 

specifically programmed application for mobile devices, 

“MTERM”, supports partners in the SME sector in customer 

acquisition, an additional CRM system and other tools help with 

the analysis of customer trends and sales summaries. 

*Sum varies from country to country.

MAKE CONTACTS TO CONTRACTS 

Forewords 

7 

Greetings from international partners 

20 

Central European Initiative 

Embassies of the Unites States, Romania, Slovakia, Czech Republic, 

Russian Federation, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Cuba, El Salvador, 

Guatemala, Colombia, Nicaragua, Venezuela 

iconvienna & young leaders dialogue 

48 

About iconvienna 

About youLEAD 

International Finance & Projects 

56 

Political and economical challenges in Europe 

Potenziale in der Infrastrukturbeschaffung 

Strukturelle Reformen als Investitionsanreiz 

Innovation & Cooperation 

66 

BMVIT: Innovation und Kooperation 

26 years Central European Initiative 

Innovative Technology - Made in Austria 

Infrastructure, Transport & Energy 

80 

Innovation & entrepreneurship for sustainable energy 

Corridors for a competitive Europe 

ÖBB – Bahninfrastruktur für die Kunden von morgen 

Hafen Wien – The logistic hub in the heart of the Danube Region 

Smart Cities & Regions 

94 

Smart City Vienna 

Stadtregionale Kooperationen 

Smart Cities 2020 

Building Bridges 

European Brand Institute and Initiatives 

104 

Brands are more valuable than ever 

Sports for Life – Sports for Good! 

Women Leadership Forum 

iconvienna 2014 gallery 

eurobrand forum 

Imprint: Publisher/Proprietor: maX iconvienna GmbH | 1010 Wien | Börsegasse 9 | A-1010 Vienna | Tel +43 1 532 1000 23 | Fax +43 1 532 1000 30 | Email office@icon-vienna.net | www.icon-vienna.net; 

Design & Layout: „Der Herr Bertl“ OG | 1030 Wien | Paulusgasse 13/2/6 | office@derherrbertl.at; Print: Print-Sport Handels GmbH & CoKG | Ared Straße 20 | 2544 Leobersdorf | office@print-sport.at; 

Responsible for the content: maX iconvienna GmbH; Disclaimer: The publisher assumes no liability for the accuracy of the contents and the copyright to the photos. Typesetting and printing 

errors reserved. iconannual is the official medium of iconvienna and supports the networking concept of this platform. 


WO 

RLD 

CLASS 

PART 

NERS 

www.advantageaustria.org 

ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA is the official Austrian trade promotion 

organisation. With more than 110 offices in over 70 countries we 

help over 50,000 Austrian businesses develop their international 

markets and promote their products and services around the 

world. We provide hands-on, practical support for international 

businesses wishing to build partnerships with and invest in Austria.

iconvienna 

Foreword 

Make contacts 

to contracts! 

KR Dr. René Alfons Haiden 

Chairman iconvienna 

ıconvıenna 

ınvestments for europe 

Ich freue mich besonders, dass iconannual – The European 

Business and Investment Magazine aufgrund 

der großen Akzeptanz vom letzten Jahr ab nun jährlich 

im Rahmen der iconvienna erscheinen wird. 

Die zweite Auflage, die heuer umfangreicher ist, bietet 

Informationen über aktuelle Trends in den Bereichen 

Wirtschaft, Forschung und Politik. 

Erfreulich sind nicht nur der große Erfolg des iconannual, 

sondern auch die Weiterführung des Young 

Leaders Dialogues, das junge High Potentials aus Forschung 

und Wirtschaft zusammenbringt, mit dem Ziel 

über aktuelle Themen zu diskutieren. Ein weiterer 

wichtiger Punkt ist die Gewinnung neuer Partner wie 

die Central European Initiative – CEI. 

Wie man sieht hat sich das Forum iconvienna zu 

einer renommierten, hoch geschätzten Ost-West-Plattform 

für Top-Level Networking entwickelt, wo jedes 

Jahr internationale hochkarätige Entscheidungsträger 

aus vielen Bereichen aufeinander treffen. Wichtig ist 

es sowohl kompetente und erfahrene Opinion Leader 

zusammenzubringen, als auch neue Geschäftspartnerschaften 

zu ermöglichen. 

Die Diskussionen, der Erfahrungsaustausch sowie 

der Kontaktaufbau im Rahmen des Forums führen zu 

einem vereinfachten Umgang mit Problemstellungen 

und sichern eine leichtere Zusammenarbeit mit anderen 

europäischen Ländern. 

Anlässlich des 20-jährigen Jubiläums des Beitritts 

Österreichs in die EU wünsche ich den Teilnehmern 

und Partnern iconvienna gute Zusammenarbeit und 

viel Erfolg! 

I 

am very glad that iconannual – The European Business 

and Investment Magazine will be published annually 

as of now as part of iconvienna due to its big 

acceptance. This year’s second circulation is more 

extensive and offers information about current trends 

in the areas economics, research and politics. 

I am delighted not only about the big success of iconannual, 

but also about this year’s continuation of the 

Young Leaders Dialogue, which brings high potentials 

from the areas research and economics together with 

the purpose of discussing current topics. A further important 

point is the collaboration with new partners, 

for example the Central European Initiative – CEI. 

The forum iconvienna has become a highly prestigious 

East-West platform for top-level networking, 

where international top-class decision makers from 

different areas meet. It is essential to bring competent 

and experienced Opinion Leaders together as well as 

to enable the establishing of new business partnerships 

between them. 

The discussions, experience exchange and contacts 

created within the scope of the forum lead to simplified 

dealing with problems and guarantee an easier collaboration 

with other European countries. 

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Austria’s 

accession to the EU, I wish all participants and partners 

of iconvienna successful cooperations and prosperity! 

Foto: Haiden 


8 iconannual The European Business and Investment Magazine 

Foto: Fotolia

City of Vienna 

Foreword 

Willkommen in Wien! 

Welcome to Vienna! 

Dr. Michael Häupl 

Bürgermeister und Landeshauptmann von Wien 

Mayor and Governor of Vienna 

Bereits zum elften Mal findet 

die iconvienna, das European 

Business and Investment Forum, 

in Wien statt. Sie hat sich 

schon längst zu einer bedeutenden 

Wirtschafts- und Investitionsplattform 

entwickelt, die persönliche 

Kontaktmöglichkeiten zwischen 

Führungskräften, Unternehmern 

und Projektpartnern im Raum CEE 

und Russland fördert. Somit leistet 

die iconvienna auch einen wichtigen 

Beitrag zur wirtschaftlichen Zusammenarbeit 

in Europa. 

Wien im Mittelpunkt der zentraleuropäischen 

Region, strategisch 

im Herzen des „neuen Europa“ ist 

trotz schwieriger Rahmenbedingungen 

eine der hoffnungsvollen Wirtschaftsregionen 

des Kontinents. 

Hier – an der ehemaligen Grenze 

zwischen Ost und West liegt eine 

Region mit viel Phantasie. 

Deshalb freue ich mich als Bürgermeister 

über die Auswahl Wiens 

als Heimstätte und Zentrum für dieses 

Forum und wünsche allen Teilnehmern 

erfolgreiche sowie interessante 

und erholsame Tage in unserer 

wunderbaren Stadt. 

Iconvienna, the European Business 

and Investment Forum, takes place 

in Vienna for the 11th time. It has 

long become an important economy 

and investment platform for 

the promotion of personal contacts 

between executives, entrepreneurs, 

and project partners from the CEE 

area and Russia. iconvienna therefore 

plays an important role for the 

economic collaboration in Europe. 

Vienna – located in the very centre 

of the central European region, 

strategically in the heart of the “new 

Europe”, is one of the continent’s 

most promising economic regions – 

despite difficult framework conditions. 

At the former border between 

East and West, lies a region with a lot 

of imagination. 

As Mayor of Vienna, I am happy 

that Vienna has been chosen as 

home and centre for this forum and 

wish all participants successful as 

well as interesting and relaxing days 

in our wonderful city. 

Foto: Hubert Dimko 


Vienna‘s quality of life. 

The Smart City Wien Agency 

is located at tina vienna. 

We support the efforts of the city 

to reach its goals on being a Smart City! 

tina vienna urban technologies + strategies Gmbh 

a company of Wien Holding GmbH 

Liechtensteinstrasse 12/10 

1090 Vienna, Austria 

Tel.: +43 1 4000 84260 

office@tinavienna.at 

www.tinavienna.at 

www.smartcitywien.at

Vienna Economic Chamber 

Foreword 

Wien gilt als 

Drehscheibe fur 

Europas Wirtschaft. 

DI Walter Ruck 

Präsident der Wirtschaftskammer Wien 

President Vienna Economic Chamber 

Foto: Weinwurm 

Wien verfügt über eine lange 

Tradition als Drehscheibe 

für Europas Wirtschaft als 

Schnittpunkt von Handelslinien 

und Zentrum wirtschaftlicher 

Interessen. Heute präsentiert 

sich Wien als Wirtschaftsmetropole 

inmitten Europas, deren Unternehmen 

in Summe durchschnittlich 

rund 40 Prozent ihres Umsatzes in 

ost- und mitteleuropäischen Ländern 

erwirtschaften. Wiener Unternehmen 

und ihre Niederlassungen 

nehmen in diesen Märkten heute 

längst eine Schlüsselposition ein. 

Darüber hinaus leiten mehr als 

300 internationale Konzerne ihre 

CEE-Tätigkeiten von der Donaumetropole 

aus. Sie nutzen dafür nicht 

nur die geographische Lage Wiens 

im Herzen Europas, sondern auch 

die über hunderte von Jahren gewachsene 

Kompetenz Wiens in Mittel- 

und Südosteuropa. 

Wer nicht mit der Zeit geht, muss 

mit der Zeit gehen, lautet ein Sprichwort. 

Ständige Innovationen sind 

in unserer heutigen, globalisierten 

Welt daher eine Notwendigkeit geworden 

und Wien ist ein guter Boden 

für innovative Unternehmensgründungen. 

Täglich werden hier 

neue Start-ups gegründet, hinter denen 

junge und innovationsbegeisterte 

Entrepreneure stehen, die schon 

heute die erfolgreiche Zukunft unseres 

IKT-Standortes sichern. Daher 

ist der Fokus des diesjährigen Treffens 

in keiner Stadt so passend wie 

in Wien: Innovation and Entrepreneurship. 

Darüber und über viele weitere 

regionale Themen werden sich 

Top-Entscheider aus internationalen 

Organisationen Politik, Wirtschaft 

und Gesellschaft gemeinsam 

mit Vertretern der verschiedensten 

Regionen Zentral- und Osteuropas 

informieren und austauschen. Der 

Kongress bietet die Chance, die Zukunft 

aktiv zu gestalten. Ich wünsche 

Ihnen spannende Vorträge und 

Gespräche. 


© Bildagentur Zolles © agentur wulz services © Rita Newman © W24/Philipp Schuster © LBS 

Cultural Management Logistics Real Estate Media Environmental Management 

75 companies under the umbrella of Wien Holding 

Wien Holding stands for future-oriented, sustainable projects which improve the 

quality of life of the population and at the same time secure Vienna´s position as a 

business location. Approximately 75 companies in five business sectors – Cultural 

Management, Real Estate, Logistics, Media, Environmental Management – drive 

growth, create jobs and in the process enhance the quality of life in the city. 

facebook.com/wienholding www.wienholding.at 

The holding company of the

Wien Holding 

Foreword 

Quality of Life 

Komm.-Rat Peter Hanke 

Managing Director Wien Holding 

Nowadays, having an idea isn´t enough 

anymore. You need partners to promote 

and fulfill your vision. For the past eleven 

years, iconvienna has offered the 

much-needed assistance to facilitate projects 

between Austrian and international companies. 

Through offering a high-level networking platform, 

it brought together company representatives 

and decision makers enabling business 

and social contacts as well as an exchange of 

experience. By doing so, iconvienna also reinforces 

Vienna´s position as a desirable business 

location by strengthening its reputation around 

the world. 

As a municipal company, our main goal is to 

implement projects that add value to the economy 

and the quality of life of the population in Vienna. 

Wien Holding stands for future-oriented, 

sustainable projects such as the Twin City Liner 

– two catamarans connecting Vienna with the 

Slovakian capital Bratislava – , the development 

of the Neu Marx site into a centre for media, research 

and technology or the expansion of the 

port of Vienna into one of the most efficient 

economic hubs on any inland European waterway. 

But Vienna is also a leading “smart city”. 

In 2014, for the second time in a row, Boyd Cohens 

Smart City Index ranked Vienna number 

three of the smartest cities in the world. Numerous 

new technologies were developed here and 

have already been put in practice. Developing 

new strategies and solutions in the field of urban 

and environmental technologies and marketing 

them internationally is the main task of 

the Wien Holding-company tina vienna urban 

technologies & strategies. Business networking 

platforms such as iconvienna are essential for 

promoting new projects and achievements for 

they allow the transfer of knowledge and the 

exchange of experiences between cities. 

We use our projects and companies to 

boost economic growth, secure jobs, improve 

infrastructure and raise the quality of life of 

the population in Vienna. However, all these 

things require an excellent political and economic 

framework not just for the benefit of local 

companies but also for international companies 

which settle in Vienna. We try to be the driving 

force that takes initiative and lays the groundwork 

for others while also making sure that development 

corresponds to urban planning and 

strategic economic goals. To do so, it is helpful 

to be able to access the knowledge of experts 

who are part of the iconvienna-network. 

Vienna is a strong, internationally attractive 

location. It´s central position in the heart of Europe, 

its close economic ties and proximity to the 

growth market in Central and Eastern Europe 

make it an ideal business location and a strong 

competitor among the world´s cities. To secure 

this position for the future, we will continue to 

support inconvienna in its aim of promoting economic 

and social integration in Europe so that in 

fact we do “make contacts to contracts”. 

Foto: Barbara Nidetzky 



Foto: WKO

Austrian Federal Economic Chamber 

Foreword 

iconvienna − Best 

Practice in International 

Knowledge Transfer and 

Networking 

Dr. Christoph Leitl 

President Austrian Federal 

Economic Chamber 

Within only a couple of years, iconvienna 

has become a bench mark for 

international know-how transfer and 

a discussion platform for leading decision-makers 

in the fields of business, politics 

and science. I am proud and pleased that iconvienna 

is again taking place at the premises of 

the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber in Vienna 

since it is one of the foremost aims of the 

Chamber to host top-class events and facilitate 

international business contacts. 

It is not by coincidence that the iconvienna 

event is taking place in Vienna. Austria and 

specifically Vienna have proven to be an important 

meeting place for companies and institutions 

from the Central and Southeastern European 

region and iconvienna is the best example 

for this tradition. 

The global economic and financial crisis has 

dramatically shown how interlinked the business 

world has become. International problems 

need new innovative approaches and cross-border 

solutions. Iconvienna, the “East-West summit 

on regional co-operation through innovation 

and entrepreneurship” offers a perfect 

platform for discussions of some of the most 

challenging questions of the future, like mobility 

and smart transportation, infrastructure and 

sustainable energy, and I am convinced that 

iconvienna will deliver crucial input and fruitful 

discussions in that respect. 

I am particularly pleased that for the second 

time iconvienna has added the young leaders’ 

dialogue to its usual program. Incorporating 

the views of young entrepreneurs and high potentials 

from Central and Eastern Europe is a 

clear and important sign to stress the significance 

of the younger generation and will definitely 

enrich the event as a whole. 

The secret of success of iconvienna however, 

does not only consist in its high-level presentations 

and expert discussions but also in its 

attractive supporting program. There is plenty 

room for the exchange of ideas and experience 

among its speakers and participants in a very 

relaxed atmosphere and in my opinion this is 

the true value of the whole event. It is nowhere 

easier to get to know international experts and 

business people than at the iconvienna. Knowledge 

transfer is undoubtedly a very important 

thing, but establishing and developing an international 

professional network and creating 

cross-border friendships is an even more important 

undertaking. Iconvienna offers the perfect 

platform for both of it and therefor I congratulate 

the organizers of this fabulous event 

to its concept and hope that there will be many 

more iconvienna events in the future. 

Foto: Atelier Doris Kucera 



Foto: Creative Commons

Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs 

Foreword 

Business Location 

Central Europe in a 

Changing Environment 

Sebastian Kurz 

Federal Minister for Europe, 

Integration and Foreign Affairs 

Foto: Felicitas Matern/feelimage.at 

Europe needs structural reforms 

in a wide number of areas. 

We need to regain competitiveness 

at a global scale. We 

need to upgrade existing infrastructure 

and improve its management. 

We want to redefine security and integration 

patterns to address hatred 

and terrorism. We should reorganise 

our labour markets and social welfare 

systems. 

Central Europe in particular 

needs to address structural deficits. 

This means looking at new business 

models. To improve the cross-border 

link-up of our infrastructure. To 

apply interdisciplinary and interactive 

education and research models. 

This needs to be done primarily at 

national level. But, given the interconnectedness, 

we need to improve 

our coordination. Only then will the 

business location Central Europe be 

able to flourish. This would seem 

best fitted to ensure a prosperous 

future for the Central European Region 

with its 150 million people. 

iconvienna 2015 is taking the 

right approach to address these 

issues. iconvienna proactively involves 

companies in formulating 

the strategies for the future. Smart 

cities and regions, innovation and 

cooperation networks, energy and 

transport infrastructure, and many 

more challenges are the topics to be 

discussed. 


European Commission 

Challenges 

for innovation and cooperation 

in regions of Europe 

The EU's Cohesion Policy will make available more 

than € 350 billion in investments over the next 7 

years to support EU countries and regions. About 

one third of this budget will be spent on fostering 

innovation, shift towards a low-carbon economy, competitiveness 

of small and mid-size businesses and ICT. 

A large part of these funds will benefit the economies 

of Central and Eastern Europe, where they are 

the single most important source of public investment 

- accounting for between 40% to up to 85% of all public 

investments. 

In any case, these investments represent a valuable 

opportunity for all EU countries and regions, but 

also a challenge, in the sense that they have to make 

sure that these investments target the areas that provide 

the greatest added value towards our common 

objective of delivering growth and jobs. 

To this purpose, Cohesion Policy regulations 

require EU countries to build their national / regional 

development strategies on precise national 

or regional innovation roadmaps, which are called 

smart specialisation strategies. The aim of these strategies 

is to mobilise smart investments into innovation, in 

the specific areas where countries or regions have the 

highest potential, in order to move up the value chains 

of their economies. 

But these strategies cannot be developed top-down, 

as Cohesion Policy investments cannot be developed 

top-down. Experience shows that quality and ownership 

of public policies improves where relevant stakeholders 

are involved in their design and implementation. 

To this end, the Commission has reinforced the 

role of the partnership principle in Cohesion Policy, by 

setting out a "European code of conduct on partnership", 

which requires EU countries to involve relevant universities, 

industry and social partners in programming and 

implementation of Cohesion Policy programmes. 

On the basis of this involvement, 

smart specialisation strategies 

may build on and enrich from 

contributions from industry, 

SMEs and academia. 

For instance, in the Polish region of Pomorskie, hundreds 

of companies were mobilised and involved in an 

entrepreneurial discovery process, which allowed identifying 

and narrowing down the economic opportunities 

of the region. 

18 iconannual The European Business and Investment Magazine

Foreword 

and 

opportunities 

In this context, the Commission is launching now a 

number of initiatives, such as a Platform on Smart Specialisation 

on Energy, which will facilitate cooperation 

on energy topics; or granting a priority to strategic cooperation 

across borders, in order to "make contacts to 

contracts", as you so aptly put it as the motto for your activities. 

We are convinced that regions' comparative advantages 

depend not only on their own action and assets, 

but also on the strengths of the regions around, on creating 

joint value chains and building more competitive 

transnational clusters for new business opportunities. 

In this respect, EU countries and regions should 

make the widest use of the possibility to support joint 

initiatives, demonstrators and pilots from ERDF and IN- 

TERREG Operational Programmes, in particular in the 

framework of macro-regional strategies, such as the EU 

Strategy for the Danube Region. 

But all of this starts by getting to better know each 

other and share visions, strategies, goals and roadmaps, 

which is exactly the purpose of this conference. I wish 

you rich and fruitful discussions and every success in 

future projects. 

Corina Cretu 

European Commissioner 

for Regional Policy 

Foto: European Commission 




Greetings 

European Integration 

through Cooperation 

Ambassador Margit Waestfelt 

Alternate Secretary General 


Foto: Mahmoud-Ashraf 

The Central European Initiative 

(CEI) was founded immediately 

after the fall of the Berlin 

wall in 1989 by four countries 

Italy, Austria, Hungary and the former 

Yugoslavia in order to strengthen 

good-neighbourly relations and 

develop a manifold cooperation between 

their respective countries. We 

are proud to be able to say that since 

its inception more than two decades 

ago, the CEI has taken root, grown 

and finally blossomed into the largest 

and oldest regional forum, committed 

to supporting European integration 

through cooperation among 

its Member States and the European 

Union. After 26 years, it is also important 

to look forward to future 

goals and opportunities for the CEI, 

as through its project-oriented working 

method, the CEI is a flexible 

basis for regional cooperation of its 

Member States. 

The CEI will therefore continue 

to be actively engaged in supporting 

projects in various areas of cooperation, 

thus providing possibilities for 

studying, financing and executing 

national and international projects. 

It will also fully exploit its geographical 

position – connecting the 

Baltic, the Danube, the Adriatic-Ionian, 

Black Sea and Alpine regions – 

in order to continue acting as a 

bridge between Macro-regions.” 



Foto: Fotolia

United States of America 

Greetings 

Dear readers! 

H. E. Alexa Wesner 

U.S. Ambassador to Austria 

I 

am pleased to see iconvienna focusing on 

entrepreneurship and innovation this year. 

Entrepreneurship is a way of looking at the 

world and seeing not just obstacles, but opportunities; 

not just the world as it is, but the 

world as it could be, and then having the confidence, 

the determination, and the know-how 

to bring those worlds closer together. 

In 2009, President Obama elevated entrepreneurship 

as a critical pillar of U.S. global 

engagement as a means to deepen ties between 

the United States and the international community. 

Since then, the United States government 

has committed to supporting entrepreneurship 

to help channel the creativity, 

innovation, and potential of millions of individuals 

around the world. 

Entrepreneurship is one of the most powerful 

ways for individuals to improve their own 

economic circumstances, as well as the circumstances 

of communities within their realm of 

impact. Entrepreneurship promotes economic 

growth, job creation, political stability, and 

empowerment. It captures an individual’s potential 

and aspirations and can push the transformation 

of whole industries. In the best circumstances, 

it can transform society itself. 

I like to think that the United States has a 

vital role in supporting and assisting entrepreneurship 

worldwide because of our experience, 

diversity, and entrepreneurial culture. 

America is known around the world as a country 

that empowers the inventor and the innovator. 

America has been a place where men 

and women can take a chance on a dream – 

where they can take an idea that starts around 

a kitchen table and turn it into a thriving new 

business or new industry. And where social 

entrepreneurship is as valued as business entrepreneurship. 

In turn, global entrepreneurship not only 

promotes America’s prosperity in the global 

economy, but binds us to the economic success 

of partner countries around the world, including 

Austria, which is well-positioned to help 

spread the entrepreneurial movement to the 

region and especially throughout eastern and 

southeastern Europe. 

Foto: U.S. Embassy 



Foto: Romanian Embassy

Romania 

Greetings 

Werte Leserinnen und Leser! 

H. E. Silvia Davidoiu 

Ambassador of Romania to Austria 

Rumänien und Österreich sind nicht nur durch 

Kultur und Geschichte, sondern heutzutage auch 

in einer wachsenden wirtschaftlichen Zusammenarbeit 

eng verbunden, die auf ein gemeinsames 

Interesse in die allgemeine Entwicklung der Wirtschaftsbeziehungen 

zu Ost- und Südosteuropa, sowie 

dem Schwarzmeerraum beruht. 

iconvienna ist ein bedeutender Partner in der Entwicklung 

dieser Beziehung, als Begegnungsplattform 

für Firmen aus Rumänien, sowie Süd-Osteuropa. Mit 

iconvienna verbindet uns bereits eine lange erfolgreiche 

Zusammenarbeit, die sowohl Kontakte zwischen Firmen 

vermittelt, als auch eine rege Teilnahme von hochrangigen 

Persönlichkeiten der Wirtschaft aus unserem 

Land an Veranstaltungen in Wien ermöglicht hat. 

Die wirtschaftliche Lage und Perspektive hat sich in 

den letzten Jahren in vielen osteuropäischen Ländern 

verschlechtert, was auch die österreichischen Investoren 

auf diesen Märkten schwer getroffen hat. In dieser 

Situation brauchen wir mehr als je zuvor eine Verstärkung 

der Zusammenarbeit zwischen Rumänien und 

Österreich. Wir sollten nicht vergessen dass Rumänien 

auch für österreichische Investoren einer der erfolgreichen 

Märkte geblieben ist. 

Die rumänische Wirtschaft bleibt auf einem soliden 

Wachstumspfad, was das konstante Wachstum des BIP 

zeigt. Das führt zu einer Stabilisierung der rumänischen 

Wirtschaft und die Fortsetzung des bisherigen Wachstumstrends. 

Um diese Tendenz zu sichern ist Rumänien 

aber auch auf die positive Wirtschaftsentwicklung der 

EU angewiesen, unser größter Handelspartner. 

Österreich ist bereits der zweitwichtigste Investor in 

Rumänien, mit ungefähr 6700 Unternehmen und einem 

Investitionsgesamtwert von über 12 Mrd. Euro. Auch die 

Daten unseres bilateralen Handels sind durchaus zufriedenstellend: 

im Jahre 2013, wurde ein Volumen von 

3,3 Mrd. Euro verzeichnet, der für 2014 noch größer ausfallen 

könnte. Die österreichischen Unternehmen sind 

auf dem rumänischen Markt nicht nur durch weltweit 

bekannte Erfolgsgeschichten von Erste Group und OMV 

vertreten, sondern haben auch einen führenden Marktanteil 

im Finanz-, Versicherungs- und Bauwesen. Für 

österreichische Unternehmen eröffnen sich derzeit in 

Rumänien viele Chancen für Investitionen, in Branchen 

wie Umwelttechnologien, alternative Energie, Transport 

und Infrastruktur, Industriezulieferung, Landwirtschaft 

und biologische Landwirtschaft oder IT. 

Ich bin überzeugt dass die bereits unverzichtbare wirtschaftliche 

Partnerschaft von Rumänien und Österreich 

sich als weiterhin zukunftsorientiert und wachstumsfähig 

erweisen wird. Aus diesem Grunde glaube ich auch, 

dass eine Fortentwicklung der Zusammenarbeit mit Osterreich, 

beiden Länder helfen wird, in dieser schwierigen 

regionalen Lage die Wirtschaft anzukurbeln. 

So können wir gemeinsam auch einen Beitrag zur 

Stärkung des Wirtschaftswachstums in der EU leisten 

und den immer noch andauernden Folgen der Finanzkrise 

entgegensteuern. 

Foto: Philipp Hutter 



Foto: Fotolia

Slovakia 

Greetings 

Dear readers! 

H. E. Juraj Macháč 

Ambassador of the Republic of Slovakia to Austria 

It is an honour for me to address you in iconannual – 

the European Business and Investment Magazine – 

which is published on the occasion of iconvienna – 

the European Business and Investment Forum, a major 

international innovation conference in Vienna. This important 

forum includes the meetings of business leaders 

and governmental representatives of all over Europe and 

does a good run for exchanges of new thoughts and exciting 

ideas on regional and global cooperation through 

innovation and entrepreneurship. Following the motto 

“Make Contacts to Contracts” iconvienna represents the 

best arena for networking at a top executive level. 

Slovakia had the honour to be last year´s – on behalf 

of the 10th anniversary of iconvienna – main guest of 

the forum. Key Slovak Speakers included Minister of 

Economy Tomáš Malatinský, Neulogy Managing Director 

Ivan Štefunko, Chief Architect City of Bratislava 

Ingrid Konrad, Advisor to Ministry of Finance Stefan 

Adamec, Director General Ministry of Transportation, 

Construction and Regional Development Denisa Žiláková 

and Vice-President of Slovak Academy of Science 

Pavol Šajgalík. We had the privilege of the presence of 

former Vice-President of Wirtschaftskammer Österreich 

and the present Minister of Finance Hans Jörg Schelling, 

who has delivered the speech concerning the excellent 

Slovak-Austrian relations. 

The key topics of this year: Smart Cities and Regions 

2020, Innovation and Cooperation, International Finance 

and Projects, Energy, Infrastructure and Transport, 

Branding, IP Rights and youLEAD dialogue, give us – 

representatives from the world of business, energy, politics 

and diplomacy – the platform for discussing at expert-level 

about innovation, new findings, knowledge 

and business activities in Eastern and Western Europe, 

directly in Vienna, the centre of headquarters of many 

multinational companies and international organizations. 

Modern infrastructure might be 

regarded as a decisive factor for the success of a business 

location as well as the prosperity of the population. According 

to the motto of iconvienna „Make Contacts to 

Contracts“, well-developed infrastructures are indeed 

believed to be important „contacts” between cities, regions 

as well as neighboring countries. 

As Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to Austria, I 

would like to thank the organizers of this conference. 

Innovation is always a creative and inventive process 

that combines existing things in a new way in order to 

offer the market something unique. But it is also the way 

to decrease the high unemployment in EU and to endorse 

Europe as a global competitive player. 

iconvienna itself has the characteristics of being 

unique. As a representative of the Slovak Republic, I 

welcomed the opportunity to participate in the preparations 

of the event last year as a Guest Country. Under 

the slogan: “Why wander so far when the good lies this 

close” we managed to introduce an innovative and creative 

Slovakia to the neighbouring Austria. 

To conclude, I would like to wish all the organizers 

and participants a successful conference full of fruitful 

debates and outcomes. May this year’s conference be at 

least as successful as the last one, or even much 

more. 

Foto: Slovakian Embassy 



Foto: Hansjörg Schwab

Czech Republic 

Greetings 

Liebe Leserinnen 

und Leser! 

H. E. Jan Sechter 

Ambassador Embassy of the Czech Republic to Austria 

E 

s freut mich besonders, an dieser Stelle Grußworte 

zu entbieten und das Forum iconvienna im bereits 

elften Jahr seines Bestehens ein Stück des Weges 

begleiten zu können. Dieses grenzüberschreitende 

Wirtschafts- und Investitions-Event steht auch dieses 

Jahr im Zeichen von Innovation und Kooperation – zwei 

Begriffen, deren praktische Umsetzung gerade in ökonomisch 

angespannten Zeiten die Basis für Erfolge bildet 

und neue Perspektiven eröffnet. 

Als branchenübergreifende Netzwerkveranstaltung 

für internationale Firmen und als Sprachrohr der Regionen 

Mittel- und Osteuropas stellt iconvienna längst 

selbst eine Erfolgsgeschichte dar. Als Forum der Begegnung 

und Inspiration lässt es in Wissenschaft, Technik 

und Wirtschaft Potentiale ausloten und Zukunftstrends 

erörtern. In weiterer Folge begründet iconvienna Synergieeffekte, 

die in einer globalisierten, sich rasch wandelnden 

Wirtschaft von höchstem Wert sind. Stets aber 

gilt, dass Projekte und Investitionen aus dem persönlichen 

Kontakt und der gegenseitigen Wertschätzung erwachsen. 

Und wo sollte es besser gelingen, Kontakte um 

Kontrakte zu erweitern als in Wien, von wo aus es nur 

ein Katzensprung in die „neuen“ EU-Mitgliedsstaaten 

Slowakei, Ungarn und Tschechien ist? 

Unter den gegenwärtigen anspruchsvollen wirtschaftlichen 

und sozialen Rahmenbedingungen in 

Europa gilt ganz besonders, dass Bildung, Innovation 

und Kreativität die besten Antworten auf die Herausforderungen 

des digitalen Zeitalters sind. Gemeinsam 

mit dem Young Leaders Dialogue (youLEAD) setzt iconvienna 

Akzente, indem es innovative Köpfe aus Mittel- 

und Osteuropa zusammenbringt und neuen Ideen 

Raum gibt. Für die Tschechische Republik, wo es eine 

lebendige, auch international beachtete Start up-Szene 

gibt, ist dieser Dialog von großem Interesse. 

Vor dem Hintergrund der städtebaulichen Entwicklung 

und Aufwertung der Metropolen gewinnen progressive, 

interdisziplinäre Lösungen in Architektur, 

Infrastruktur, Energetik, Transport und Kommunikation 

zunehmend an Relevanz. Für die Entwicklung 

von Konzepten Smart Cities vor dem Zeithorizont 2020 

kann iconvienna als Netzwerk- und Ideenplattform einen 

maßgeblichen Beitrag leisten. 

Einige der für Smart Cities entscheidenden Tätigkeitsfelder, 

etwa Energiewirtschaft und Infrastruktur, 

bilden zugleich auch in der Arbeit der Handelsabteilung 

unserer Botschaft Prioritätsbereiche. 

Foto: Embassy of the Czech Republic 



Foto: Fotolia

Russian Federation 

Greetings 

Liebe Leserinnen 

und Leser! 

H. E. Sergej Netschajew 

Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Austria 

Schon zum 11. Mal findet heuer 

das jährliche European Business 

and Investment Forum 

iconvienna statt. 

In der kurzen Zeit seines Bestehens 

ist es iconvienna gelungen, 

sich als anerkannte Kontaktplattform 

zwischen Vertretern der Wirtschaft, 

Wissenschaft, Politik und 

des öffentlichen Lebens aus Ost- und 

Westeuropa zu etablieren. 

Russland blickt auf eine intensive 

und erfolgreiche Zusammenarbeit 

mit iconvienna zurück. An den Veranstaltungen 

des Forums nahmen 

zahlreiche Vertreter der russischen 

Wirtschaft und Politik teil. Neben 

der Präsentation Russlands als Gastland 

in 2008 sind auch russische Regionen 

wie z.B. Moskau, Nowgorod 

oder Iwanowo regelmäßig „Guest 

Regions“ bei der iconvienna. 

Neben Kontaktmöglichkeiten für 

Entscheidungsträger frei nach dem 

Motto „make contacts to contracts“ 

bietet das Forum auch eine hervorragende 

Möglichkeit zum Austausch 

von Erfahrungen und Meinungen 

zu aktuellen Themen in verschiedenen 

Gebieten. Auch diesjährige 

Schwerpunkte der iconvienna wie 

Innovation, neue Technologien und 

Mobilität versprechen interessante 

Diskussionen und einen regen Meinungsaustausch. 

Ich wünsche dem ganzen Team 

von iconvienna viel Glück bei der 

Vorbereitung und Durchführung 

dieses Events und Ihnen, liebe 

LeserInnen, viel Vergnügen mit der 

vorliegenden Ausgabe! 

Foto: Russian Embassy 



Foto: Embassy of the Dominian Republic

Dominican Republic 

Greetings 

Dear readers! 

H. E. Ramón Quiñones 

Ambassador of the Dominican Republic 

to Austria, Bulgaria and Serbia 

Dean of the Diplomatic Corps for 

Latin America and Caribbean 

For more than a decade, the Business and Investment 

Forum “iconvienna” has served as an excellent 

platform for the efficient promotion of economic 

cooperation in Vienna, uniting leaders and 

businessmen from Austria and East Europe in Vienna, 

allowing for the establishment of new contacts and the 

exchange of knowledge, ideas, experiences, and creating 

new business opportunities. 

The main issues addressed and the business contacts 

established by this forum have contributed to stimulating 

economic growth, creating employment, and fostering 

sustainable development in an environment marked 

by the global economic and financial crisis and subsequent 

labor migration. Among the main topics discussed 

in the iconvienna have been communication and information 

technology, innovation, energy and sustainability, 

innovative ways of infrastructure financing, urban 

management and commercial exchange. 

Given the importance of the activities carried out by 

iconvienna, the Embassy of the Dominican Republic 

has supported this initiative since its inception, actively 

participating in the forum, and facilitating contacts 

with our producers of rum, tobacco and tourist services. 

I should highlight the 7.1% growth rate turned in by 

our economy in 2014, backed by a strong expansion in 

mining, construction, service, agriculture, manufacturing 

and the free trade zone, placing the Dominican Republic 

among the countries with highest growth rates 

in the world. I should particularly like to highlight the 

solid 10% growth rate achieved by the tourism sector, 

converting the country into the most popular destination 

of the Caribbean, visited by more than 5 million 

persons last year. 

As the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps for Latin America 

and the Caribbean, we have embraced the kind invitation 

extended by iconvienna as to allow other countries 

of our region to effectively integrate into its various 

activities, which will surely foster economic and commercial 

relations in multiple areas between European 

countries and countries in our Region. 

In this regard, I would like to express my most sincere 

congratulations to the President of iconvienna, Dr. 

Gerhard Hrebicek, and his team for the eleventh anniversary 

of the celebration of the forum, and above all to 

thank him for his warm hospitability, and for integrating 

Latin America and the Caribbean in his efforts to 

establish contacts for contracts among our economies. 

Foto: Embassy of the Dominian Republic 



Foto: Brazilian Embassy

Brazil 

Greetings 

Dear readers! 

H. E. Evandro Didonet 

Ambassador of Brazil to Austria 

I 

t was with great pleasure that the Embassy of 

Brazil accepted the invitation from Dr. Gerhard 

Hrebicek and Dr. René-Alfons Haiden 

to participate for the first time in iconvienna. 

The eleventh edition of this business forum is 

proof that it has become over the years an effective 

and efficient contact-platform for project 

and investment businesses, not only between 

Eastern and Western European companies but 

also with other regions of the globe. 

The European Union is the biggest trade 

partner of Brazil and its biggest foreign investor. 

More than 20% of Brazilian exports are destined 

to European Union countries and 20% of 

Brazilian imports come from the EU. Around 

50% of the FDI flows received by Brazil during 

the last 5 years originated in the EU. The EU, 

on the other hand, is the main destination of 

Brazilian foreign direct investment. Many important 

Brazilian companies are represented in 

Austria. 

We are naturally very keen on increasing 

and strengthening this strategic partnership 

with the EU and Austria, and an important tool 

in this regard is to facilitate contacts between 

our business communities, particularly between 

SMEs. 

The array of opportunities for investment 

in Brazil is as large and diverse as the country 

itself and includes sectors such as energy, 

highways, railways, waterways, ports, airports, 

telecommunications, generation and transmission 

of energy, oil and gas, urban mobility, construction, 

tourism and many others. Hence the 

main topics of iconvienna 2015 – challenges 

and opportunities for innovation and cooperation; 

innovations in transport and energy; and 

innovations in infrastructure - are perfectly 

aligned with our investment and development 

priorities. 

In 2016, Brazil will be again in the global 

spotlight as the city of Rio de Janeiro hosts the 

2016 Olympic and Paralympic games. Preparation 

for these major sport events are already 

under way, opening new business and trade 

opportunities, including with regard to the infrastructure 

and logistics in the region. We look 

forward to welcoming new partners from Austria 

and Europe in this endeavor. 

Once again, the Embassy of Brazil congratulates 

the organizers of iconvienna for their 

achievements and wish them a very successful 

event. 

Foto: Brazilian Embassy 



Foto: Renate Altenhofer

Cuba 

Greetings 

iconvienna 2015, 

a great opportunity 

H. E. Juan Carlos Marsán Aguilera 

Ambassador of Cuba to Austria 

I 

t is a privilege and a pleasure for me to 

congratulate Dr. Gerhard Hrebicek and 

his team through iconannual- The European 

Business and Investment Magazine, 

for the organization of this year´s iconvienna 

and for the opportunity to participate, 

offered to the Latin American and the Caribbean 

countries. 

The Embassy of the Republic of Cuba is 

prepared to participate actively in iconvienna, 

which will allow us to present the 

business opportunities Cuba is offering 

today. We are convinced that Austria and 

Europe can benefit from them. 

In the recent years, Cuba has become an 

excellent tourist destination for Europeans. 

Last year, we have also launched a new 

Law of Foreign Investments and a Portfolio 

of Projects of Investment with 246 projects 

for a total amount of 8.5 billion USD in key 

sectors of the Cuban economy. Since 2014, 

Cuba is also promoting the Mariel Special 

Development Zone, where it will be possible 

to establish new factories in a special 

tributary regime. 

The main sectors Cuba is promoting in 

order to obtain new technologies, knowhow, 

markets and external financing are: 

Renewable Energy, Sugar, Infrastructure, 

Agriculture - Food Industry, Construction, 

Tourism, Industry, Solid Urban Waste 

Handling Integrated System Drugs and Biotechnology, 

Packaging, among others. In 

this regard, iconvienna is an ideal place to 

share all these possibilities to a specialized 

European auditorium. 

Cuban and Austrian authorities consider 

that the economic and commercial 

relationships between our two countries 

should be increased at the same level as 

our excellent political relationship, and we 

are sure iconvienna will offer that opportunity. 

As Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba 

in Austria, Croatia and Slovenia, I do consider 

our participation at iconvienna as an 

excellent opportunity to relaunch our economic 

and commercial relationships with 

Austria and with the rest of the European 

countries. 

Foto: Cuban Embassy 



Foto: Embassy of El Salvador

El Salvador 

Greetings 

Our congratulations for 

organizing iconvienna 2015! 

H. E. Carmen María Gallardo Hernández 

Ambassador of El Salvador to Austria, Slovak Republic, 

Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia 

E 

l Salvador highly appreciates this opportunity to 

be present in this successful business platform for 

knowledge transfer and international network. 

The Embassy of El Salvador in Vienna is fully 

convinced the spirit of iconvienna “make contacts 

to contracts” starts by getting a better knowledge of our 

countries through tourism, culture and business. As 

Ambassador to Austria, Hungary, Slovak Republic, Bulgaria, 

Romania and Croatia I would like to extend an invitation 

to explore together business opportunities and 

potential commercial partnerships. 

Get to know El Salvador! During the past years we 

have made important effort to renovate and modernize 

our system of incentives; we have led towards a legal 

and institutional framework that provides greater certainty 

and predictability to foreign companies. 

Worldwide companies in aeronautics, electronics 

and synthetic textiles industries among others have 

been operating in El Salvador achieving high return 

rates on their investments. The Salvadoran labor force 

is world famous for its industriousness efficiency and 

work ethic. We are a cost-competitive cost country to set 

up and operate a business. 

In 2001 El Salvador dollarized its economy therefore 

it offers greater certainty to investors as a result of the 

elimination of foreign exchange risk and lower transaction 

and financial costs. El Salvador infrastructure is 

one of the most competitive in Latin America. Port facilities, 

airport and road infrastructure enable efficient 

logistical operations. We offer advanced telecommunications 

and electricity markets which guarantees access 

to high quality and competitive services. 

The country legal framework provides full exemption 

from income tax, municipal taxes on transfers 

of real estate property as well as customs duties 

and taxes on the import of machinery, equipment, 

raw material and other articles in use of production of 

goods and services. Multiple trade agreements provide 

preferential access to more than 45 countries around 

the world. We are part of the Agreement for a Single 

Central American Visa for Free Mobility of Foreigners. 

El Salvador geographical location enables convenient 

access to major cities in the US and South America while 

connecting easily with Europe. Our proximity of the 

Transpacific Maritime Route and the Panama Canal give 

to El Salvador a privileged position in the hemisphere. 

PROESA is El Salvador´s Export and Investment 

Promotion Agency. It is a governmental institution 

responsible for export promotion, investment and 

public-private partnerships. Contact PROESA to look 

for business opportunities as well as advisory and 

Technical Assistance: inversiones@proesa.gob.sv 

www.proesa.gob.sv 

El Salvador’s coffee is ranked as number one in the 

region, you should taste it! Think of setting up and operating 

a business in El Salvador it can be a success 

story! Enjoy our landscape, typical food and 

friendly people! 

Foto: Embassy of El Salvador 



Foto: Embassy of Guatemala

Guatemala 

Greetings 

Guatemala: 

Economic and 

Investment Promotion 

Foto: Embassy of Guatemala 

H. E. Antonio Roberto Castellanos López 

Ambassador of the Republic of Guatemala to Austria, 

Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary 

I 

would like to take this opportunity to congratulate 

the European Business and Investment 

Forum-iconvienna, headed by Dr. Gerhard 

Hrebicek, for arriving to its eleventh 

anniversary. Throughout all these years iconvienna 

has consolidated itself as an important 

platform for investment and business promotion 

for the countries represented in Vienna. I 

would also like to express my appreciation for 

inviting all Latin American countries to present 

the opportunities we have to offer to prospective 

investors and business operators who read 

this publication. 

Guatemala is the economic hub of Central 

America and meeting point for business, 

thanks to competitive advantages such as geographic 

location, rich natural resources, skilled 

workforce and high logistics and services 

center performance. Guatemala boasts also, a 

solid infrastructure and increasing technological 

avidity, positioning itself as the metropolis 

of the sub-region. 

Its geographical proximity to markets like 

México, Central America and the United States, 

as well as its easy access to both the Atlantic and 

the Pacific oceans has transformed Guatemala 

into a direct trade path towards regional and 

international markets. Furthermore, it plays an 

important role in international business owing 

to a long list of free trade and investment agreements 

with countries and regions such as the 

EU, the USA, Mexico, Chile, Central America 

and Dominican Republic and Colombia, among 

others. 

Guatemala has a consolidated presence as a 

manufacturing center, particularly in clothing 

and textiles. Meanwhile, sugar has become 

another important product and mining is an 

increasing source of revenue. However, coffee 

still remains Guatemala´s main traditional export 

and a branding iconvienna for international 

recognition. 

Finally, I would like to highlight the relevance 

of tourism owing to the country’s natural 

beauties, in a unique combination of beach 

resorts, striking volcanoes, impressive pre-columbian 

remnants and colonial treasures such 

as La Antigua, not to mention the color, warmth 

and hospitality of its inhabitants. 



Foto: Embassy of Colombia

Colombia 

Greetings 

Dear readers! 

H. E. Jaime Alberto Cabal Sanclemente 

Ambassador of the Republic of Colombia to Austria, 

and non-resident Ambassador to Croatia, 

Czech Republic, Hungary, Montenegro, Serbia, 

Slovenia and Slovakia 

I 

wish to congratulate iconvienna for its continuous and 

effortless work to create a successful business platform 

between countries and entrepreneurs, enhancing 

each year its motto “make contacts to contracts”. The 

European Business and Investment Forum allows executives, 

companies, young leaders, SME´s and countries 

representatives to share experiences and develop an entrepreneurial 

network in a unique atmosphere. 

Due to a successful development strategy, Colombia 

is the country in the Latin America and the Caribbean 

region that has made the most significant and positive 

change in the past 15 years and we are proud to be a 

guest country this year. We are looking forward to share 

our policies regarding exports, foreign investment and 

tourism, which has enabled our country to become one 

of the leading economies in the region: 

• Colombia is the third largest economy in Latin 

America and has grew more than 4% during 2014 

• Ranks 10th worldwide in investor protection and 1st 

in the ease of doing business in Latin America 

• Colombia has a network of Trade Agreements, among 

them the Agreement with the European Union 

In this sense, I will like to devote some words to this 

new framework for business given by the Trade Agreement 

between the European Union and Colombia and 

Peru, that this coming August will mark its second anniversary 

of provisional application. 

This Agreement is a third generation agreement, 

which, besides the more traditional trade disciplines 

such as market access in goods and trade in services, 

also provides for commitments on government procurement, 

establishment, intellectual property, competition, 

environmental and labour issues, and state-of-the-art 

standards in trade facilitation and customs procedures. 

Due to the Agreement commerce between Colombia and 

the EU has increased in 10.21% in the last year. Moreover, 

this trade agreement has created new opportunities 

for our micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. 

Since August 2013, 283 Colombian SMEs exported to 

Europe for the first time. 

Among the countries that have increased commerce 

we can mention Spain (+53,10%), Italy (+78,72%), Germany 

(+17,79%), Finland (+16,84%) and Poland (+17,15%). 

We are looking forward to increase our commerce 

with Austria and its neighbouring countries and in 

this aim, iconvienna is a perfect scenario to achieve 

our goals. 

Foto: Foto: Embassy of of Colombia 



Foto: Embassy of Nicaragua

Nicaragua 

Greetings 

Dear readers! 

H. E. Álvaro José Robelo González 

Ambassador of Nicaragua to Austria, Liechtenstein, 

San Marino, Greece, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates 

I 

would like to thank Dr. Gerhard Hrebicek and his 

staff for granting us the possibility to participate at the 

Eleventh Edition of the European Business and Investment 

Forum iconvienna. The Embassy of Nicaragua in 

Austria is glad to engage in iconvienna hoping that it 

will result in business opportunities for European and 

Nicaraguan entrepreneurs. 

Nicaragua's high and strengthened security (among 

the highest security rates in the Americas) and the continued 

dialogue and consensus among the businessmen, 

the workers and the Government makes the country 

particularly interesting and tempting for foreign businessmen. 

According to a recent visit of the International Monetary 

Fund (IMF), Nicaragua has an impressive increase 

rate of its GDP being higher than the average value of the 

economic increase rate of Latin America. 

What is the advantage of Nicaragua? 

• Nicaragua has a young and dynamic labour force 

with its 76% of the population being below 39 years 

of age and moreover it counts with a good education 

due to the increased spending of the Government in 

the basic, primary and superior education system. 

• Nicaragua offers one of the most competitive cost 

structures in the region granting companies the possibility 

to increase their competitiveness and reduce 

their operating costs. 

• A solid legal framework for foreign investments is in 

force protecting who decides to invest in Nicaragua. 

• Generous investment incentives. 

• Preferential market access offering for example trade 

free for goods between the countries of the European 

Union and Central America 

• Favourable business climate through a dialogue involving 

all private and public stakeholders in the 

economy of a country. 

Let me underscore the excellent convenience of the 

alternative and renewable energy sector in Nicaragua: 

being a country without crude oil production, it is a 

land of strong winds, tropical sun an roaring volcanoes 

which offer a wide range of energy production, already 

put in place by the authorities. Nevertheless the Government 

of Nicaragua plans to attract further investments 

in that sector for a volume of US$ 4 billion in the next 

15 years. It would be a pleasure to have Austrian and 

European entrepreneurs among these. 

Notwithstanding I also hope that iconvienna is a good 

platform to become more acquainted with the proven 

and renown classical products of Nicaragua as coffee, cacao, 

rum and tobacco. Recently we also started to foster 

the cultivation of chia seed, rich in omega-3 acids, which 

enjoys great popularity in European countries. 

Nicaragua welcomes all interested businessmen and 

would be delighted to see them becoming partners with 

Nicaraguan counterparts. 

Foto: Embassy of Nicaragua 



Foto: Embassy of Venezuela

Venezuela 

Greetings 

Congratulations to 

inconannual 2015 

H. E. Ali Uzcátegui Duque 

Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela 

to Austria, Croatia and Slovakia 

It is an honor to extend my words of congratulations 

to the President of iconvienna; and 

the whole team that makes possible the organization 

of this annual event; allowing the creation 

of a recognized business platform for all 

countries in the region, incorporating our Latin 

America in this important activity. 

The Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of 

Venezuela, welcomes this initiative to encourage 

and promote the creation of a business contact 

network, under the motto "Make Contacts 

to Contracts"; incorporating a new and more 

direct key factor between the parties involved, 

aimed at strengthening the network of business 

contacts. 

This year will be our first participation in 

this important event, framed in the exhibition 

of different investment opportunities in Venezuela; 

our aim is the positioning of the exportable 

domestic supply in the global markets and 

the trade of inputs that favors to promote economic 

integration of Our Americas. 

We are working on the promotion of nonoil 

exports and boosting domestic production 

activity, under the principles of integration, 

complementarity and efficiency, which are the 

main goals of economic policies of the Bolivarian 

Government that seeks an equal balance of 

trade with foreign countries. 

I am sure that this initiative undertaken by 

the iconvienna team in Austria, will serve to 

further integrate both regions, and also to identify 

new business niches that will expand the 

scope and the presence of European companies 

in the Latin American region and vice versa. I 

am convinced that we will continue working 

together to spread our economic potential. 

Finally, I would like to wish you all the best 

for the upcoming 11th edition of the Business 

and Investment Forum 2015. 

Foto: Embassy of Venezuela 


About 

(left to right) 

Dr. Klaus Schierhackl, 

Member of the Board 

ASFINAG; 

Paola Migliorini, 

Policy Officer, 

European Commission; 

KR DI Dr. Gerhard 

Hrebicek, President 

iconvienna 

Foto: Moni Fellner 

iconvienna 

iconvienna is an organization, which aims to 

promote business contacts between Austrian 

and international companies and regions in the 

CEE countries and Russia. Annually in April, 

the European Business and Investment Forum 

iconvienna invites to an active dialogue and 

personal networking. According to the motto: 

”Make Contacts to Contracts“ 

We provide services for participants and partners 

through personal contact and presentation 

opportunities. We develop the most 

recognized European platform for business 

and economics. iconvienna allows company representatives 

and decision makers to present projects in 

exclusive circles and specifically to establish contacts 

with export markets. 

iconvienna in brief 

The European Business & Investment Forum iconvienna 

is an exclusive Business & Networking Event, 

promoting business contacts between Austrian and international 

companies in CEE regions and Russia and 

encouraging project and investment business between 

East and West. Following the motto “Make Contacts to 

Contracts”, top-level national and international decision 

makers from politics and economy, international 

experts and representatives of regions meet at the 

forum. We deliver value to participants and partners 

Cocktail Reception Vienna City Hall 

through personal contacts with executives, entrepreneurs, 

government officials, project partners, as well as 

concrete business opportunities at the forum. 

Cocktail Reception in Vienna City Hall 

The Opening Night at the Vienna City Hall is an excellent 

occasion for easy initial contacts and thus promote networking 

and know how exchange, offering delegations of 

regions the opportunity to introduce themselves to potential 

business partners, investors and decision makers. 


iconvienna 


2013 (left to right) Mag. Alois Steinbichler, 

Kommunalkredit Austria; Dr. Klaus Schierhackl, Asfinag; 

DI Nikolaus Berlakovich, Former Minister of Agriculture; 

KR Dr. René Alfons Haiden, iconvienna; KR Dr. Gerhard 

Hrebicek, iconvienna; Dr. Tom Reinhold, ÖBB Holding; 

Dr. Christoph Leitl, WKO; Mag. Wilhelm Molterer, EIB 

iconvienna Site Visit 


Foto: Lukas Wagner 

Foto: Krischanz Zeiller 

2014 (left to right) Dr. Hans Jörg Schelling, Minister of Finance and Former Vice President Austrian Federal 

Economic Chamber; Ing. Tomáš Malatinský, Minister of Economy Slovakia; KR DI Dr. Gerhard Hrebicek, 

President iconvienna; Juraj Macháč, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovakia 

Expert Panels 

During the day, national and international experts 

present and discuss contemporary key issues that are 

vital to Europe’s integration and sustainable development. 

Project Exhibition 

Enterprises and regions present best practice projects 

and opportunities. This is an excellent chance to network, 

attract investors and to acquire new business 

partners. 

High Ranking Participants 

CEOs, entrepreneurs, top politicians, representatives 

of regions, international organisations and science 

meet at the iconvienna forum. Including side events, 

participants from approximately 40 different countries 

join each forum. 

Vision 

iconvienna – the appealing platform in the center of 

Europe for the effective promotion of economic and 

social integration in Europe. 


(left to right) H.E. Antonio 

Roberto Castellanos Lopez, 

Ambassador of the Republic 

Guatemala; 

H.E. Hussam Al Husseini, 

Ambassador of the Hashemite 

Kingdom of Jordan; 

KR DI Dr. Gerhard Hrebicek, 

President iconvienna; 

H.E. Elena Shekerletova, 

Ambassador of the Republic 

Bulgaria; 

Horst Mayer, General Manager 

Grand Hotel Wien; 

H.E. Ramón Quiñones, 

Ambassador of the Dominican 

Republic; 

Fatimah Maria Zwanikken de 

Quinones 





KR DI Dr. Gerhard Hrebicek, President of iconvienna, 

welcomes the guests at the Vienna City Hall. 

Conference at the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber 

Mission 

iconvienna offers an appealing, promoting and effective 

environment including the features of the city of 

Vienna such as: 

• Vienna as a secure hub for the international Project-Businesses 

for representatives from politics and 

economy 

• a mix of new and effective business and social events 

for regions and companies including amongst others 

exhibitions, presentations, lounges, contact areas, 

panel discussions and keynote speeches, dinners 

and receptions, as well as 

• cooperation with public institutions, business incorporations, 

media and business partners from the East 

and West 

iconvienna emblazes the background for a successful 

integration between East and West, especially 

• the actual economic development within the East 

and the West 

• regional "Priority"-Projects 

• Best Practice experiences of regions and companies, 

as well as 

• environmental, resource and financial questions 

iconvienna provides an effective and efficient contact 

platform between East and West, in which 

• targeted contacts to experts and decision makers 

can be established, 

• the attractive side events offer an ideal atmosphere to 

• establish a cooperation network including targeted 

contacts to business partners, 

• the international business network can be of use yearround 


• equity financing, growth capital and advancing 

across partners can be provided. 


iconvienna 

Reception Palais Palffy 

(left to right) 

Ivan Stefunko, 

Managing Director Neulogy; 

Warren Karlenzig, 

President Common Current; 

DI Eva Hackl, Deputy Chair 

iconvienna youLEAD; 

KR DI Dr. Gerhard Hrebicek, 

President iconvienna; 

Dr. Wolfgang Loibl, 

Smart City Expert AIT 




Site visit Seestadt Aspern 

FACTS AND FIGURES 

Patronage: 

Dr. Michael Häupl, Mayor and 

Regional Governor of Vienna 

Chairman of the Advisory Board: 

KR Dr. René Alfons Haiden 

President: 

Foundation: 2004 

First Forum: 2005 

KR DI Dr. Gerhard Hrebicek, MBA 

Target Groups: National and international Top 

Decision-Makers from international 

organizations, Politics, Economy, 

Science and Media Representatives of 

Regions from Russia, Central & Eastern 

Europe, Latin America and the 

Caribbean and USA 

Motto: 

Make Contacts to Contracts 

Participants since 2005: around 7.500 

Countries of origin since 2005: 

Participants from 75 countries 

Speakers since 2005: around 550 

FOCUS 2015: Regional Cooperation through 

Innovation and Entrepreneurship 

Previous Focus Areas: 

• East-West Summit on Innovation and Smart Cities (2014) 

• East-West Summit on Innovation and Infrastructure (2013) 

• East-West Summit on Innovations for Growth in the 

Danube Region (2012) 

• East-West Summit on Innovation and Sustainability (2011) 

• East-West Summit on Energy and Sustainability (2010) 

• East-West Summit: New opportunities through East-West 

Cooperation (2009) 

• Challenge Russia - Europe-Russia: New Opportunities (2008) 

• Future Investments for Europe (2007) 

• Sustainable Solutions for the Information Society (2006) 

• Information and Consulting (2005) 


youLEAD 

young leaders dialogue 

iconvienna 

YOUNG LEADERS 

Fotos: Katharina Schiffl 

DIALOGUE 

The first iconvienna YOUNG LEADERS DIALOGUE took place on April 9, 2014 at the Austrian Federal 

Chamber of Commerce on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of iconvienna. In accordance 

with the motto of iconvienna “MAKE CONTACTS TO CONTRACTS”, the main purpose of bringing 

young entrepreneurs, young leaders and high potentials from different disciplines as science, transportation, 

technology, etc. from Central and Eastern Europe together and to facilitate exchange 

and develop joint views on issues of key relevance for the future, was successfully accomplished. 

Focus areas were Innovation & Smart Cities with 

a focus on mobility, energy and IT. All these interesting 

and significant topics were discussed 

over the course of keynote speeches, followed by 

a World Café, where the participants had the opportunity 

to pass six stations, such as Energy, Investment 

and Environment, to exchange opinions and to consequently 

present the outcomes. 

The event was opened by the President of iconvienna 

Gerhard Hrebicek. He explained the relationship between 

the European Business and Investment Forum 

iconvienna and the Young Leaders Dialogue in the 

course of his welcome speech. 

The youLEAD dialogue, chaired by Eva Hackl 

from ASFINAG, emphasized on the need for shaping 

the future of our cities regarding transport, water, 


youLEAD 

energy, buildings, public systems, 

etc. Finding balance between high 

efficiency and social wellbeing and 

connecting these two is of big importance. 

The event was not only marked 

by interesting statements and discussions, 

but also by a video message 

from the managing director of 

the Indian Sakal Media Group Abhijit 

Pawar. His contribution to the 

event was connected to the question 

of what cities would look like 

in 50 years. He also emphasized 

the importance of the involvement 

of women in the development process 

of our cities, which would 

make it more efficient. 

Throughout the dialogue the 

young leaders jointly developed 

concepts for the cities of the future, 

exchanged their opinion, analyzed 

the relevant requirements and 

discussed essential findings with 

leading decision-makers such as 

the president of Common Current, 

California – Warren Karlenzig, 

Wolfgang Loibl, Smart City Expert, 

AIT, Ivan Stefunko, Managing Director 

Neulogy, Slovakia, etc. 

The findings discussed at the 

opening panel meeting were a focus 

throughout the iconvienna 

2014 conference. 

Young leaders dialogue 

senior experts & mediation experts 

youLEAD Young Leaders Dialogue 

Format: 

Topic: 

Participants: 

keynote speeches followed by a World Café, Networking Coffee 

Breaks by café +co 

Create the future of Europe through Research, Innovation and 

Cooperation 

young entrepreneurs, young leaders and high potentials up to the 

age of 40, open-minded and active involvement 

Your benefit in attending the conference: networking with like-minded young 

leaders and senior decision-makers 

Further Information: 

www.icon-vienna.net/youLEAD 


youLEAD 

Foto: Michaela Tugendsam 

Foto: Florian Saliger 

US Keynote Speaker 

Lauren Flanagan 

will share her experience 

in financing innovative 

businesses and social 

entrepreneurship 

Foto: Lauren Flanagan 

Dear Young Entrepreneurs, 

Young Leaders and High Potentials, 

The future is in our hands – let’s shape it together! 

We would like to introduce you to an exciting opportunity 

to join a community of other like-minded young leaders and 

attend an event focusing on the future. 

Looking forward to meeting you at this year’s youLEAD 

discussing the future of Europe through Research, 

Innovation and Cooperation. 

Lauren Flanagan, a serial entrepreneur and investor. 

Ms. Flanagan’s latest company is Current Motor, 

which makes all-electric cargo motorcycles and 

mobile solar charging stations for commercial/municipal/government 

use. She is also on the Board of 

Springboard Enterprises which has helped match 

nearly 600 women-led companies with more than 

$6.5 billion in venture capital. 

Yours 

Michaela Tugendsam & Florian Saliger 

youLEAD Chairs 


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European Investment Bank 

Political and 

economic 

challenges 

It is amazing to see how quickly iconvienna established 

itself as one of the leading network platforms for 

Europe’s business community. This year’s event, the 

11th iconvienna Forum, will again bring to Austria’s 

capital national and international decision makers from 

finance and economics, from politics, sciences and the 

media. It will be a pleasure to see how well co-operation 

thrives on the personal and business-related levels. 

Iconvienna plays a vital role in fostering closer ties between 

East and West and in originating business opportunities. 

The EIB highly appreciates being part of this 

dialogue. 

It is the mission of the European Investment Bank 

to facilitate business and support growth and economic 

development in Europe. The EIB is the bank of the European 

Union; its shareholders are the 28 EU member 

states. Founded in 1958 under the Treaty of Rome, it operates 

in the EU and in more than 130 other countries. 

As the largest multilateral borrower and lender, the EIB 

provides finance and expertise for sound and sustainable 

investment projects that contribute to furthering EU 

policy objectives. Smart growth and jobs are at the top 

of the EIB’s agenda. 

To ensure maximum impact, we are lending to 

sound projects, combining EU funds with our loans and 

advising on technical and financial aspects. The Bank 

unlocks access to finance for SMEs, supports innovation 

and skills, helps build strategic infrastructure and 

finances climate action. 

In 2014 alone, the EIB signed 

loans totalling 77 billion euro, 

around ten percent of which 

went to projects outside the EU. 



Mag. Wilhelm Molterer 

Vice-President and Member of 

the Management Committee of 

the European Investment Bank 

Foto: European Investment Bank 

Foto: European Investment Bank 

Last year, 290,000 businesses, 

mainly small and medium-sized 

companies as well as Mid-Caps, benefitted 

from EIB support. Since the 

beginning of the crisis in 2007, the 

EIB Group, i.e. the EIB and the European 

Investment Fund, has provided 

more than 500 billion euro in 

total for investment across Europe, 

mobilising some 1.5 trillion euro of 

investment in Europe. 

As early as in 1964, the Bank 

started its engagement in Central 

and Eastern Europe (CEE). The ten 

CEE countries that have joined the 

EU since 2004 automatically became 

EIB shareholders, benefitting 

from the full range of EIB financial 

instruments and support. As such, 

the EIB advisory services have continuously 

gained importance, e.g. in 

the shape of the project preparation 

support offered by JASPERS (Joint 

Assistance to Support Projects in 

European Regions). Since the accession 

of Bulgaria and Romania to the 

EU, annual lending to the region has 

increased considerably, reaching 

its historic peak in 2009, when projects 

with a total value of 18 billion 

euro were signed. But support is also 

provided to those countries still on 

the path to EU membership. In candidate 

countries, the EIB helps implement 

the national development 

plans in line with EU standards. 

Today – as Europe sees itself taking 

on new political and economic 

challenges – the EIB is as committed 

as ever and stands ready to provide 

vital financial and, increasingly so, 

advisory support for the benefit of 

Europe’s economy and enterprises. 

We rely on the business and network 

opportunities that help us identify 

and understand business needs and 

opportunities. Iconvienna does exactly 

this. I am looking forward to 

our discussions and exchange of 

ideas at this year’s Forum. 


Kommunalkredit Austria 

Potenziale in der 

Infrastrukturbeschaffung 

Ein anhaltend hohes Investitionsvolumen auf kommunaler Ebene und der öffentlichen Hand ist 

sowohl unter dem Aspekt der Aufrechterhaltung qualitativ hochstehender Infrastruktur, als auch 

im Hinblick auf resultierende positive Konjunktureffekte relevant. Die Verbreiterung der Finanzierungsbasis 

für Infrastrukturinvestitionen ist dabei von besonderer Bedeutung; dies vor allem vor 

dem Hintergrund begrenzter budgetärer Spielräume, welche eine Finanzierung von Infrastrukturinvestitionen 

über Budgetmittel alleine nicht zulassen. 

Konzeption, Planung, Finanzierung, Errichtung, 

Betrieb, Instandhaltung und gegebenenfalls Rückbau: 

Infrastrukturprojekte durchlaufen verschiedene 

Phasen während ihrer Lebensdauer. Je besser 

diese einzelnen Zyklen aufeinander abgestimmt sind, 

umso größeres Effizienzpotenzial lässt sich realisieren. 

Ressourcenverbrauch und Kosten können so minimiert 

werden. Für die öffentliche Hand sind Lebenszyklusmodelle 

eine Chance, bei der Infrastrukturbeschaffung 

nachhaltig Optimierungspotenziale zu heben. 

Mit einem ganzheitlichen Kostenansatz betrachten 

Lebenszyklusmodelle nicht nur die Baukosten von Infrastrukturprojekten, 

sondern es werden sämtliche mit 

der Infrastruktur in Zusammenhang stehende Kosten 

(Bau- und Betriebs-, Energie-, Wartungs-, Instandhaltungsinvestitionen 

etc.) bei der Evaluierung des Infrastrukturprojektes 

berücksichtigt. Dadurch kann eine 

einseitige Konzentration auf Baukosten alleine vermieden 

werden. Ein Blick auf die Unterteilung der Lebenszykluskosten 

macht das Einsparungspotenzial deutlich: 

So liegen bei Schulgebäuden die durchschnittlichen 

Errichtungskosten bei einer unterstellten Nutzungsdauer 

von 60 Jahren bei ca. einem Drittel, zwei Drittel der 

Lebenszykluskosten entfallen auf Betriebs-, Instandhaltungs- 

und Verwertungskosten. 

Bei der Realisierung von Lebenszyklusmodellen 

steht die öffentliche Hand zunächst vor der Wahl, das 

Projekt konventionell auszuschreiben (d. h. Ausschreibung 

des Baus, der Betrieb des Gebäudes erfolgt in Eigenregie) 

oder das Projekt mit einem privaten Partner 

umzusetzen (z. B. in Form eines öffentlich-privaten 

Partnerschaftsmodelles, auch „ÖPP-Modell“), in der 

Planung, Bau und Betrieb von einem privaten Partner 

erbracht werden, während der öffentliche Partner lediglich 

den Infrastrukturbedarf vorgibt. 

Lebenszyklusmodelle sind sowohl in Form der 

konventionellen Beschaffung als auch mittels Partnerschaftsmodellen 

umsetzbar. Der Vorteil von Partnerschaftsmodellen 

liegt jedoch darin, dass hier Bau- und 

Betriebsverantwortung zusammengefasst sind. Der private 

Partner hat also einen hohen Anreiz, die Planung 

des Infrastrukturprojektes so auszugestalten, dass die 

Lebenszykluskosten (Gesamtkosten, die zu tragen sind) 

minimiert werden. Das Risiko etwaiger Kostenüberschreitungen 

hat der private Partner zu tragen, d. h., 

sind die tatsächlichen Bau-, Betriebs- oder Instandhaltungskosten 

höher als geplant, hat der private Partner 

diese höheren Kosten selbst zu tragen und kann diese 

nicht dem öffentlichen Partner in Rechnung stellen. 

Um die verschiedenen Projektierungsansätze für ein 

Infrastrukturprojekt vergleichbar zu machen, werden 

die über die Projektlaufzeit anfallenden infrastrukturbezogenen 

Kosten diskontiert, um so einen Wirtschaftlichkeitsvergleich 

durchführen zu können. Zu wählen 

ist jener Projektierungsansatz, der den Nutzanforderungen 

an die Infrastruktur zum niedrigsten Barwert der 

Lebenszykluskosten entspricht. 

Unabhängig davon, ob die Realisierung eines Lebenszyklusmodelles 

in Form eines ÖPP-Modelles oder 

in Eigenrealisierung durchgeführt wird, sind Wirt- 



Lebenszykluskosten 

Barwertvergleich 

schaftlichkeitsvergleiche in der beschriebenen Form 

sinnvoll. Durch den Fokus auf die Lebenszykluskosten 

kommt es bereits frühzeitig zu einer umfangreichen 

Konzeptionierung und Planung anhand einer detaillierten 

Bedarfserhebung. Dadurch werden Baukostenüberschreitungen 

tendenziell vermieden, da bereits 

frühzeitig der Infrastrukturbedarf erhoben wird, sodass 

nachträgliche, meist sehr teure Bedarfsänderungen unwahrscheinlicher 

werden. 

Partnerschaftliche Lebenszyklusmodelle in Form 

von ÖPP-Modellen sind jedoch nicht in allen Fällen die 

beste Lösung. Sie bedürfen hinsichtlich ihrer umfangreichen 

vertraglichen Ausgestaltung eines höheren Ko- 

ordinierungsaufwandes, stellen höhere Know-how-Anforderungen 

an den öffentlichen wie an den privaten 

Partner und sind daher mit höherem Beratungs- und 

Zeitaufwand, und damit zusätzlichen Kosten, verbunden, 

die sich erst bei entsprechendem Volumen und 

Laufzeit amortisieren. Das bedeutet, dass sie nicht in 

allen Fällen, vor allem nicht im kleinvolumigen Investitionsbereich, 

eine sinnvolle Alternative darstellen. 

Die Kommunalkredit als Kompetenzzentrum für öffentliche 

Infrastruktur bietet für Infrastrukturprojekte 

umfangreiche Beratungsleistungen und Lösungsansätze. 

Diese reichen von Beratung und Strukturierung über 

traditionelle Finanzierung bis zur Entwicklung von 

partnerschaftlichen Konzepten mit Übernahme von Risiken 

durch Betreiber- und Errichtungsgesellschaften. 

Der Fokus liegt dabei insbesondere auf dem Arrangieren 

und Strukturieren von Projekten sowie der Finanzierung 

der Bauphase; die Finanzierung der Betriebsphase 

wird zunehmend an institutionelle Investoren wie Versicherungen 

oder Fonds syndiziert werden. Diese haben 

ihrerseits angesichts aufsichtsrechtlicher Vorschriften 

sowie im gegebenen Niedrigzinsumfeld zunehmend 

Bedarf an langfristigen Aktiva mit stabilen Cashflows; 

gleichzeitig beschränken restriktive Vorgaben aus Basel 

III das Halten langfristiger Aktiva auf Bankbilanzen. Die 

Kommunalkredit agiert als Brücke zwischen ihren Kunden, 

der öffentlichen Hand, den Projektsponsoren und 

Projekterrichten sowie den institutionellen Investoren. 

Foto: Petra Spiola 

Mag. Alois Steinbichler 

Vorstandsvorsitzender Kommunalkredit Austria 


Thinking outside the box 

is not just a phrase, 

but rather our approach 

to legal advice. 

Successful legal advice means more than simply knowing and applying the law. 

Lansky, Ganzger + partner, one of the leading law firms in Austria and the Slovak Republic, 

has longstanding and profound experience that enables it to deliver an all-encompassing, 

inter disciplinary and cross-regional service of the highest level. 

Lansky, Ganzger + partner closely col labo rates 

with ex ternal specialists and a worldwide network 

of consultants and local advisers. This ensures 

that the firm is able to offer individual, strategic 

and pragmatic all-in-one solutions to their national 

and international clients. Many renowned national 

and inter national banks, corporations and 

companies have, over the past years, relied on 

the firm’s extensive expertise. The all-inclusive 

approach of Lansky, Ganzger + partner clearly 

distinguishes itself from the general standard of 

a conventional, solely legal consultancy. 

LAnSky, GAnzGeR + partner 

Attorneys at Law 

Biberstrasse 5 

a-1010 Vienna (austria) 

W: www.lansky.at 

T: +43 1 533 33 300 

F: +43 1 532 84 83 

e: office@lansky.at 

Vienna – BraT isL a V a – Baku – asT ana


Serbien 

Strukturelle Reformen als Investitionsanreiz 

Rezente Beispiele zeigen, wie 

Serbien die Wirtschaftskrise 

bekämpft und sich als Leader 

am Westbalkan etablieren 

will: Serbische Einkommen im 

öffentlichen Bereich und die Pensionen 

sind um zehn bzw. bis zu 23 

Prozent reduziert worden, die Privatisierung 

von staatlichen Unternehmen 

steht an, und die Korruptionsbekämpfung 

wurde als wichtigstes 

Ziel ausgegeben. 

Die Strategie der letzten Jahre, 

nämlich eine Steigerung von Auslandsinvestitionen 

durch Förderungen 

zu erzielen, hat keine Früchte 

getragen. Bei der neuen serbischen 

Regierung hat daher ein Umdenken 

stattgefunden. Es genügt nicht, 

Investoren mit Geld zu locken sondern 

auch tatsächlich den Staat zu 

reformieren, so dass ausländische 

Investoren Serbien als langfristigen 

Investitionsstandort wahrnehmen. 

Den größten Investitionsanreiz bilden 

nun die mutig angegangenen 

strukturellen Reformen. 

Die erste Anerkennung für die 

Durchführung von schweren Reformprozessen 

erhielt Serbien in 

Form eines Kredites im Wert von 

rund einer Milliarde Euro seitens 

des Internationalen Währungsfonds. 

Voraussetzung dafür war die 

Senkung des fiskalischen Defizits, 

die schon erwähnte Reform des öffentlichen 

Bereiches sowie die Beendigung 

der Aufnahme neuer öffentlicher 

Schulden. 

Die Strukturreformen wurden 

auch von der EU wahrgenommen. 

So hat Serbien die Empfehlungen 

der Group of States against 

corruption (GRECO) laut EU-Fortschrittsbericht 

ernst genommen. 

Ein effizientes System zur Überwachung 

und Umsetzung der Anti-Korruptions-Strategie 

muss nun 

geschaffen werden. Der erste Schritt 

in diesem Zusammenhang soll 

durch das neue Anti-Korruptions- 

Gesetz erfolgen, welches im Sommer 

dieses Jahres verabschiedet 

wird. Geplant sind detaillierte Bestimmungen 

über die Kontrolle des 

Vermögens von Staatsfunktionären 

sowie Richtlinien bei Interessenskollisionen. 

Hinsichtlich der Privatisierung 

von Staatsunternehmen sieht das 

neue Privatisierungsgesetz vor, 

dass alle potentiellen Investoren 

Strate gien zur Restrukturierung 

einreichen können. Auf der Privatisierungsliste 

stehen 584 Staatsunternehmen, 

davon sollen 161 restrukturiert 

werden. 

Ein weiterer wichtiger Schritt 

folgte im Immobiliensektor. Der 

schon immer als höchst bürokratisch 

geltende Bereich soll durch das 

neue Baugesetz vollkommen reformiert 

werden. Baugenehmigungen 

werden nunmehr im Eiltempo erteilt 

(28 Tage). Investoren sind nicht 

mehr für die Dokumentenbeschaffung 

verantwortlich, dies obliegt 

nun der lokalen Verwaltung. 

Dr. Gerald Ganzger 

Managing Partner 

der Wirtschaftsrechtskanzlei 

Lansky, Ganzger + partner 

Daniel Gros 

Leiter des SOE-Desk bei 

Lansky, Ganzger + partner 

Lansky, Ganzger & Partner 

Rechtsanwälte GmbH 

A-1010 Wien, Biberstraße 5 

T: +43 1 533 3330 – 0 

E: office@lansky.at 

W: www.lansky.at 

Foto: Arnold Pöschl 

Foto: Roman Zach-Kiesling 


Business Mediation 



in international 

projects 

Johannes Gotsmy, MAS, MA 

Austrian Experts Group on 

Business Mediation EGWIME 

Foto: privat 

Mastering the challenge 

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projects. Public issues 

tend to be public 

– on a level never 

seen before. Calls for 

civic participation cannot 

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questions asked. Solutions can only be as 

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stupidity. Expertise is important for mastering 

civic participation processes: it is about 

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aspects, positions and interests. Solutions 

comprising all legitimate interests enable 

deep and long-lasting solutions. No surprise 

that process design and moderation has increasingly 

put into the hands of those with 

core expertise in precisely these issues, the 

business mediators. 

Ing. Leon Pogrzebacz, MSc. 

EGWIME 

Online Dispute Resolution - how Online Mediators 

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Online Mediation Experts know how to deal 

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Foto: privat 




at Austrian Courts. 

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money! Frequently 

people who have 

been involved in legal 

proceedings report 

Gernot Winter DI 

on their discontentedness 

with the sen- 

CMC EGWIME 

tence in their respective 

case while people who have taken part 

in a mediation process show a high level of 

satisfaction with the results they (co-)created 

with the professional support of a mediator. 

Ten years ago `court-annexed business 

mediation` has been established at Austrian 

courts and is meanwhile widely accepted. 

Based on the `Austrian Mediation Act` (Ziv- 

MediatG 2004) the `Austrian Association for 

Court-Annexed Mediation` (VMG – vmg.or.at) 

and it`s forty highly experienced and qualified 

mediators are offering their professional 

services to the Austrian citizens and enterprises 

at Austrian courts. The success rate is 

high: up to 80% mediation processes which 

are led by these qualified mediators result 

into fruitful and highly satisficing solutions. 

Foto: Christian Helmle 

The inclusion 

of the following 

mediation 

clause in 

your GTC and 

contracts can 

prevent from 

serious aggravations 

in cases CMC EGWIME 

Michael Hamberger, MSc. MA. 

of conflict. The 

phrasing is based on mediation regulations 

in Austrian Civil Law and leaves room for 

amendments as required for your lawyers: 

“In case of disputes arising from this 

contract, also in respect of its effectiveness, 

the contract parties will negotiate a conflict 

resolution. In case the conflict cannot be 

settled within 30 days, the contract parties 

agree to attempt a mediative solution as a 

next step. The acquisition of the conflict issues, 

the selection of registered mediators 

(according to the relevant national/international 

regulations) and the further procedure 

will be mutually determined. Every 

contract party is free from the start to terminate 

the mediation without sanctions, in 

order to take further legal actions.” 

Foto: Daniel Schaler 

Recommended Mediation Clause for Your Contracts: 

The inclusion of the following mediation clause in the 

GTC and contracts, treaties, and other agreements 

with partners, employees, clients, suppliers, project 

partners, licensors and licensees, or for service agreements, 

with residents and tenants can prevent from 

serious aggravations in cases of conflict. 

“In case of disputes arising from this contract, also in 

respect of its effectiveness, the contract parties will negotiate 

a conflict resolution. In case the conflict cannot 

be settled within 30 days, the contract parties agree 

to attempt a mediative solution as a next step. The acquisition 

of the conflict issues, the selection of registered 

mediators (according to the relevant national/ 

international regulations) and the further procedure 

will be mutually determined. Every contract party is 

free from the start to terminate the mediation without 

sanctions, in order to take further legal actions.” 

The phrasing is based on mediation regulations in 

Austrian Civil Law, emphasises the voluntariness, and 

is indicative of the willingness of your company to 

negotiate solutions and to a constructive approach to 

business associates. It demonstrates the emphasis on 

autonomy in decisions. Furthermore, it leaves room for 

amendments as required for your lawyers. 


Consultatio 

CONSULTATIO 

Die Zukunft 

im Blick 

Die CONSULTATIO zählt zu den führenden 

Steuerberatungs- und Wirtschaftsprüfungskanzleien 

Österreichs mit 

Haupt sitz in Wien Floridsdorf. Die Unternehmens 

tradition reicht Jahrzehnte zurück und 

ist von drei wesentlichen Eigenschaften geprägt: 

Wirtschaftskompetenz, Flexibilität und hohe 

Beratungsqualität. Das Unternehmen ist Pionier 

in vielen Beratungsfeldern und immer einen 

Schritt voraus, wenn es darum geht, internationalen 

Herausforderungen gerecht zu werden. 

Die CONSULTATIO-Gruppe ist derzeit in 

den fünf Ländern Österreich, Tschechien, 

Slowakei, Ungarn und Slowenien mit über 

200 Mitarbeiterinnen und Mitarbeiter aktiv 

und verfügt insgesamt über zehn Büros, vier 

davon allein in Ungarn. Zusätzlich ist die 

CON SUL TATIO Mitglied bei NEXIA, einem 

der 10 größten internationalen Netzwerke unabhängiger 

Steuerberatungs- und Wirtschaftsprüfungsunternehmen, 

mit Hauptsitz in London 

und Partnerbüros in der ganzen Welt. 

Die CONSULTATIO bietet ihren Klienten 

ein umfassendes Leistungsspektrum. Steuerberatung 

und Wirtschaftsprüfung sind unsere 

Kernkompetenz. Hinzu kommt eine Vielzahl 

weiterer Beratungsangebote und Dienstleistungen 

– für Großunternehmen ebenso wie für 

KMUs, Freiberufler, Kulturschaffende, öffentliche 

Einrichtungen, Verbände, Vereine und Privatpersonen. 

Der permanente Blick auf die unternehmerische 

Zukunft unserer Klienten ist uns ein 

wichtiges Anliegen. Wir behalten deshalb stets 

die gesamte Unternehmensentwicklung im 

Auge und passen uns den Bedürfnissen der jeweiligen 

Branche exakt an. 

Focus 

on the Future 

CONSULTATIO is considered one of the 

leading tax and auditing firms in Austria. 

Our tradition of excellence stretches 

back several decades, and is based on 

three fundamental principles: business expertise, 

flexibility, and superior advice. Our company 

is a pioneer in many areas of consultancy, 

always a step ahead, especially when confronting 

international challenges. 

The CONSULTATIO Group is currently active 

in five countries: Austria, the Czech and Slovak 

Republics, Hungary and Slovenia, with ten 

offices, four of them alone in Hungary. Additionally, 

CONSULTATIO is a member of NEXIA, one 

of the world's 10 largest international networks 

of independent accounting firms, headquartered 

in London with offices all over the world. 

We at CONSULTATIO offer our clients a comprehensive 

spectrum of services. Tax consulting 

and auditing are our core competencies. On top 

of that we offer a wide range of other specialised 

consulting services - for large and small companies 

alike, freelancers, artists, public entities, 

NPOs, federations and individuals. 

The permanent view to the business future 

of our clients is an important issue for us. We 

keep track of our clients' bussinesses overall 

development and adapt to the particular needs 

of the specific sectors. 

Foto: Consultatio 



Steuerreform in Österreich beschlossen 

Das Steuerrecht ist eine extrem lebendige Rechtsmaterie. 

Die nationalen Finanzverwaltungen passen die Steuergesetze 

sehr kurzfristig an aktuelle Budgeterfordernisse an. Auch 

der Kampf gegen internationalen Steuer- und Sozialversicherungsbetrug 

erfordert ständige Gesetzesnovellen. Die 

CONSULTATIO-BeraterInnen haben den gesamten CEE-Bereich 

im Fokus und informieren ihre international tätigen 

Klienten laufend über aktuelle Entwicklungen und notwendige 

Anpassungen. 

Österreich: 5 Milliarden Euro Steuerentlastung 

Im März 2015 wurden die Eckpunkte einer Steuerreform 

präsentiert. Im Vordergrund steht die Entlastung der Lohn 

und Einkommensteuerpflichtigen um 5 Milliarden Euro 

durch die Senkung des Eingangssteuersatzes und die Einführung 

weiterer Tarifstufen. 

Gute Nachrichten für innovative Unternehmen: Die Forschungsprämie 

wird von 10% auf 12% erhöht, es werden 

attraktivere Möglichkeiten für Crowd-Funding und Mitarbeiterbeteiligung 

geschaffen. 

Den größten Beitrag zur Gegenfinanzierung soll die „Bekämpfung 

von Steuer- und Sozialbetrug“ leisten. Es wird zu 

einschneidenden Kontrollmaßnahmen der Finanzverwaltung 

kommen. Das Finanzamt erhält uneingeschränkte Einsichtsrechte 

in alle Bankkonten von Unternehmern. Eine 

Registrierkassenpflicht wird eingeführt. 

International werden Umsatzsteuer-Karusselle, der Versandhandel, 

Online-Glücksspielportale und der illegale 

Handel mit Mineralölprodukten ganz gezielt ins Visier genommen. 

Außerdem erhöht sich die Mehrwertsteuer auf 

bestimmte Lieferungen und Leistungen (z.B. Hotelübernachtungen). 

Auch die Steuer auf Immobiliengewinne (neu: 

30%) und auf Kapitalerträge (neu: 27,5%) steigt. Top-Verdiener 

müssen ab 2016 für Einkommensteile über 1 Million 

EUR 55% Einkommensteuer zahlen. 

CONSULTATIO 

Karl-Waldbrunner-Platz 1 

1210 Vienna – Austria 

Phone: +43 1 27775-0 

E-Mail: office@consultatio.at 

Mag. Peter KOPP 

Managing Partner, auditor and 

tax accountant 

Phone: +43 1 27775-252 

peter.kopp@consultatio.at 


CEE-Newsflash 

Slovakia: Amendments 

to several Slovak laws concerning 

taxes and other 

levies entered into force 

2015. The government’s intent 

is to increase revenues 

for the budget by means 

of these provisions. This 

leads to higher tax burden, 

especially for small and 

medium sized businesses. 

Hungary: In March 

2015, an Electronic road 

transportation control 

System (EKAER) was set 

in force allowing the VAT 

Authority to track goods 

transported in Hungary. 

The purpose of the regulation 

is to avoid chain 

VAT fraud. 

Dr. Georg SALCHER 

Managing Partner, 

tax accountant 

Phone: +43 1 27775-232 

georg.salcher@consultatio.at 



mvit 

COMET: 

Innovation und 

Fotos: istockphoto.com 

Kooperation 

Innovationssysteme sind in hohem Maße von staatlich 

finanzierten Förderungsinstrumenten determiniert. 

In der Grundlagenforschung, bei Infrastrukturinvestitionen, 

bei hohen Entwicklungsrisken 

aber auch bei der extrem wichtige Kooperation zwischen 

Forschung und Wirtschaft sind marktwirtschaftliche 

Mechanismen allein oft nicht ausreichend 

und müssen durch staatliche Anreizsysteme ergänzt 

werden. In Österreich wurde das Thema der unzureichenden 

Kooperation vor etwa zwanzig Jahren aufgegriffen 

und man entwickelte das Instrument der 

Kompetenzzentren, in denen universitäre Forschung 

und Industrieforschung gemeinsam Konsortien bilden 

und mit einem Mix aus öffentlicher und privater 

Finanzierung an langfristigen Forschungsprojekten 

arbeiten. Mittlerweile ist das Kompetenzzentrenprogramm 

COMET ein international beachtetes Beispiel 

für erfolgreiche Kooperationsförderung. Das in drei 

Linien nach Volumen, Förderhöhe und Laufzeit differenzierte 

Programm ist thematisch offen, die Zentren 

haben Laufzeiten zwischen drei und zehn Jahren. Die 

K2-Zentren können mit bis zu € 7,5 Mio, die K1-Zentren 

mit € 2,55 Mio und die kleineren K-Projekte mit 

bis zu € 0,675 Mio p.a. aus Bundes- und Ländermittel 

gefördert werden. Bislang wurden 5 K2-Zentren, 

26 K1-Zentren und 46 K-Projekte genehmigt. Seit 2007 

wurde ein Projektvolumen von etwa € 1,5 Mrd. mit 

öffentlichen Mitteln von Bund und Ländern in Höhe 

von € 700 Mio gefördert. 

Inhaltlich sind die Schwerpunkte auf Produktionstechnologien 

mit 49%, Life Sciences mit 20%, IKT mit 

15%, Mobilität mit 10% und auf Energie/natürliche 

Ressourcen mit 6% verteilt. Regionale Schwerpunkte 

sind die Universitätsstandorte Wien, Graz, Innsbruck 

und die Industrieregionen in Oberösterreich und der 

Steiermark. 



COMET: Kompetenzzentren 

5 K2-Zentren laufend 

15 K1-Zentren laufend bzw. zur Förderung vorgeschlagen 

[18 K1-Zentren genehmigt bzw. zur Förderung vorgeschlagen, 

davon laufen 3 K1-Zentren aus (Phasing Out)] 

29 K-Projekte laufend 

(46 K-Projekte genehmigt, davon 17 ausgelaufen; von den 

29 laufenden sind wiederum nur 26 in der Karte dargestellt – 

weil das Vorgängerprojekt in Kürze auslaufen wird) 

K1 SCCH 

K1-MET 

K-Projekt HOPL 

K1 WOOD 

K-Projekt Amoree 

K-Projekt ADDA 

K2 ACCM 

K-Projekt ZPT+ K-Projekt APMT 

K-Projekt DEXHELPP 

K-Projekt GSG 

K-Projekt OptiBioMat 

K1 VRVis Center 

K1 SBA 

K1 FTW* 

K-Projekt AEDA 

K-Projekt LiTech 

K-Projekt ProDSS 

K-Projekt K-Licht 

K-Projekt AAHM-R2P 

K-Projekt VASCage 

K-Projekt Textiles 

K1 Oncotyrol* 

K1 alpS 

K-Projekt imPACts 

K2 XTribology 

K1 ACMIT 

K1 CEST 

K-Projekt PolyComp 

K-Projekt JOIN K-Projekt ECO-PowerDrive-2 

K1 PCCL-K1 K-Projekt ASD K-Projekt BioPersMed 

K-Projekt SeCoS K-Projekt focus_sts 

K2 MPPE 

K-Projekt ECO-COOL K-Projekt Vision+ 

K-Projekt FLIPPR 

K1 BIOENERGY 2020+ 

K1 evolaris* 

K2 Mobility SVT K1 Know-Center 

K1 ASSIC 

K2 ACIB 

K1 RCPE 

K1 LEC EvoLET 

K1 CBMed 

Die begleitende Evaluierung zeigt deutliche positive 

Effekte in der Wettbewerbsfähigkeit, der Verwertung 

von Forschungsergebnissen, positive Beschäftigungs-, 

Qualifizierungs- und Netzwerkeffekte; Indikatoren wie 

Patente, Publikationen, Drittmittel, internationale Partner 

zeichnen ebenfalls ein positives Bild, sodass in den 

nächsten Jahren weitere Ausschreibungen geplant sind. 

Nicht nur mit dem COMET-Programm, auch mit 

einer Reihe anderer Förderungsinstrumente verfolgt 

das Bundesministerium für Verkehr, Innovation 

und Technologie das Ziel, die Kooperation Wissenschaft-Wirtschaft 

zu intensivieren, dies vor allem 

mit entsprechendenr Programmgestaltung zB. im 

Headquarter-Programm bzw. mit zusätzlichen Prämien 

für kooperative Projekte. Unabhängig, ob es sich um 

Themenoffene Programme oder thematische Programme 

handelt, der Kooperationsaspekt ist wesentlich für 

die Förderungsentscheidung bzw. Förderungshöhe. 

Stand: 10.07. 2014 Quelle: FFG Förderstatistik 

Daten: Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft 

COMET: Verteilung nach Schwerpunkten: 

Energie/natürliche 

Ressourcen 

6% 

Mobilität 

10% 

IKT 

15% 

Life Sciences 

20% 

Produktionstechnologien 

49% 



Central European Initiative: 

26 years 

Immediately after the fall of the Berlin wall in 

1989, Italy, Austria, Hungary and the former 

Yugoslavia established – what is known today 

– the Central European Initiative (CEI). Since its 

inception, the CEI has taken root, grown and 

finally blossomed into the largest and oldest 

regional intergovernmental forum, committed 

to supporting European integration through 

cooperation among its Member States and the 

European Union (EU). 

Currently counting eighteen Member States 1 , the 

CEI has become a recognised promoter of EU/non- 

EU-country partnership and regional cooperation, 

assessing what can be achieved when countries 

make efforts to implement internationally agreed 

frameworks. 

The CEI strategic objectives, outlined in the CEI Plan 

of Action 2014-2016, will ever more focus on supporting 

its Member States on their path towards European integration; 

promoting the alignment of the CEI Member 

States to EU standards; implementing small and medium-sized 

projects and converting constructive ideas 

into innovative results. In order to offer a solid contribution 

to European integration the CEI combines political 

dialogue (multilateral diplomacy) and project management, 

both as donor and recipient, while also bridging 

European macro-regions. Through its project-oriented 

working method, the CEI is also a flexible basis for regional 

cooperation of its Western Balkan countries and 

the three Eastern Partners (Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine). 

The CEI is paying special attention to its non- 

EU Member States’ need for capacity building through 

know-how transfer and exchange of experience with its 

EU countries, thus also providing sound evidence of the 

permanent validity of its mission in these difficult times 

of political turbulence and economic crisis. 

Its unique geographical position makes the CEI the 

only regional international organisation connecting the 

Baltic, the Danube, the Adriatic-Ionian, the Black Sea 

and the Alpine regions. It is the only organisation providing 

a peer-to-peer environment for bridging experience 

and synergising the new added values of the macro-regional 

approach to the complexity of transnational governance 

and programming. 

1 

CEI Member States and accession date: Albania (1996), Austria (1989), Belarus (1996), Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992), Bulgaria (1996), Croatia (1992), Czech Republic (1993), Hungary (1989), Italy (1989), 

Macedonia (1993), Moldova (1996), Montenegro (2006), Poland (1991), Romania (1996), Serbia (2000), Slovakia (1993), Slovenia (1992), Ukraine (1996) 



Foto: CEI 

1 st MEETING of CEI National Coordinators – 

CNC, Budapest, 22 Jan. 2013 

Foto: Giovanni Montenero 

MEETING of the CEI Ministers of Foreign 

Affairs, Trieste, 13 June 2012 

Funds, Instruments & Figures: 

strategic approach to regional cooperation 

The CEI is a well-functioning intergovernmental machinery, 

our strong operational character and project-oriented 

approach, our manifold activities in various areas 

and initiatives to create a good business environment as 

well as our investment in a knowledge-based economy 

have served and are going to continue serving to increase 

the economic, social and territorial cohesion within 

our regional scope. In order to meet the strategic objectives 

for the benefit of its Member States, the CEI makes 

use of a variety of Funds and Instruments covering ten 

main areas of cooperation: 

Our 20-plus-year partnership with the European 

Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is a 

real success-story in this regard, significantly contributing 

to strengthening CEI’s project-oriented dimension. 

The CEI Fund at the EBRD, towards which the Italian 

Government has solely made a total contribution of 

€38.5 million, mainly provides grant-type assistance 

for specific components of Technical Cooperation (TC) 

projects. Since its inception in 1992, the Fund has provided 

more than €23 million for funding more than 130 

TC assignments, mobilising €4.8 billion of international 

investments in the countries of operations. For one euro 

spent on CEI Technical Cooperation, €215 were invested 

by the EBRD, other IFIs and clients. 

Since 2004, the CEI Fund at the EBRD has also contributed 

a total of more than €2.1 million to the Know-How 

Exchange Programme (KEP) supporting 75 projects. >> 



MINISTERS for Foreign Affairs Meeting, 

Vienna, 3 June 2014 

G. Hrebicek, M. Westfaelt 

Foto: CEI 

Foto: Mahmoud Ashraf 

As of 2007 the KEP has also been financed by Austria 

through an agreement with the Austrian Development 

Agency (ADA): it has so far committed around €730.000 

for 26 projects. Poland has also contributed with €50.000 

to projects co-financed together with Italy. 

The list of instruments for institutional and socio-economic 

development continues with our support 

to small projects such as seminars, workshops, conferences, 

trainings, etc. bringing together the peoples of 

the region through the CEI Cooperation Fund, to which 

all Member States contribute. 879 events and activities 

in various areas of interest have been co-financed so far 

with more than €8 million out of this fund. 

To achieve the objectives outlined in its multi-annual 

Plan of Action, the CEI is also promoting 

high-quality, result-oriented projects by participating 

in EU-funded programmes. We are proud of our 

records: 29 EU-funded projects since 2004, 23 implemented, 

6 under implementation, where the CEI operates 

both as Lead Partner and as a reliable, effective 

partner in key sectors of transnational cooperation, e.g. 

transport, science and innovation, renewable energy, 

cultural heritage, capacity building. This operational 

participation in the implementation of the EU policies 

is also the mainstream of our concrete ties with the 

European Commission as mandated by our Foreign Ministers. 

The CEI Science and Technology Network and relations 

with universities are also proven effective tools 

for promoting regional cooperation in the academic 

and scientific fields. The contacts established over the 

years with renowned universities and Centres of Excellence 

of the entire region are contributing to fostering 

mobility of scientists, professors and graduate and 

post-graduate students as well as to the development of 

tangible programes and projects. Through these exchanges 

the CEI has given its contribution to the development 

of a strong knowledge-based society, which is one 

of the main objectives of Horizon 2020. 

This CEI expertise in the implementation of transnational 

projects is also very important in view of pursuing 

the goals of the EU macro-regional strategies and 



of the Eastern Partnership, where most of our countries 

are included. We are active in the EU Strategy for the 

Danube Region (EUSDR), we are preparing to contribute 

to the EU Strategy for the Adriatic - Ionian Macro-Region 

(EUSAIR) and to the future strategy for the Alpine 

Region (EUSALP), where we have just revitalised our 

collaboration with the Council of Baltic Sea States. 

All macro-regional strategies have a role to play for 

the benefit of CEI non EU Member States. Bringing them 

closer to the European Union in a very consistent way to 

reach the strategic goal driving our activity. In order to 

facilitate macro-regional experience and opportunity 

sharing among CEI members, which are not part of this 

dimension, we also envisage the delivery of specific initiatives 

as already stated above. We aim at leading applicants 

and beneficiaries of CEI programmes to a higher 

level of consistency with the respective regional priorities; 

we wish to set the backbone for the mobilisation 

of relevant stakeholders in our Member States – be they 

public authorities or non-governmental organisations – 

for the establishment of sound partnerships aimed at 

elaborating new projects. 

Foto: CEI 

CEI SUMMIT “25 Years 

of CEI and Future Vision”, 

Vienna, 24 November 

Foto: CEI 

1ST CNC under 

Macedonian CEI Presidency 2015 


Novomatic 

Innovative 

Technology 

Made in 

Austria 

Foto: Novomatic 

Growing success 

The NOVOMATIC Group is one of the biggest producers 

and operators of gaming technologies and one of the largest 

integrated gaming companies in the world. 

With a turnover of more than Euro 3.8 billion in 2014 

the NOVOMATIC Group is one of the largest integrated 

conglomerates of the international gaming industry. 

Founded by entrepreneur Prof. Johann F. Graf, the Group 

has locations in 50 countries and exports high-tech electronic 

gaming equipment to 80 countries. NOVOMATIC 

operates over 232,000 gaming machines in more than 

1,500 Group operations such as casinos and electronic 

casinos and via rental concepts. The company offers its 

products and operations only in well regulated markets 

with precise regulatory frameworks. 

NOVOMATIC’s strong casino-related competencies 

The NOVOMATIC Group’s activities in the area of casinos 

(i.e. gaming facilities in which not only electronic 

games, but also live games such as roulette with a 

croupier or card and dice games are offered) include 

the operation of establishments ranging from the highest-revenue 

casino in Germany (Spielbank Berlin) to 

one of the most profitable casinos in Switzerland. With 

ACE Casino Holding AG as part of NOVOMATIC, the 

Group also owns the casino group with the highest revenues 

in Switzerland: the three casinos in Mendrisio, 

Locarno and Bad Ragaz, which have been operated by 

NOVOMATIC since 2003, not only achieve the highest 

gross gaming revenues among all operators, but also pay 

the highest taxes to the individual cantons. 

In 2013, it was once again possible to strengthen 

the NOVOMATIC Group’s casino competencies considerably. 

In Macedonia just across the border from Greece, 

for example, the Casino FlaminGO was acquired. 

Further acquisitions during the past years were the 

Casino ADMIRAL Gibraltar as well as the Casino FlaminGO 

in Macedonia. Among others the NOVOMATIC 

Group also runs comprehensive casino offerings with 

live games in the Czech Republic. The flagship is the 

Casino ADMRIAL Colosseum in Hatě . 

Group operations worldwide 

Among NOVOMATIC operations are the most profitable 

German (Berlin) and Czech (Prague) casinos as well 

as one of the most profitable casinos in Switzerland 

(Mendrisio). The Group subsidiary ADMIRAL Sportwetten 

GmbH is the largest sportsbetting provider in 

Austria with 200 sportsbetting outlets. 

The Group subsidiary Greentube Internet Entertainment 

Solutions GmbH is the leading full service provider 

in the online gaming and entertainment market 

segment and a pioneer in the development and provi- 



Foto: shm 

Winning 

Technology 

INNOVATIVE R&D, 

MADE IN AUSTRIA 

The triple Formula-1 World Champion 

Niki Lauda is the NOVOMATIC 

brand ambassador. 

“I am very pleased that NOVOMATIC 

chose me for their new brand 

ambassador. It is no coincidence 

that the words ‘Winning Technology’ 

are right next to the company logo 

on the cap. NOVOMATIC is a leading 

international Group that has grown 

from its base in Austria to become 

a global player.” 

sion of state-of-the-art gaming solutions. In addition to 

the headquarters in Gumpoldskirchen, Lower Austria, 

the Group holds production facilities and Research and 

Development centres in Germany, Great Britain, the 

Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland. NOVOMATIC 

employs about 22,000 staff worldwide and around 

3,000 employees in Austria. 

Leadership through Innovation 

The heart of NOVOMATIC‘s success story has always 

been the Group‘s unique innovative force. That is why 

the Research & Development department has a prominent 

position within the Group. Competitive advantages 

such as the duality as both producer and operator as 

well as the international Group network of Re search & 

Development centres are constantly extended. 

NOVOMATIC focuses on promising technologies such 

as server-based/downloadable gaming as well as online, 

social and mobile gaming. 

19 technology centres in ten countries deal mainly 

with software development and programming. 

NOVOMATIC also fosters close cooperation with 

leading technical universities in these countries. 

This strategy pays off across the whole Group: 

NOVOMATIC currently has more than 3,250 intellectual 

property rights, such as patents, registered trade- 

marks and designs. This makes the Group well equipped 

for the future. 

Consistent investments in research and development, 

an eagerness to do pioneer work, a keen sense of 

trends and a total commitment to quality have made 

NOVOMATIC Group a major player of the international 

gaming industry. 

RESPONSIBLE GAMING 

Increasingly important, next to creative gaming 

ideas and technological innovations in operations, 

is also the basic concept of responsible 

gaming. NOVOMATIC has developed one of the 

most modern concepts for the prevention of 

pathological gaming in Europe and is proud of 

having developed and implemented an unique 

and innovative access control system for gaming 

operations that guarantees maximum protection 

of minors and pathological gamblers. 

www.novomatic.com/responsible-gaming 


Creativity and reliability: These are two qualities 

that make our cutting edge technology 

one of the nation’s most successful exports. 

As a major player in the gaming, sports betting 

and lottery industry, we know that high-tech 

products from Austria have established an impeccable 

reputation and allow us to continue to 

create our winning technology on a daily basis. 

”We develop great entertainment 

for our customers in more than 

80 countries worldwide.“ 

www.novomatic.com

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ELK 

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ist seit Jahren erfolgreicher 

Global-Player im Wohn- und Objektbau. 

Die langjährige Vorreiterrolle 

und Erfahrung von ELK, das umfassende 

technische Know-how und 

die vielen Vorteile der Fertigbauweise 

überzeugen immer mehr Bauträger 

und internationale Developer. 

„Im Geschäftsbereich B2B erzielen 

wir jedes Jahr Zuwächse“, freut sich 

Erich Weichselbaum, CEO der ELK 

Holding. „Auch im Jahr 2015 sind 

einige sehr interessante Projekte geplant.“ 

Verantwortlich für den Geschäftsbereich 

B2B/Mehrgeschossiger, großvolumiger 

Wohnbau/Objektbau/ 

Kommunalbau/Hotelbau ist die 

100%-Tochter „ELK Building Systems“. 

Jüngstes Projekt in Österreich 

ist das Betriebsgebäude und Schulungszentrum 

für die Firma Synthesa. 

Für diese hat ELK einen zweiteiligen 

Gebäudekomplex mit 1.900 m 2 

Nutzfläche realisiert, mit Büros, 

Ausstellungsfläche, Empfangsbereich 

und einem Vortragssaal für 

100 Personen. 

Auch im Hotelbau ist 

ELK höchst erfolgreich, 

seit 2006 wurden 22 

Nächtigungsbetriebe 

von ELK gebaut. 

siert. Noch in diesem Jahr werden 

fünf ELK Motels gebaut, je zwei in 

Deutschland und Österreich, eines 

in der Schweiz. 

Selbstverständlich ist ELK nicht 

nur in den D.A.CH.-Märkten, sondern 

in ganz Europa vertreten. 

Wichtigstes Exportland ist dabei 

Großbritannien. Hier wurden in 

den vergangenen Jahren zahlreiche 

Großprojekte gebaut, etwa eine 

Studentenwohnanlage in der englischen 

Universitätsstadt Oxford. Für 

die viergeschossige Wohnanlage, 

die in zwei Gebäuden Wohnraum 

für 190 Bewohner ermöglicht, liefert 

Erich Weichselbaum beeindruckende 

Zahlen. „Für das gesamte Projekt 

wurden insgesamt 785 Stück Fertigwände 

produziert. Dies entspricht 

einer Wandfläche von rund 8.300 m 2 

und einer Nettogrundfläche von insgesamt 

6.000 m 2 . Die Montage dauerte 

nur acht Wochen“. 


Monitoring systems 

for user-friendly short and long-term measurements 

HBM offers a complete solution for your measurement task. 

For choosing and installing the individual measurement technology components or for planning and starting up the measurement 

setup, including suitable training – HBM is your partner. 

Measurement signal conditioning with QuantumX 

Transducers 

■ Optical measuring chains 

■ Displacement, strain, crack width ■ Stand-alone data recording 

■ Oscillation, acceleration 

■ 

■ Temperature, humidity 

■ Can be used in stationary or mobile applications 

■ Analog current / voltage sensors 

■ Digital inputs / outputs 

■ Pulse counters 

■ Optical sensors 

Scalable as a group of devices, allows for flexible setup and works synchronously 

■ Offers high measurement quality by compensating for line lengths and interference 

frequencies as well as high EMC stability and cyclical auto-adjustment. 

Further information: 

www.hbm.com/civil-engineering 

HBM Test and Measurement ■ Tel. + 43 1 865 8441-0 ■ info@at.hbm.com ■ www.hbm.at

Bezahlte Anzeige 

Wiener Tochtertag 

Das „MINT“- GEN – 

Erbgut oder gesellschaftliches Phänomen? 

„Mädchen schätzen sich nicht so gut in Mathematik, 

selbst wenn ihre Leistungen genauso gut sind wie die 

der Jungs. Diese falsche Bescheidenheit der Mädchen 

hat also nichts mit ihrem Können sondern mit gesellschaftlichen 

Rollenbildern zu tun. Dabei seien Eltern 

und Schulen, aber auch die Arbeitgeber gefragt die Mädchen 

zu motivieren und ihr Interesse an Mathematik 

und Technik zu fördern“, zeigt die jüngste OECD-Studie. 

Der Bericht zeige auch, dass vor allem in Mathematik 

und den naturwissenschaftlichen Fächern die Art 

der Präsentation der Inhalte Geschlechterunterschiede 

hervorrufen könne. In der Aus- und Weiterbildung der 

Lehrer soll weiter verstärkt dafür sensibilisiert werden, 

das eigene Verhalten im Unterricht zu hinterfragen und 

der Übertragung von Geschlechterstereotypen gezielt 

entgegenzuwirken, heißt es. 

Die Idee des Töchtertags stammt aus den USA. Der 

jährliche Aktionstag „Take Your Daughters to Work- 

Day“ wurde in den 90er Jahren eigeführt mit dem Ziel, 

Mädchen Einblicke in Arbeitsbereiche zu ermöglichen, 

in denen bisher nur wenige Frauen tätig sind. 

Wiener Töchtertag in Zahlen 2002 – 2014 

„Seit der Einführung des Töchtertages auf Initiative der 

Stadt Wien und Siemens im Jahr 2002, haben rund 31.000 

Mädchen und rund 600 Unternehmen teilgenommen.“ 

Der Töchtertag gibt Mädchen zwischen 11 und 16 

Jahren, die in Wien zur Schule gehen, die Möglichkeit, 

einen Tag lang in die Berufswelt hinein zu schnuppern. 

Im Mittelpunkt stehen Wiener Firmen, in denen technische, 

handwerkliche oder naturwissenschaftliche Berufe 

ausgeübt werden. Die jungen Damen können entweder 

ihre Eltern in die Arbeit begleiten, oder eine Firma 

auf www.toechtertag.at auswählen. 

Die Mädchen verbringen einen Tag im Unternehmen, 

um technisch-handwerkliche Fähigkeiten auszuprobieren 

und einen Einblick in den Arbeitsalltag erhalten. 

Ziel dieser eintägigen Auseinandersetzung mit technisch-handwerklichen 

Tätigkeiten ist es, das Interesse 

der Mädchen für Ausbildungen und Berufe mit Technik- 

und Technologiebezug zu wecken. 

Fotos: Stadt Wien 

WIENER TÖCHTERTAG * 23. APRIL 2015 

Die Teilnahme am Töchtertag ist kostenlos. Die Anmeldung erfolgt 

online, indem die Interessentinnen ein Anmeldeformular ausfüllen 

und sich ein Unternehmen aussuchen. Firmen, die am Töchtertag 

teilnehmen möchten, können sich auf www.toechtertag.at 

anmelden. 

www.toechtertag.at 

Besuchen Sie uns auch auf facebook.com/WienerToechtertag 


guo Business Development Consult 

Innovation & Entrepreneurship for 

Sustainable 

Energy 

Challenges 


Opportunities for SMEs 

Sustainable energy is still a very vulnerable, imprecise 

term today – in times of climate change driven 

by atmospheric carbon stock build-up and lavish 

excessive use of non-renewable or secondary 

resources and wasteful land-use, idling of human capital, 

plant-equipment & property, sustainability should 

become a ratable standard, using: 

• measurable carbon efficiency 

• quantifiable resource intensity weighted energy efficiency 

supported by re-usage ratio of secondary use 

• disclosure of utilization factors for employed capital 

(brainware & software as well as hardware) 

• subsidy-free competitiveness at arms’ length market 

prices 

Entrepreneurial initiatives able to generate added value 

in forms of secured future free cash flow surpluses by 

outperforming existing practices, however only can 

become innovations if project development & 1st time 

implementation of new solutions can find development 

expenditure [DEVEX] financing. Although innovations 

are qualitative growth drivers for any economy, finance 

is generally available only for construction of approved 

plant expenditures [CAPEX]. 

The energy sector will see changes through the next 

two decades, demanding new combinations of existing 

technologies and intelligent business models that are 

more customer centric = prosumer. We will see galloping 

demands in sensors, smart energy and resource efficient 

products, batteries, decentralizing lateral/circular 

utility markets allowing to grow or even move along 

with demand, local neighborhood smart citizens’ communication 

platforms, shared electric vehicle use replacing 

2nd car ownership, 

etc. Today’s market leaders 

will have to defend 

and further grow market 

shares by attracting 

customers beyond the 

borders of their existing 

linear/vertical markets 

by campaigning for new 

prosumers in interface 

sectors opening and 

challenging to be “first 

to occupy”. 

Most of the things 

cited are already among 

us – just sparsely spread 

and not yet linked to the 

extent. Question ”Who’ll 

pay”? – Aren’t it always 

the market consumers 

who have to pay for 

every thing! 

Stefan Petters 

Managing Director 

guo Business 

Development Consult 

Foto: guo 



EXAMPLE FOR 

QUALITATIVE 

GROWTH 

Economica Institute for 

Economic Research 

• Innovations for sustainable energy – eventually pay 

for themselves, as seen in California 

• Soaring “green bond” emissions move large corporations’ 

sustainability responsibility and transparency 

for use of funds into the top criteria for future access 

to corporate finance! 

• So large corporations’ fastest opportunity to increase 

market shares will be qualitative growth quickened 

by SME innovators’ entrepreneur spirit through 

SME-DEVEX sponsoring. 

Sustainable energy requires high capital expenditure to 

be spent, against low operating expenses for a long term 

(low risk) cash-flow. So far lack of DEVEX-sponsors left 

many new jobs uncreated & atmospheric carbon stock 

levels rising, in spite of many feasibility-proven potential 

innovations. But image-brand corporate bond issuers 

will increasingly need to provide foresight into their 

sustainability project pipelines to be “liked by their prosumers” 

and “credible for their investors”. 

So companies who want to 

own market shares will have 

to use their funding in 

prosumers’ best interests – 

support smart citizens; fuel 

job-creation; increase 

livability for all livelihood! 

Thank you to iconvienna, affiliated with the European 

Brand Institute to catalyze mutual interests between 

image-brand corporate stakeholders and innovative 

SME entrepreneurs by building a platform for contacts 

to evolve into contracts at its annual event at the Austrian 

Federal Economic Chamber. 


Schneller ankommen – und was 

mach’ma mit der gewonnenen Zeit? 

Ganz sicher nicht motzen! 

Die ÖBB bauen aus – Österreich wird schneller und umweltfreundlicher 

Investitionen in die Bahn bringen allen was: 6.500 Züge schonen täglich unsere Umwelt.Immer mehr 

Menschen – in ganz Österreich – nutzen die Vorteile der Bahn. Moderne Bahnhöfe und Strecken werden gebaut. 

130 km Hochleistungsstrecke sind seit 2012 fertiggestellt, damit Sie schneller ankommen. 

Hochleistungsstrecken 

Meilensteine Bahnhofsoffensive 

Auf in die Zukunft ! 

2012 

Wien – 

St. Pölten und 

Unterinntal 

2013 

Wels – 

Attnang 

Puchheim 

2014 

Salzburg, 

Attnang Puchheim, 

Wien Hauptbahnhof 

2015 

Graz; 

Vollinbetriebnahme 

Wien Hauptbahnhof 

2016 

Teileröffnung 

Güterzentrum 

Wien Süd 

2025 

Fertigstellung 

Neue 

Südstrecke 

Alle Infos unter oebb.at/zukunftbahn

OBB 


Via 

CORRIDORS 

to more competitive 

railway in Europe! 

The European Commission relies 

very much on the further 

development of the railway by 

defining quite ambitious objectives. 

More competitive railway 

should also help to achieve the employment 

and environmental goals 

by moving the trucks to the tracks. 

Even holding the current rail market 

share with the expected growth of 

the overall transport volumes needs 

considerable infrastructure investments 

in the multimodal TEN-T core 

network corridors. But investments 

alone are of course not enough to 

make railway more competitive and 

increase its market share. An extensive 

harmonisation of operational 

and commercial rules would significantly 

improve performance and 

make borders invisible for clients. 

A common traffic and price policy 

considering external costs is also absolutely 

essential. 

To deal with all those important 

issues a concept of the Rail Freight 

Corridor (RFC) was defined in an 

EU Regulation as a “backbone” of 

the TEN-T core network. The RFC 

organisation consists of an Executive 

Board with the representatives 

of Transport Ministries; a Management 

Board representing the Railway 

Infrastructure Managers; a 

Corridor-OneStopShop (C-OSS) as a 

single contact point for the Railway 

Undertakings and Advisory Groups 

of which the members are Railway 

Undertakings as well as Terminals 

and Ports Managers. Thus, such an 

organisation envisages close cooperation 

between all players in the rail 

freight chain. Furthermore, a good 

connection to the multimodal terminals 

and ports allows a complementarity 

and synergies between 

different transport modes. 

Of the nine RFCs 

in Europe, four go 

through Austria. 

So it is quite obvious that having 

four different regimes in one country 

is simply not practicable – that 

again leads to a great need for harmonisation 

between all RFCs. Therefore 

we are already speaking about 

the RFC network. And this exactly 

is the strategy of the European Commission: 

to start with the corridors 

first in order to achieve full harmonisation 

of the whole rail network. 

One of the most important corridors 

for Austria as well as for Europe 

is the Baltic-Adriatic RFC 5, which 

will go into operation in November 

this year. Its route connects Italian 

industrial areas and Adria ports to 

the powerful industrialised areas 

of Poland, Slovakia and Czech Republic. 

The connection to Poland’s 

ports in the North links those eastern 

European industrial centres to 

the Scandinavian countries as well 

as to the world trade flows of Asia, 

Africa and America. Furthermore, a 

significant shift of shipping to Adria 

ports is expected over the next few 

years and therefore the hinterland 

connection provided by RFC5 will 

become increasingly important. 

Thus, RFC5 will serve as an infrastructure 

backbone and will support 

the growing together of the connected 

economies. 

For Poland, Slovakia and Czech 

Republic strong economic growth 

leads to a rapid increase in freight 

demand. Especially in the last five 

to ten years, this growth was very 

much covered by road transportation. 

Rail infrastructure investments 

and strengthening efficiency of rail 

freight operation through introducing 

Rail Freight Corridors will enable 

growth of rail freight traffic! 

MMag. Diana Gasanova 

Chair of Management Board RFC 5 

ÖBB Infrastruktur AG 


OBB 

OBB− 

Foto: ÖBB 

Infrastruktur: 

Osterreich steht auf Grund seiner zentralen Lage – 

im Herzen eines immer komplexer werdenden 

Europas – auch im Bereich der Eisenbahninfrastruktur 

vor großen Herausforderungen. Als 

Drehscheibe zwischen Ost und West sowie Nord und 

Süd nimmt die ÖBB-Infrastruktur die Verantwortung 

als Verkehrsträger der Gegenwart, aber auch der Zukunft 

wahr. Mit den folgenden Maßnahmen sichern wir 

uns eine proaktive Rolle in den Infrastruktur- und Mobilitätsentscheidungen: 

Die ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG investiert – im Auftrag 

des Bundes – rund zwei Milliarden Euro pro Jahr in den 

Ausbau und die Erneuerung der Schieneninfrastruktur. 

Die strategische Grundlage dafür liefert uns das 

„Zielnetz 2025+“, welches ein klares, strategisches Konzept 

darstellt, das die Bahn für das wachsende Verkehrsaufkommen 

fit machen soll. So wird eine Verlagerung 

des Güterverkehrs von der Straße auf die Schiene überhaupt 

erst möglich gemacht, ebenso wie die Einführung 

des Taktverkehres im Personenverkehr nach Schweizer 

Modell. Durch diese durchgängige und umfassende 

Strategie wird gewährleistet, dass Österreich perfekt in 

die internationalen Bahnachsen eingebunden ist. Sie beinhaltet 

neben der laufenden Sanierung des Bestandes 

u.a. auch große Ausbauprojekte insbesondere entlang 

der Weststrecke, der Südstrecke und der Brennerachse. 

Wir stehen aber auch zu unserer Verantwortung 

gegenüber der Umwelt: Um für die nächsten Generationen 

die hohe Lebensqualität beibehalten zu können, 

muss es ein Umdenken bei den vorherrschenden Mobilitätsformen 

geben. Es ist eine Tatsache, dass der Sektor 

Verkehr in Österreich einer der Hauptverursacher von 

CO 2 

-Emissionen ist, vor allem der Straßenverkehr. Immer 

mehr Menschen entscheiden sich für die Bahn und 

sind damit sicherer und umweltfreundlicher unterwegs 

als mit dem Pkw. Und sie gewinnen Zeit für sich selbst, 

was gerade in immer hektischer werdenden Zeiten sehr 

wertvoll ist. 

Neben dem umweltpolitischen Aspekt ist auch der 

volkswirtschaftliche Nutzen der getätigten Investitionen 

beachtlich. Die direkten Effekte drücken sich in 

Beschäftigung – auch und speziell in der Jugendbeschäftigung 

– aus. Die indirekten Effekte sind die spürbare 

Belebung der österreichischen Wirtschaft und die 

positiven Auswirkungen exzellenter Infrastrukturen 

auf die Attraktivität des Standortes Österreich. Nicht 

vergessen sollten wir die Rückflüsse in die Staatskasse 

in Form von Steuern und Sozialabgaben. Die Bahn-Industrie 

in Österreich ist ein wesentlicher Wirtschaftsfaktor 

mit einer stolzen Exportquote von 71% und noch 

stolzeren 200% Wertschöpfung – weltweit sind wir an 

3. Stelle! 

Am Beispiel der Investitionen in den Ausbau der 

Südstrecke lassen sich die Effekte gut verdeutlichen: 

So entspricht eine Investition in Höhe von 6 Milliarden 

Euro einer gesamten Wertschöpfung in Höhe von 15 

Milliarden Euro (Bauphase inkl. 30-jährige Betriebsphase). 

Davon machen alleine die steuerlichen Rückflüsse 

rund 5,3 Milliarden Euro aus. In diesem Zeitraum werden 

auch knapp 20.000 neue Arbeitsplätze geschaffen. 



Wir planen und bauen heute 

die Bahninfrastruktur fur die 

Kunden von morgen 

Häufig unterschätzt, ist die 

Bahn in Wahrheit eine der wichtigsten 

Wirtschaftslokomotiven 

Österreichs. Und zu gleich ein 

wesentlicher Teil unserer beneidenswerten 

Lebensqualität. 

Zu unseren Investitionen gehören auch zahlreiche 

Maßnahmen an der Schnittstelle Straße/Schiene – für 

modernste Bahnhöfe und Güterterminals. So können 

wir z.B. durch den Bau von Kundenparkplätzen und 

die Errichtung moderner und komfortabler Bahnhöfe, 

das Bahnfahren für unsere Kunden noch attraktiver 

machen. Österreichweit verantworten wir rund 1.100 

Bahnhöfen und Haltestellen, die zu regionalen Mobilitätszentren 

werden. Insgesamt modernisiert die 

ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG bis zum Jahr 2025 mehr als 270 

dieser Bahnhöfe und Haltestellen in ganz Österreich 

und deckt damit die Bedürfnisse von 90% der Bahnkunden 

ab. 

Wozu das alles? Wir wollen möglichst viele Menschen 

für die Bahn begeistern. Unsere Kunden schätzen 

all unsere Maßnahmen, denn lt. aktueller Karmasin-Umfrage 

ist die Kundenzufriedenheit im Vergleich 

zum Vorjahr gestiegen. (Quelle: Karmasin Motivforschung) 

Durch die neu eröffneten Bahnhof-Highlights „Wien 

Hauptbahnhof“ und „Salzburg Hauptbahnhof“ kann 

man einen Blick in die Zukunft des technisch Machbaren, 

in die Knotenpunkte der Mobilität von morgen, 

erhalten. Doch das ist erst der Anfang – für uns und für 

die nächsten Generationen. 

Foto: Stephan Huger 

Ing. Mag. (FH) Andreas Matthä 

Vorstandsdirektor ÖBB Infrastruktur AG 


HAUPT 

SHOPPING 

HOF 

90 Shops in 

einem Zug genießen. 

Der neue Wiener Hauptbahnhof bietet mehr Service für Fahrgäste. 

Auf 20.000 m 2 ermöglichen 90 Shops, ein Frischemarkt, 

Textilläden, Bäckereien und Cafés Weltstadtshopping und 

Reisen unter einem Rautendach. 

hauptbahnhof-wien.at

OBB 


RAILPOWER 

BOX 

The energy metering system 

for the railway of the future. 

The Railpower box is the leading energy metering 

system in Europe and enables environmentally 

friendly Energy Management through clear, 

minute by minute calculation of locomotive 

electricity demand. The specially developed user 

interface, the railpower client, gives improved 

and faster called-up of information by the user. 

The railpower client is a web application that 

allows data collected from the railpower box to 

be readily visualized. 

OBB-Infrastruktur AG has developed the railpower 

box as an electrical energy metering system for 

traction vehicles that captures energy consumption 

per train and country in real-time. With the 

railpower box, energy and location data for international 

rail traffic is combined and stored in a central database. 

The recorded data is used for current electricity billing for 

trains both in Austria and in other countries, including 

payment settlement with other infrastructure operators. 

ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG makes this data available to 

other infrastructure managers based on international standards. 

In addition, the railpower box has been designed 

and configured for future development to meet all current 

and planned international guidelines, according to UIC 

Leaflet 930, from CENELEC TCX9 WG11 to EN 50463. 

National requirements, such as the measurement 

and calibration act and the regulation of individual 

infrastructure operators, have also been taken into account 

with the railpower box. Moreover the railpower 

box is certified by a notified body and approved throughout 

Europe. 

Because transparency matters 

The railpower box enables transparency and cost savings 

compared to conventional flat rate billing, due to 

the fully automatic detection of the exact track electricity 

consumption by train and by country. The information 

is always available online via the internet through 

the railpower client user-interface application. Among 

other data, a representation of the load profile, and total 

consumption etc. is available. Furthermore, data can be 

downloaded in different formats and as a representation 

of spatial data via Google Earth. 

The capture of the actual consumption by each traction 

unit and by each country is enabled through GPS. 

Using the data gathered, energy evaluation and management 

decisions can be carried out. Billing payment, on 

the basis of logged data, is made in different countries, 

with return feed-in to the grid also being taken into account. 

Border crossings are recorded using GPS, allowing 

consumption to be allocated by country or region. 

Energy metering by means of the railpower box meets 

all international requirements. >> 


OBB 

The principle of remote 

meter reading 

Once the railpower box is installed 

on the locomotive, independent 

transmission of data (including spatial 

data) is conducted via GPRS to 

a server of ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG. 

The data are read in 1-minute intervals 

in the Energy Data Warehouse 

(EDW) and allocated by country or 

region using GPS coordinates. Data 

is displayed in the EDW and the 

web portal for the railpower client 

user interface. 

Main components of the 

railpower box 

The railpower box consists of a 

combined antenna (GPS / GPRS), 

an intelligent modem, an EMH (AC) 

or LEM-meter (AC / DC), a DC/DC 

converter, and a GPS receiver. Power 

is supplied by 110 V or 24 V using 

the locomotive power supply. The 

standard unit dimensions are 500 x 

400 x 150 mm, but customized sizes 

may be possible on request. 

The built-in meter (LEM or 

EMH) records values every minute, 

in both directions, for drawn down 

(kWh+, kWh-) and feed-in power 

(kvarh+ kvarh-). The combination 

antenna (GPS) records values for 

location data (longitude, latitude, 

speed, frequency, LEM meter) at 

1-minute intervals. The modem and 

antenna combination (GPRS) save 

captured data and transmit them to 

a server of ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG. 

Meter reading with the railpower 

box allows for substantial cost 

transparency compared with a 

replacement value calculation, due 

to the automated minute by minute 

collection and billing of energy demand 

in real time. 

As a result it forms the ideal 

basis for environmentally friendly 

energy management. Railway 

ÖBB RAILPOWER BOX 

transport and infrastructure companies, 

locomotive manufacturers, 

fleet managers and leasing companies 

across Europe have reacted 

very positively to the benefits of the 

railpower box. Current customers 

include: ÖBB-Personenverkehr AG, 

Rail Cargo Romania, Rail Cargo 

Austria, Rail Cargo Hungaria, BLS 

Cargo, CaptrainHV LE, Wiener Lokalbahnen 

Cargo, MAV TRAKCIO, 

SLB, Westbahn, LTE, RTS, STLB. 

But also manufacturers and railway 

leasing companies are already 

equipted with the railpower box: 

Bombarider Transportation GmbH, 

Mitsui Rail Capital Europe, European 

Leasing Locomotive (ELL) as 

well as Siemens AG. 

A story of success 

throughout Europe 

• Transparent data availabale 

24/7 

• Rental or purchase options 

• Can be used on new or existing 

locomotives 

• Autonomous system – can be 

customised for specific needs 

• Exact country and minute by 

minute data 

• Includes service package with 

test box 

• Internet application in English, 

German and all Eastern European 

languages 


präsentiert 

Das regionale Fernsehmagazin 

Fr. 20.00 Uhr, Sa., So. 10.00 Uhr 

Mehr Reichweite in Rot-Weiß-Rot. 

• 

ÖsterreichBlick wird von den wichtigsten 

regionalen TV-Sendern Österreichs ausgestrahlt 

• Österreichweites Fernsehmagazin 

seit Sommer 2014 

• 

Österreichweite Teletest-Auswertung 

als R9 Senderverbund 

• Die Regionalsender Österreichs erreichen 

pro Monat über 2 Millionen ÖsterreicherInnen 

Moderatorin: Eva Pölzl 

Kontaktieren Sie uns für Ihr persönliches Angebot: 

Mag. Marcin Kotlowski (Geschäftsführung) 

Sabine Demel (Büroleitung) 

Kontaktieren Sie uns für Ihr persönliches Angebot: 

Mag. Marcin Kotlowski (Geschäftsführung) 

W24 Programm GmbH, Sabine Demel Reichsratsstraße (Büroleitung) 

11/8, 1010 Wien 

Tel.: +43 1 3683424 W24 - 145, Programm Email: GmbH, buero@r-9.at, 

Reichsratsstraße 11/8, 1010 Wien 

Tel.: +43 1 3683424 - 145, Email: buero@r-9.at,

Hafen Wien 


Foto: Felicitas Matern/feelimage.at


Hafen Wien 

the trimodal logistics hub in the 

heart of the Danube Region 

Port of Vienna’s success is 

based on its position: located 

approximately 2,000 kilometres 

from the Black Sea and 1,500 

kilometres from the North Sea. 

It is optimally and directly 

linked to ship, rail and road 

transport services and situated 

in close proximity to Vienna’s 

International Airport in 

Schwechat. 

Fotos: Hafen Wien 

The port is located right next to 

three Trans-European transport 

routes and thus, represents 

one of the most important 

transport hubs in the international 

hinterland-freight transportation industry. 

Such location benefits – combined 

with the efficiency of one of 

the biggest hinterland container terminals 

and a huge car terminal - have 

a positive impact on the economic 

importance of the Port of Vienna in 

the entire CEE region making it the 

perfect hub between East and West. 

The Hafen Wien logistics centre 

is the largest public Danube port in 

Austria including the shipping ports 

of Freudenau, Albern and Lobau. 

Moreover, the passenger ports next to 

the Reichsbrücke and the Danube Canal 

also belong to Hafen Wien. Every 

year, millions of tons of goods are handled 

in the Hafen Wien logistics >> 


Hafen Wien 

Foto: Hafen Wien 

centre. Covering an area of approximately 

three million square metres, 

which roughly corresponds to the 

size of Central park in Manhattan, 

Hafen Wien represents the largest 

cargo transport centre in Austria. 

In addition to the Hafen Wien 

Group companies, there are about 

100 mainly logistic-related companies, 

including logisticians acting 

on the global market and numerous 

companies from trade, the construction 

industries and the fuel sector. 

All this companies make use of the 

services and infrastructure of Hafen 

Wien. Altogether, the Hafen Wien 

logistics centre provides work for 

about 5,000 employees. Hafen Wien 

is a subsidiary of the Wien Holding 


Group, a company owned by the city 

of Vienna. 

Hafen Wien offers more than 

200,000 m² (70,000 m 2 covered) 

of storage facilities. Most space is 

flood-proof and perfectly developed 

for high-rack storage, block storage, 

depositing, cold storage, deep freeze 

storage and cantilever storage. Hafen 

Wien stores various kinds of goods, 

such as bulk cargo, general cargo 

and container ware. Experienced 

and well trained experts provide 

the full scope of logistic services 

(storage handling, administrative 

servi ces, commissioning, repacking, 

cross docking, truck, rail and ship 

loading and unloading, stuffing and 

stripping of containers, etc.). 

Foto: Hafen Wien


„ We believe the River Danube to be the 

ultimate route for many transports. In 

the future, the transportation of goods 

via inland waterway will increasingly 

offer ecological and economic 

advantages”, says Hafen Wien’s Chief 

Technical Officer, Karin Zipperer. 

Hafen Wien’s boom continues 

Even though the Hafen Wien Group had to face economically 

challenging conditions in the fiscal year 2014, 

it once again achieved a very pleasingly result and was 

even able to continue the success of the record-breaking 

year 2013. In this respect, the core business sectors, 

container handling by Wiencont, real-estate, storage, 

car, handling and forwarding services, made a major 

contribution in achieving that goal. Other locations and 

subsidiaries of the Hafen Wien Group such as the Danube 

Region, the DDSG Blue Danube, Marina Wien and 

Terminal Sped (customs & transport disposition) played 

an important role in this context. 

„ We will pursue our strategy, 

enhancing the position of the Port 

of Vienna as a trimodal hub for the 

South-eastern and Eastern part of 

Europe, and as a freight distribution 

hub for Vienna – keyword 

city logistics“ 

Dir. in Mag. a 

Karin Zipperer, MBA 

Chief Technical Officer 

Foto: LBS Redl 

Hafen Wien is growing 

Impressive sums were invested in the Hafen Wien Group 

in 2014. About 8 million Euros were spent. In 2014, a 

considerable amount was invested in the “Freudenau 

Harbour Reclamation” project, which aims at creating 

more space for container business as well as new handling 

and storage facilities in order to prepare the Port 

of Vienna for future demand in handling the growing 

quantity of goods. After the completion of the project the 

space potential will amount to 70,000 m 2 . 

In cooperation with a high & heavy specialist, a 

heavy cargo centre was established in Albern Harbour 

which allows the handling of goods weighing up to 450 

tons and more. In this context, Hafen Wien will establish 

more than 4,000 m² of operating space. 

2014 Best Practices 

In summer 2014, Hafen Wien once again proved to be 

the specialist for high & heavy handling. A high-pressure 

vessel with approximately 190 tons was loaded by 

using the tandem lifting procedure involving two high 

& heavy mobile cranes, in conjunction with a spectacular 

heavy cargo handling project. Subsequently the vessel 

was transported from the Port of Vienna to Russia via 

motor ship. 

WienCont, a subsidiary of Hafen Wien, operates a 

container terminal with a feature that is unique across 

Europe. The so called “Schwungeinfahrt” (access with 

momentum) allows efficient handling without shunting; 

it can be accessed from both sides, is directly linked to 

the international railway net and thus saves both time 

and costs for the transport industry. 

Ecology and sustainability represent two fundamental 

aspects for the Port of Vienna. For this reason outdoor 

lighting in Albern Harbour was converted to LED. 

Consequently, the use of 48 lamps in total and an operating 

time of 4,000 h/year have resulted in the saving 

of approximately 17,088 kWh, which corresponds to the 

energy consumption of four family households. 




Ready for 

the future! 

Smart City Vienna stands for 

the “intelligent city”, intelligent 

and innovative solutions, 

responsible and sustainable 

use of resources. 

Smart City Vienna is a longterm 

initiative by the city of 

Vienna to improve the design, 

development and perception 

of the federal capital. Smart City Vienna 

looks at a cross-section of the 

city, covering all areas of life, work 

and leisure activities in equal measure, 

and includes everything from 

infrastructure, energy and mobility 

to all aspects of urban development. 

Smart City Vienna has set itself the 

task of consistently and continuously 

modernising the city in order 

to reduce energy consumption 

and emissions significantly without 

having to forego any aspects of consumption 

or mobility. 

Framework Strategy 

The Smart City Wien Framework 

Strategy is a long term umbrella strategy 

to 2050 that will establish a conducive 

and structural framework. >> 



Foto: Karl Thomas 

Foto: Peter Rigaud 




Foto: Raimo Rudi Rumpler 


The key objective for 2050 is the best quality of life 

for all inhabitants of Vienna, while minimizing the consumption 

of resources. This will be realized through 

comprehensive innovation. 

Smart City Vienna – For a good reason! 

Climate change and a severe shortage of natural resources, 

especially fossil fuels, represent the big global challenges 

of the coming decades. They will determine the 

future design of cities as living spaces. The switch to renewable 

energy sources in cities is the biggest challenge. 

75% of the CO2 emissions throughout the world is currently 

caused by burning fossil fuels in cities. There is an 

awareness of these links at European level, which has led 

to the Smart Cities initiative, aimed at supporting cities 

in achieving the European “low carbon economy” targets. 

Vienna is among the most successful cities worldwide 

where quality of life, infrastructure and innovation are 

concerned. The aim is to hold this position in times to 

come. That is why the City of Vienna has developed the 

concept of the „smart city“, a city that is fit for the future 

and geared towards opportunities and that is capable of 

producing credible perspectives for its people. First and 

foremost the City of Vienna wants to secure and further 

improve ist ecological, economic, and social performance. 

The City of Vienna is facing challenging times ahead. 

The population in the federal capital is growing and in 

Greater Vienna will reach the three million mark in the 

course of the coming 25 years. This development goes 

hand in hand with a rising demand for energy, demand 

for affordable and functional housing and a need for 

strong traffic concepts. 

Smart cities need intelligent minds and fertile 

ground to nourish good ideas and put them into practice. 

Vienna accordingly has embraced clear research 

and technology policies and has taken firm steps to include 

people, research institutions and businesses in 

the “smart city” process. 

Awards like the Environmental Prize of the City of 

Vienna for innovative businesses are an incentive to 

think and act smart. At the European level Vienna is 

cooperating with other cities to promote the exchange of 

knowledge and development of strategies. 

Vienna is on the right track and various studies attest 

to this. Most recently, in fact, Vienna was voted the most 

innovative city in all of Europe. 


Smart City Vienna: 

Projects at its glance 


Objectives 

• Significantly reducing emissions (CO2, greenhouse 

gases,…) and, as a result, achieving EU climate protection 

targets. Long-term objective: a zero emission 

city, zero emission buildings as standard 

• Significantly reducing energy consumption. Longterm 

objective: reaching close-to-zero energy standards 

in new and existing buildings by 2020 

• Significnatly increasing the use of renewable sources 

of energy (e.g. in public buildings) 

• Raising awareness in the wider public about responsible 

use of resources (energy, water) 

• Giving citizens (from consumers to prosumers) an active 

role by providing opportunities for actively controlling 

additional areas of daily life 

• Promoting multi-modal transport systems by improving 

the public transport network, enhancing networking 

between individual transport carriers, and significantly 

reducing individual motorised transport 

• Positioning Vienna as a model European environmental 

city and as a leading European centre for research 

and technological development at an international 

level 

Foto: Johannes Zinner 

Foto: Michael Appelt 

Aspern: Vienna’s Urban Lakeside 

The 240-hectare project area makes it one of Europe’s 

largest urban developments. The aspern Vienna’s Urban 

Lakeside is built in the northeast of the city and will 

be developed until 2028. By then in total 8,500 housing 

units will accommodate 20,000 people. Furthermore, 

20,000 jobs will be created in the fields of service, trade 

and industry, science, research and education. Quality 

of life and cooperation rank at the top of the agenda. The 

project has a prime location at the centre of the economic 

growth region CENTROPE, right on the Vienna-Bratislava 

axis. aspern will become a new centre for Vienna’s 

22nd municipal district, providing new stimuli for the 

region’s economic development by creating new jobs. 

Open Government Data 

The City of Vienna offers a comprehensive, digital service 

platform (www.wien.at). Public data and services 

which are not subject to data protection are accessible 

thanks to the administration’s Open Government data 

policy. Fields of information include geodata, traffic 

data, ecology data, budget data, or statistical data. The 

new service underlines the administration’s commitment 

to transparent, participatory and inclusive governance 

via outreach to the public and specifically to economic 

and academic sectors. The open government data 

gateway is a new sub-portal of www.wien.at. 

Citizens’ Solar Power Plants : 

solar energy for everyone 

By investing in community-funded solar power plants, Viennese 

citizens have the opportunity to participate in the 

development of renewable energies. Citizens’ Solar Power 

Plants mark the beginning of the dawn of a solar energy 

future for Vienna, and show the city’s clear commitment 

to developing solar energy. In 2012 the first citizen solar 

power plant opened on the site of the Donaustadt power 

plant in the north of Vienna, with 2.100 photovoltaic modules 

and an output of 500 kilowatt peak (kWp). The energy 

is fed into the Vienna power grid and provides solar power 

for approximately 200 local households. Two more plants 

have been completed in the districts of Simmering and 

Liesing. Compared to conventional electricity production, 

harnessing the sun as an energy source saves around 800 

tons of CO 2 

per year. The new Citizens’ Solar Power Plant 

in Simmering generates green electricity with over 2.000 

panels covering a total area of approximately 3.200 m 2 . 


Osterreichischer Stadtebund 

Stadtregionale 

fordert die Produktivitat − zentrale 

Steuerung steigert die Lebensqualitat 

Mobilität ist daher das zentrale 

Thema im Zusammenhang mit 

Stadtregionen – zukünftig bedarf 

es diesbezüglich einer noch 

besseren Koordination auf allen 

Verwaltungsebenen. 

Osterreich wird traditionell noch immer gern als 

Agrarland und Tourismusdestination – jedoch 

nicht als „Land der Städte“, Land der Innovationen 

und der urbanen Lebensstile gesehen. Doch 

mittlerweile wohnen zwei Drittel der Österreicherinnen 

und Österreicher in Städten und ihrem Umland, 

fast 80% der Arbeitsplätze liegen in diesen Stadtregionen 

und die dort ansässigen Wirtschaftsbetriebe 

sorgen gemeinsam mit Forschungseinrichtungen 

für die notwendige Innovationskraft, die 

Österreich für die Zukunft braucht. 

Was einen Standort für die Wirtschaft attraktiv 

macht, zeigt die Credit Suisse in ihrer laufenden 

Analyse des Standortqualitätsindikators 1 für die 

Schweiz auf: Attraktive Steuern, hohe Verfügbarkeit 

an qualifizierten Arbeitskräften sowie eine 

gute Verkehrsanbindung geben den Ausschlag. 

Mit Blick auf die verkehrstechnische Erreichbarkeit 

wurden dabei erstmals Stauzeiten berücksichtigt 

und berechnet, mit welchem zusätzlichen Zeitbedarf 

PendlerInnen auf dem Weg in die Zentren zu rechnen 

haben. Lage und Erreichbarkeit zählen seit jeher 

zu den bedeutendsten Standortfaktoren. Ausbau und 

Erhaltung von Verkehrsinfrastruktur ist jedoch inzwischen 

vielerorts zu einer Nagelprobe für die Haushaltsbudgets 

auf allen hoheitlichen Ebenen geworden. Ein 

weiterer Ausbau von Straßen kann keine zukunftsorientierte 

Lösung sein. Bei einem Ausbau des öffentlichen 

Personenverkehrs hin zu und innerhalb von 

Stadtregionen hingegen erreicht man die Reduktion 

von Staukosten für die Wirtschaft, die Bekämpfung 

der Luftverschmutzung, eine Begrenzung von Gesundheitskosten 

und sichert damit die Lebensqualität. 

Wie aktuelle Zahlen einer OECD Studie 2 aus 2014 belegen 

führt stadtregionale Kooperation zudem zu einer 

erhöhten Produktivität, vor allem wenn diese durch die 

Verwaltungsstrukturen der Kernstadt gesteuert werden. 

Die aktuelle Situation städtischer Agglomerationen 

ist jedoch weltweit durch den Umstand charakterisiert, 

dass administrative Strukturen und funktionale 

Verflechtungen nicht mehr übereinstimmen. Funkti- 

1 

https://www.credit-suisse.com/at/de/news-and-expertise/news/economy/switzerland.article.html/article/pwp/news-and-expertise/2013/09/de/locational-quality-zug-and-zurich-still-to-the-fore.html 

2 

What Makes Cities More Productive? Evidence on the Role of Urban Governance from Five OECD Countries, 2014/05 



Kooperation 

onale Stadtregionen, die stark zersplittert sind, haben 

deutlich niedrigere Produktivitätsniveaus: Bei gleicher 

Bevölkerungsgröße haben Stadtregionen mit einer doppelten 

Anzahl von Gemeinden eine um etwa 6% niedrigere 

Produktivität. Dieser Effekt reduziert sich um 

etwa die Hälfte, wenn es eine Verwaltungseinheit gibt, 

die für die gesamte Stadtregion zuständig ist. Auch die 

Koordination und Kooperation in den Bereichen Mobilität 

und Flächenwidmung wirken sich positiv auf das 

Produktivitätsniveau von Stadtregionen aus. Als letztes 

Ergebnis der Studien sei noch angemerkt, dass auch die 

Zufriedenheit der BürgerInnen mit dem öffentlichen 

Personennahverkehr deutlich höher ausfällt, wenn dafür 

in der Stadtregion nur eine zentrale Zuständigkeit 

besteht. 

Für die Zukunft ist eine bessere gemeinsame Abstimmung 

von Siedlungsentwicklung und Mobilität 

innerhalb von Stadtregionen dringend notwendig, um 

schnell, gemeinsam und vor Ort Entscheidungen treffen 

zu können. Die österreichischen Rahmenbedingungen 

bedürfen hier einer gewissen „Runderneuerung“. Der 

Österreichische Städtebund setzt sich unter anderem 

durch die Mitwirkung an der jährlichen Veranstaltung 

des „Österreichischen Stadtregionstags“ sowie bei der 

Mitarbeit an der „Agenda Stadtregionen in Österreich“ 

stark dafür ein, Änderungen anzustoßen und damit 

Stadtregionen noch effizienter zu machen. 

Dr. Thomas Weninger 

Generalsekretär 

Foto: Wilke 


Austrian Institute of Technology 

Smart Cities 

2020 

In ihren Bestrebungen die globale 

Erderwärmung auf weniger als 

2 Grad zu begrenzen, hat die EU 

konkrete Ziele mit unterschiedlichen 

Zeithorizonten definiert – so 

sollen die CO2-Emissionen in Europa 

bis 2020 um 20%, bis 2030 um 

40% und bis 2050 um ganze 80% 

gegenüber 1990 gesenkt werden. 

Parallel dazu wird eine deutliche 

Steigerung des Anteils erneuerbarer 

Energien und der Energieeffizienz 

angestrebt. Für die Erreichung dieser 

ambitionierten Energie- und Klimaschutzziele 

spielen Städte eine 

zentrale Rolle. Um Smart Cities mit 

hoher Nachhaltigkeit, Energieeffizienz 

und Lebensqualität realisieren 

zu können, besteht allerdings noch 

großer Forschungsbedarf. Gefragt 

sind unter anderem neue Tools und 

Methoden für Planung, Umsetzung 

und Monitoring von energieeffizienten 

und ressourcenschonenden 

Stadtteilen und die integrierte Entwicklung 

der urbanen Infrastruktur 

– von der dezentralen Energieerzeugung 

über smarte Plusenergiehäuser 

bis hin zu effizienten intermodalen 

Verkehrslösungen. Neben den rein 

technischen Fragestellungen spielen 

aber auch die stärkere Einbindung 

der Stakeholder und die Berücksichtigung 

gesellschaftlicher und 

sozioökonomischer Aspekte eine 

wichtige Rolle. Die Smart Cities 

der Zukunft sind daher von höchst 

komplexen Wechselwirkungen geprägt 

und erfordern demnach eine 

ganzheitliche Sichtweise in Planung 

und Umsetzung. Das AIT Austrian 

Institute of Technology bietet österreichischen 

und internationalen 

Städten wissenschaftliche Entscheidungs- 

und Planungsunterstützung 

in diesem Transformationsprozess. 

Wissenschaftliche 

Entscheidungshilfe 

So erarbeitet das AIT etwa im 

EU-Projekt TRANSFORM gezielte 

Transformationsagenden und 

Nachhaltigkeitsstrategien für aus- 

Mag. DI Dr. Brigitte Bach, MSc 

Head of Energy Department 

Austrian Institute of Technology 

Foto: krischanz.zeiller./AIT 



Foto: AIT 

der Stadtentwicklung auf Wasserver- und -entsorgung, 

Verkehrsaufkommen, Energieverbrauch und CO2-Emissionen 

auswirken und welche Kosten für die dafür benötigte 

Infrastruktur zu erwarten sind. Zusammen mit 

europäischen Partnern werden im Projekt „urbanAPI“ 

weitere innovative Tools für die Planung, Visualisierung 

und Analyse von Szenarien der Stadtentwicklung 

geschaffen, um Auswirkungen von Planungsentscheidungen 

in komplexen urbanen Systemen abzubilden. 

Nicht zuletzt aufgrund seines langjährigen Know-hows 

wurde das AIT im Vorjahr daher auch mit der Entwicklung 

des “SCIS Smart Cities Information System” der 

Europäischen Kommission beauftragt, das ForscherInnen, 

EntscheidungsträgerInnen und der Öffentlichkeit 

erstmals einheitlichen Zugriff auf sämtliche energierelevanten 

Daten der EU im Bereich Smart Cities bieten 

wird. 

gewählte Stadtteile europäischer 

Großstädte wie Amsterdam, Kopenhagen, 

Hamburg und Wien. Im 

Fall von Wien konzentriert man 

sich dabei auf die „Smart Urban 

Labs“ aspern Seestadt und Liesing-Groß Erlaa. Mit Unterstützung 

des nationalen Projekts Transform+ werden 

hier maßgeschneiderte Umsetzungspläne erarbeitet, 

die eine zuverlässige Datenbasis für entscheidungsunterstützende 

Modelle in Smart Cities bieten sollen. Ziel 

ist die Integration modernster Technologien für intelligente 

Gebäude, Mobilitätsdienste und Energiesysteme 

unter Einbindung sämtlicher Stakeholder. Darüber hinaus 

entwickelt das AIT IKT-Lösungen, mit deren Hilfe 

StadtplanerInnen und EntscheidungsträgerInnen einen 

Blick in die Zukunft werfen können. Der „Urban Expansion 

Simulator and Infrastructure Cost Calculator” zum 

Beispiel berechnet, wie sich verschiedene Szenarien 

Starkes Netzwerk 

Das AIT ist aber nicht nur aktiv an internationalen 

Großprojekten beteiligt, sondern koordiniert auch das 

EERA Joint Programme Smart Cities. Dieser Zusammenschluss 

führender europäischer Forschungsinstitutionen 

soll dazu beitragen, die Thematik in der 

Scientific Community noch stärker zu verankern und 

voranzutreiben. Mit der Schaffung des Smart City Advisory 

Board wurde im Vorjahr der Grundstein gelegt, 

um den Forschungsbedarf mit den Städten als wichtigste 

Stakeholder in diesem Transformationsprozess noch 

besser abzustimmen und so die für 2020 gesteckten Ziele 

zu erreichen. 

Foto: AIT 


Building Bridges1 

Cities and urban agglomerations play a central 

role not only in Europe, but across the globe as 

well. They are hotspots of future developments 

and focuses of economy, science, universities 

and research. Social, cultural, political and societal developments, 

too, nearly always begin in cities. Demographically, 

the future of global development is moreover 

clearly tied to cities as well: already today, urbanites account 

for close to half of the world’s population; in 2030, 

two thirds of all people will live in cities. Vienna is an 

immigration city with more than 1.8 million inhabitants 

at the moment. According to forecasts, it will attain 2 

million inhabitants already in 2029. 

For centuries, Vienna has been enjoying an excellent 

reputation as the venue of international summits, congresses 

and conferences. Over the past decades, it has 

furthermore consolidated its position as an economic 

hub for Eastern and South-eastern Europe. 

Vienna’s commitment to European urban policy thus 

specifically aims at creating frame conditions that promote 

the performance of cities and urban regions – yet 

always in harmony with supreme social and ecological 

commitment, including smart transport and infrastructure 

options as well as know-how transfer of urban technologies 

like drinking water supply or waste management 

(services of general interest). In this way, Vienna 

proactively supports strategies and actions that enable 

European cities to benefit from innovative developments 

in this field. 

City partnerships: 

thinking outside the box is important 

In Europe as well as globally, co-operation projects that 

are conducted at the city and regional level and transcend 

traditional limitations are enjoying a renaissance. 

At the moment, Vienna is bilaterally involved in about 

20 co-operation projects that define customised programmes 

for collaboration with the respective partner 

city over a period of 4 to 5 years. 

Supraregional co-operation offers the opportunity of 

reacting jointly to the challenges of international and 

1 Not only at the Eurovision Song Contest 



MA 23 – Wirtschaft, Arbeit und Statistik 

Mag. Elisabeth Unger 

Fotos: Stadt Wien PID 

Collaborations with research institutions or corporations 

result in new know-how or complementary skills 

and resources for partners. In this respect, Austria is 

a good base for enterprises: for both indicators “Business-Science 

Link – SME” and “Business-Science Link – 

Leading Competence Unit” of the EU Community Innovation 

Survey (CIS), Austria holds 3 rd position in Europe, 

ahead of Sweden and Germany. The close co-operation 

of research institutions and business makes Vienna an 

attractive innovation focus. Thus the “COMET Competence 

Centers for Excellent Technologies” and the Christian 

Doppler Laboratories are considered European best 

practices. 

economic competition. The challenges for metropolitan 

regions are often similar; hence, thinking outside the 

box and looking at the situation of others is essential to 

be able to compare answers and learn lessons. At the 

same time, this makes it easier for cities to communicate 

their strengths at the national and international level, 

and cities or regions find it therefore advantageous to 

co-operate. 

The promotion of innovations, the support of knowhow 

transfer and the fostering of start-up companies 

play a key role for Vienna as an economic hub. Already 

today, the City of Vienna is helping new enterprises to 

get started, settle in the Austrian capital and network 

with others. 

One example of this is the Vienna start-up welcome 

package of the Vienna Business Agency 2 . Of course, a 

multicultural city like Vienna also offers services such 

as “Migrant Enterprises” of the Vienna Business Agency 

or the cross-border project 3 “TwinEntrepreneurs”, 

which provides coaching and grants for start-ups in Vienna 

and Bratislava. 

Business co-operation 

fuels economic growth 

Successful business co-operation ventures are highly 

beneficial for economic development in general. A study 

commissioned by the City of Vienna has highlighted 

that “knowledge spillovers” between enterprises foster 

growth because the investments and innovations of one 

company will trigger positive effects for others. 

Europe-wide co-operation in the fields of innovation 

and research helps to enable researchers to freely exchange 

their scientific findings across borders. However, 

this co-operation also facilitates the joint tackling of major 

challenges such as climate change or demographic 

change. Austria’s participation in the EU Framework 

Programme for Research and Innovation "Horizon 2020" 

will thus be of central importance. A notable strength of 

Vienna has emerged over recent years: almost half of all 

Austrian project leaders under the 7th EU Framework 

Programme for Research and Innovation were domiciled 

in Vienna. 

It is not by chance that the Austrian capital, which 

in the past decades has evolved into a dynamic economic 

hub between Western and Eastern Europe as well 

as a model of urban development, occupies superlative 

positions in many international rankings. Neither does 

it come as a surprise that Vienna is attracting more and 

more people as a top tourist destination (with 13.4 million 

overnight stays in 2014), a city to live in or a centre 

of Europe’s creative industries and start-up companies. 

2 3 http://viennabusinessagency.at/ http://www.twinentrepreneurs.eu/ 


European Brand Institute 

BRANDS 

ARE MORE 

VALUABLE 

THAN EVER! 

Why brand value is more important than ever. 

Brands have the potential to create incredible value 

for companies and corporations. "People buy 

brands, not products" – this sentence is valid 

especially in the global communication society. 

No brand – no differentiation, no long-term profitability. 

People don’t have relationships with products, 

they are loyal to brands. 

It’s not a secret that the brand is much more important 

than the product itself. Brands can live forever 

and definitely much longer than products. Brands can 

inspire people to join a community, to follow an idea, 

or also motivate people to change the world. Products 

can’t do that, they are only one dimensional, which is 

not enough in out today´s global communication society. 

Therefore many efforts should be 

placed on the right brand management. 

The world has come online and there are many new 

markets and a growing middle class in countries like 

India, China, Brazil, Russia, South Africa, Nigeria, Indonesia 

and in many more places. These consumers 

buy brands. The best brands today are based on a strong 

idea. When creating a new brand there are fewer >> 


Branding & Europe 

Foto: Schedl/APA/European Brand Institute 

" From our research we see 

that the average share of 

brand value across all industry 

segments is about 40% of the 

company’s value" 

Foto: istockphoto.com 

KR DI Dr. Gerhard Hrebicek 

President European Brand Institute 


European Brand Institute 

brand names to choose from, therefore 

existing brands become more 

valuable. Also brand performance 

management is a challenge which 

requires a sophisticated strategy 

and professional partners. It needs 

much more than products, names, 

advertising, etc. 

An new ISO Standard on Brand 

Evaluation will be developed 

In September 2014, a new ISO committee on 

Brand Evaluation was constituted in Bejing. 

Brands are valuable. 

More and more corporations and 

companies put the value of their 

brands on their balance sheets. 

Brands are often worth more than 

all other assets of companies combined. 

Property, locations, factories, 

machines, materials, staff, etc. 

therefore often depreciate compared 

to brands. 

Additionally, strong and well 

managed brands grow faster 

than the average. 

The importance of brand evaluation 

is growing. Brand evaluation 

is a comprehensive and systematic 

diagnosis to calculate the value of 

a brand. Conclusions can be monetary 

or non-monetary. 

The process of brand evaluation 

is an essential step to calculate the 

value of a brand, give advice to 

brand management and increase 

the performance of the brand in order 

to increase their value. 

Europe is strong in “Brand Portfolios”, 

North America is leading 

in “Single Brands” 

The global brand value ranking eurobrand 

GLOBAL TOP 100 by eurobrand 

– the European independent 

experts for brand, patent & IP valuation 

& strategy, examining more 

than 3.000 brand corporations and 

their brands in 16 industries, with 

comparisons of Europe, America 

and Asia. 

Within this committee a new global 

standard on brand evaluation will 

be developed, where the President 

of European Brand Institute, Dr. 

Gerhard Hrebicek holds the Chair. 

Goals of this new ISO 

Initiative are as follows: 

This standard is aimed to standardize 

the technical requirements and 

evaluation methods in the implementation 

of major components of 

brand valuation, which will guide 

the brand manager and brand evaluators 

to conduct activities in the 

field of brand evaluation. 

Brand evaluation contains 

three major steps: 

1. identify the key elements which 

influence brand value 

2. measure the actual performance 

of brand key elements (taking 

the stake holders' awareness and 

evaluation of all key elements 

into account) 

3. draw the conclusions (including 

monetary and non-monetary). 

Although the key elements of brand 

value and evaluation methods are 

various, the major influencing factors 

can be identified by study on 

successful brand cases and analysis 

of the relevant data. 

The benefits of the development 

of the new ISO Standard 

on Brand Evaluation 

The international standard of 

brand evaluation will bring more 

brand information to the consumers 

and more information on the 

evaluation and management of 

the world's best brands research 

results and practical experience 

(particularly in developing countries, 

small and medium-sized 

enterprises) in order to conduct 

brand management more effectively 

to the brand owners. 



Top 10 – Brand Corporations Europe Brand Value in Mio. € 

39.351 

33.049 

29.858 

25.611 

25.308 

24.899 

21.113 

20.057 

19.307 

19.242 © eurobrand 2014 

Resume of 2014 eurobrand GLOBAL TOP 100 results 

The most valuable brand corporation in the world is 

Apple, in Europe it is LVMH. 

Apple remains world’s No. 1 brand corporation with 

a brand value of EUR 113,165 bn, followed by Google 

representing a value of EUR 67,471 bn (+22,7%) which 

overtook the Coca Cola Company with a brand value of 

EUR 64,775 bn. 

LVMH remains Europe`s most valuable brand corporation 

representing a brand value of EUR 39,351 bn 

(global rank 12), followed by Nestlé with a value of 

EUR 33,049 bn and AB Inbev representing a value of 

EUR 29,858 bn. 

Top 10 global brand corporations are US-based. 

US brand landscape is dominated by IT & Technology, 

Consumer Goods and Financial Services and represents 

46 out of the TOP 100 brand corporations. Europe 

represents 41 with Germans leading, whilst Asia is represented 

with 13 brand corporations. 

Volkswagen Group No. 1 global automotive brand 

Highest growth in Europe shows global No.3 automotive 

brand corporation Daimler Group gaining +20.60% and 

Deutsche Telekom Group growing by +12.10%. 

So where is the European Global brand with the 

strength and the value corresponding to the "American 

apple" and how can Europe establish such a global 

brand? 

In some European countries such as Finland, Switzerland, 

Luxembourg, Sweden, Denmark and Austria, brand 

companies bring the highest brand contribution to the national 

economy and are thus global leaders in the ratio of 

brand equity to the gross national product. This approach 

could and should be applied to whole Europe. 

Sustainable prosperity and growth can be created by brands. Therefore 

brands are more important than ever. 


Sagen Sie 

FRÜH JA 

zum Frühjahr!

Sports for Life 

Eine Initiative von 

SPORTS FOR LIFE _ 

Fotos: Sports for Life! 

SPORTS FOR GOOD! 

Ziel von SPORTS FOR LIFE! ist die Förderung 

von Sport in Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft, 

insbesondere für Kinder & Jugendliche. 

Die Initiative SPORTS FOR LIFE! hat es sich zum 

Ziel gesetzt, sozial benachteiligten Kindern einen 

Einstieg in die Welt des Sports zu bieten, der 

sie weg vom Fernseher, hin zum Teamgeist und 

zur körperlichen Ertüchtigung bringt. Wir sehen Sport 

als Brückenschlag zwischen allen ethnischen Gruppen 

und gesellschaftlichen Schichten. Lernen durch Mannschaftssport, 

völkerverbindende Sportcamps und die Integration 

von Jung und Alt in der Gesellschaft. Wir möchten 

den Kindern ein Stück Selbstwertgefühl zurückgeben 

und ihr Selbstbewusstsein fördern, damit sie auch ihre 

persönliche Zukunft selbst in die Hand nehmen. 

Dies erfolgt durch die SPORTS FOR LIFE!-Foundation in 

Zusammenarbeit mit lokalen Sportvereinen in ganz Österreich, 

mit Unterstützung von Partnern und Sponsoren. 



SPORTS FOR LIFE! 

STARCAMPS 

Fotos: Sports for Life! 

Österreichs größte Nachwuchsfußball-Challenge 

Ein einzigartiges Konzept und die Unterstützung 

von Sponsoren und Gemeinden machen es möglich, 

die Starcamps ab 99 Euro anzubieten. Dieser 

Preis soll jedem die Gelegenheit geben an 

einem Fußballcamp teilnehmen zu können und ist 

gleichzeitig der absolut günstigste Preis für ein vergleichbares 

Fußballcamp in Österreich. 

Unser Hauptanliegen ist es, so viele Kinder und Jugendliche 

wie möglich für den Fußballsport zu begeistern. 

Einerseits um den Sport in ihr Leben zu bringen, 

andererseits um die Kinder und Jugendlichen zum 

Fußball zu bringen. 

Ein weiteres Ziel ist, den Kindern und Jugendlichen 

im Alter von 7-14 Jahren über den Fußballsport einen 

guten sozialen Umgang vorzuleben und ihre Teamfähigkeit, 

die in Zukunft immer wichtiger wird, durch 

die Teilnahme am Camp zu fördern. 

Durch die Besuche von Bundesligaspielern und 

durch die Leitung der Camps von aktiven und ehemaligen 

Fußballspielern sowie ausgebildeten Trainern und 

Sozialpädagoginnen kommen die Kinder auch hautnah 

in Kontakt mit dem Profifußball. 

Dadurch kann den Kindern und Jugendlichen eine reale 

Perspektive für ihre sportliche Zukunft gegeben werden 

und die Spielervereinigung VdF ihre Kompetenz in 

Sachen Nachwuchsförderung weiter beweisen. Schließlich 

führt man seit 1998 Fußballcamps durch und baut 

seit 2006 die Starcamps ab 99 Euro sukzessive aus … 


Grand Hotel Wien – 

Combining luxury and history 

The legendary Grand Hotel Wien, originally opened in 1870 as the first hotel on the 

Viennese Ringstraße, combines history with ultimate luxury. The location in the heart 

of Vienna, just a few steps away from the Vienna State Opera and the beginning of the 

famous Kärntner Street, is unique. 205 rooms and suites, a Grand Spa, four restaurants 

and 2 bars as well as the most modern technical equipment and best service meet the 

expectations of the most discerning guests. 

Kärntner Ring 9, 1010 Vienna, Austria 

Tel.: + 43 1 515 80-0 

Fax: + 43 1 515 80-13 

Email: reservation@grandhotelwien.com 

www.grandhotelwien.com

GO WELL – 

GOLF & WELLNESS 

Erleben Sie Ihren perfekten Urlaub in Europas 

größtem Golf & Wellness Resort mit Therme und 

Wellness in Bad Griesbach. 

Das MAXIMILIAN besticht sowohl durch seine großzügige Architektur 

als auch durch sein elegantes Ambiente. Eingebettet in 

die herrliche Rottaler Hügellandschaft erweist sich das Hotel als 

perfekter Rückzugsort für Golfer, Erholungssuchende und Feinschmecker. 

In der hauseigenen Thermen-Oase erwartet Sie das 

wohltuende Bad Griesbacher Thermalmineralwasser. 

Abgerundet wird das Angebot von einer 

erstklassigen Kulinarik. 

Auf fünf 18-Loch-Meisterschaftsplätzen 

im Golf Resort Bad Griesbach wird Golfen 

zum Erlebnis. 

15 Tagungsräume mit Kapa zitäten bis 200 

Personen und der angrenzende Kursaal für 

bis zu 450 Personen garantieren den Erfolg 

jeder Veranstaltung. 

Check in - tee off 

· 3 Übernachtungen mit Halbpension 

· 2 Greenfees nach Wahl im Golf Resort 

· Wohlfühlen und Erholen in der hauseigenen Therme 

Preis pro Person im DZ ab 484,– € 

MAXimal entspannt 

· 3 Übernachtungen mit Halbpension 

· 2 individuell auf Sie abgestimmte Massagen (je 30 Min.) 

· Wohlfühlen und Erholen in der hauseigenen Therme 

Preis pro Person im DZ ab 315,– € 

A. Hartl Resort GmbH & Co. SH Land- und Golfhotel Betriebs KG 

HOTEL MAXIMILIAN ★★★★★ 

Kurallee 1 | D-94086 Bad Griesbach 

Tel. +49 (0)8532 795-0 | Fax +49 (0)8532 795-151 

maximilian@hartl.de | www.hartl.de 

Reservierungs-Hotline: +49 (0)8532 795 512 

Bad Griesbach liegt nur 29 km vom Grenzübergang Suben 

entfernt und ca. 2,5 Autostunden von Wien. 

WEITERE INFOS UNTER WWW.HARTL.DE

Women Leadership Forum 

An Initiative of 

WOMEN LEADERSHIP FO- 

RUM was initiated by European 

Brand Institute to promote 

Women Leadership in the fields 

of economy, science & research, 

public institutions, society as 

well as to connect successful 

women and powerful men with 

the purpose of strengthening 

innovative and economic power 

in Austria. 

Supervisory boards are changing: 

Mixed leadership as innovation 

boost with the purpose 

of strengthening the Austrian 

innovation power. 

Different surveys prove that involvement 

of female know-how in 

the economy would increase growth 

by approximately 30 per cent in the 

sectors where women are underrepresented. 

How can we support women to 

approach terrains, which are dominated 

by men? The answer is by 

learning from the best. All of us: 

women, men, companies. What 

could help is female-friendly jobs, 

establishing networks for both child 

care and career-boosting activities. 

Company executives talk about 

how your company contributes to 

the mentioned above. The reason for 

that is the fact that the one who gives 

wins. The working environment is 

changing. The one, who wants to be 

competitive, enables women to show 

their potential by diverse measures. 

Such activities include support in 

terms of private and respectively 

family life, internal women supporting 

programs and awareness rising in 

companies. In the frame of WOMEN 

LEADERSHIP FORUM female and 

male leaders gather to discuss the 

latest developments and thesis on 

how to develop women leaders for a 

global market and best-practice companies 

share their initiatives in promoting 

women. 

Take the lead and be part of 

WOMEN LEADERSHIP FORUM! 



l.t.r.: Anett Hanck, former VGN, Tatjana Oppitz, IBM, H.E. Alexa Wesner, 

Renate Altenhofer, maX iconvienna 

Fotos: K.Schiffl/maX iconvienna 

Review 

The European Brand Institute and 

Verlagsgruppe News in cooperation 

with the US Embassy in Vienna, ÖBB 

and OMV invited to „WOMEN LEA- 

DERSHIP FORUM“ following the 

motto „FRAU MACHT FÜHRUNG“ 

on September 11, 2014 at the 

Novomatic Forum Vienna. 

H.E. Alexa Wesner, Ambassador of the 

United States of America to Austria, 

opened the event by emphasizing the importance 

of qualitative networks and entrepreneurship. 

US-Leadership Guru Sally Helgesen, inspired 

with her keynote and delivered valuable 

inputs about how a woman should 

prepare herself for future executive functions. 

She also stressed on the fact that 

„female leaders“ should strengthen their 

positions. 

l.t.r.: H.E. Alexa Wesner, US Leadership Guru Sally Helgesen 

Highlight fashion show: US designer Luly Yang presented her 

exclusive collection for the very first time in Austria. 

Female Leaders discuss „Factor F“ l.t.r. : C. Gabler, Nestlé, T. Oppitz, IBM, B. Bach, AIT, 

A. Hanck, former VGN, J. Duff, Coca-Cola, M. Huber, OMV, C. Tinkler, Rewe Group 

UPCOMING 

WOMEN LEADERSHIP FORUM 

SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 

NOVOMATIC FORUM WIEN 

www.womenleadership.at 


Welcome to The Ring, Vienna‘s Casual Luxury Hotel! 

The 68 luxurious rooms and suites are outstanding. 

The bar is chic. 

The restaurant is superb. 

The service is exceptional. 

Exactly, Casual Luxury! 

Kärntner Ring 8 I A-1010 Vienna I Telephone: +43-1-22 1 22-0 I Telefax: +43-1-22 1 22-900 

www.theringhotel.com

iconvienna 2014 

iconvienna Gallery 

Impressions 

from 

iconvienna 

2014 

Austrian Federal Chamber of Commerce 

(left to right): Dr. Hans Jörg Schelling, Former Vice President Austrian Federal Economic Chamber; 

Ing. Tomáš Malatinský, Minister of Economy Slovakia; KR DI Dr. Gerhard Hrebicek, President iconvienna; 

Juraj Macháč, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovakia 

Austrian Federal Chamber of Commerce 

Welcome Reception at the Vienna City Hall 

(left to right): H.E. Antonio Roberto Castellanos Lopez, Ambassador of the Republic Guatemala; 

H.E.Hussam Al Husseini, Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; KR DI Dr. Gerhard 

Hrebicek, President iconvienna; H.E. Elena Shekerletova, Ambassador of the Republic Bulgaria; 

Horst Mayer,General Manager Grand Hotel Wien; H.E. Ramón Quiñones, Ambassador of the 

Dominican Republic, Fatimah Maria Zwanikken de Quinones 

ICONVIENNA YOUNG LEADERS DIALOGUE youLEAD; Austrian Federal Chamber of Commerce 

(left to right): Ivan Stefunko, Managing Director Neulogy; Warren Karlenzig, President Common 

Current; DI Eva Hackl, Deputy Chair iconvienna youLEAD; KR DI Dr. Gerhard Hrebicek, President 

iconvienna; Dr. Wolfgang Loibl, Smart City Expert AIT 

Site Visit Seestadt Aspern, Aspern IQ Technologiezentrum 

(left to right): KR DI Dr. Gerhard Hrebicek, President iconvienna; DWI (FH) Bernd Richter, 

Infrastructure Aspern Smart City Research; DI Claudia Nutz, Board Member Wien 3420 Aspern 

Development; Norbert Scheed (†), District Chairman 22nd district, DI Arch. Ingrid Konrad, 

Chief Architect, City of Bratislava 

RECEPTION ON THE OCCASION OF THE 10th ANNIVERSARY ICONVIENNA, Palais Palffy 

(left to right): Prof. Gerhard Habarta, Curator Phantasten Museums; Werner Schulz-Mönkeberg; 

Dr. Othmar Hill, Managing Director Hill International; Walter Weilinger, HBM Austria; 

DI Hans-Jörg Tengg, Managing Director Smart Technologies; Dr. Paul Yvon; 

KR DI Dr. Gerhard Hrebicek, President iconvienna 


maximize your business communication! 

award conception I brand communication & consulting 

event management I marketing outsourcing 

public relations I ratings & studies 

Our initiatives 

www.icon-vienna.net 

www.europeanbrandinstitute.com/forum/ 

www.womenleadership.at 

maX iconvienna GmbH 

Börsegasse 9/8, 1010 Wien 

office@maxcc.at 

www.maxcc.at

eurobrand forum Bucharest 

iconvienna Gallery 

Impressions from 


Bucharest 2014 

(left to right): Dr. Josef Karl, Counsellor of the Prime Minister of Romania; Wolfgang Einer, Senior Vice President CEE 

Mail Austrian Post; KR Dr. Gerhard Hrebicek, President European Brand Institute; Mag. Claus Renner, 

Sales & Marketing Director CEE Austrian Post 

(left to right): Felix Tataru, Senior Vice President IAA Worldwide; 

KR Dr. Gerhard Hrebicek, President European Brand Institute; 

Prof. Teo Teaha Managing Director Teaha Management Consulting 

H.E. Dr. Michael Schwarzinger, Former Ambassador of Austria to Romania 

KR Dr. Gerhard Hrebicek, President European Brand Institute 



An Initiative of 

eurobrandforum is the independent 

consulting platform for brand and 

IP experts (brands, patents, trademarks, 

designs and copyrights, …). 

The exclusive event for high level national and 

international decision makers and opinion 

leaders provide the perfect setting for extensive 

discussions and to exchange know-how 

on the needs of intellectual property, the relationship 

between brands, media, agencies, human resources, 

politics and tax and on the questions of how IP rights 

and brands can be successfully managed in order to 

compete on a global level. 

Panel Disscussion on „brands, innovations and IP rights“ l.t.r. P. Bittner, I3PM, 

H. Karmasin, Institut für Motivforschung, G. Hrebicek, European Brand Institute, 

M. Hörmer, Ja Natürlich!, G. Ganzger, LGP, J. Wurditsch, Consultatio 

Keynote Speaker Mori Taheripour, USAID on „Sports Diplomacy“ 

Fotos: Philipp Hutterl/maX iconvienna 

REVIEW 2014 

The European Brand Institute in cooperation 

with the US Embassy in Vienna invited to 

eurobrand forum 2014 following the motto 

„INNOVATION & MARKE“ on October 8, 

2014 at the Novomatic Forum Vienna. 

Representatives from International business media 

and brand community, discussed following the key 

topics: “innovations as brands – brands as assets”, “innovations 

as key and sport as catalyst for international 

development” the future of brands, their structure, 

management and organization towards sustainable 

value-creating. 

US Keynote speaker Mori Taheripour – Senior Advisor 

Sport for Development, USAID – regarded the brand 

and innovation topic from a different perspective. In 



BRAND [LIFE] AWARD 

The brand life award ceremony took 

place for the 6th time, awarding Austrian 

personalities for their life-time 

achievment in successfully establishing, 

developing and managing brands 

and brand corporations. 

Foto: Christian Mikesl/maX iconvienna 

l.t.r. Gerhard Hrebicek, President European Brand Institute handing over 

the bronze statue to BRAND LIFE AWARD – winner 2014 Engelbert 

Wenckheim, Ottakringer Brauerei 

l.t.r. Gerald Steger, café+co, Paul Leitenmüller, OLN, Anett Hanck, Former VGN, 

Claus Renner, Austrian Post Group, Mori Taheripour, Sport for Development, 

USAID, Gernot Zirngast, FIFPro 

her keynote speech, she shared interesting 

views about the relationship 

between sport and brand valuation, 

the power of sport in terms of development 

and elevating global brands. 

“If companies stand for 

more than money, income 

and revenue, consumers 

will more likely be inclined 

to like or follow them.” 

UPCOMING 

eurobrand forum 2015 

OCTOBER 14, 2015 

NOVOMATIC FORUM WIEN 

www.europeanbrandinstitute.com/forum/ 

BRAND AMBASSADORS & 

BRAND [LIFE] AWARD WINNER 2014 

In her opinion sports deliver excitement 

and passion to a brand and is 

able to create a legacy of global impact. 

l.t.r. H. Hanusch, VGN, W. Senger-Weiss, Gebrüder Weiss, R. Schärf, Coffeeshop Company, Artist I. 

Sageder, E. Wenckheim, Ottakringer Brauerei, G. Tostmann, Tostmann Trachten, H. Kiener, Stiegl 

Brauerei, G. Hrebicek, EBI, P. Leitenmüller, OLN 



„Ich schlafe wie ein Baby und 

wache jeden Morgen wie neugeboren 

auf“, so Elke Winkens. 

„Aurelia“ 

Naturlich 

Schlafen 

V.r.n.l Matus Kukla, Elke Winkens, Herbert Kaiser Geschäftsführer 

Kaiser & Partner Immobilien – Kooperationspartner 

von Saffron Wien 

Fotos: Saffron 

Ganz im Zeichen der Natur, neben der großten ,,vertikalen Garten Mauer" Europas. 

Seit zwei Jahren hat Saffron in 

dem vom Star-Architekt  Jean 

Nouvel entworfenen 75 Meter 

hohen Designtower in Wien 

seine Pforten geöffnet und bietet 

handgefertigte Betten nach Maß im 

Kontinentalstil. Die Konzentration 

liegt bei der Verarbeitung der hochwertigsten 

natürlichen Materialien, 

wie Kaschmir, Rosshaar, Wolle, 

Baum wolle, Naturkautschuk und 

schwedi scher Kiefer. 

Saffron war bei der jahrelangen 

Entwicklung der Betten auf der Suche 

nach den besten Materialien. 

„Das Zusammenwirken dieser unterschiedlichen, 

natürlichen Materialien 

bietet dem Körper eine optimale 

Vorrausetzung für einen erholsamen, 

revitalisierenden Schlaf“, so Geschäftsführer 

Matus Kukla. Die Bettenmanufaktur 

Saffron möchte den 

Menschen die Wichtig keit und vor 

allem die Vorteile für die Gesundheit, 

der Kontinentalbetten näher bringen. 

Immer mehr Menschen klagen über 

Einschlafprobleme und Rückenschmerzen 

am Morgen. Auch Elke 

Winkens gehörte einst dazu. „Seitdem 

meine Rückenprobleme und 

Schmerzen immer größer wurden 

und ich mich jeden Morgen nur mehr 

erschöpft gefühlt habe, brauchte ich 

ein neues Bett. Bei Saffron wurde 

ich schnell fündig. Schon nach 15 

Minuten Probeliegen wusste ich, 

das ist es.“ Elke Winkens lachend: 

„Das Bett „Authentica“ wurde für 

mich gemacht. Meine Spezialwünsche 

wurden erfüllt und an meine 

Rückschmerzen kann ich mich so 

gut wie kaum erinnern.“ 

Maßgeschneiderte 

manuelle Anfertigung 

gen und speziellen Bedürfnissen des 

Kunden gebaut werden und ist somit 

ein individuelles Einzelstück. 

Das Bett atmet 

Die natürlichen, umweltfreundlichen 

Materialien verhindern die 

Bildung einer feuchten Umgebung 

in den Matratzen und halten das 

Boxspringbett trocken. Verglichen 

mit synthetischen Materialien verhindern 

diese das Entstehen eines 

für Schimmel, Bakterien und Milben 

günstigen Klimas. Die im Bett verarbeiteten 

Rosshaare dienen nicht nur 

zur Polsterung der Federkernsysteme 

sondern fungieren wie eine Klimaanlage 

und leiten die über Nacht entstehende 

Körperflüssigkeit ab – das Bett 

bleibt dadurch stets angenehm kühl. 

Saffron ist überzeugt, dass tatsächlich 

nur durch solide manuelle 

Fertigung in tradierter Handarbeit 

höchste Qualität sichergestellt werden 

kann. Jedes Bett kann daher 

auch exakt nach den Anforderunwww.saffronbeds.com 

Saffron – Stilwerk 

Praterstrasse 1, 1020 Wien

eurobrand is the exclusive valuation partner of European 

Brand Institute with two decades of proven experience 

in the field of brand and IP valuation. 

We are Europe’s number one address for innovative, 

tailor made structures in the areas of corporate finance, 

balance sheet activation of brands & IP and increasing 

brand & IP efficiency. 

In building brand- and IP-oriented company structures, 

eurobrand supports the European economy and guides 

also small and medium-sized companies to maximize 

brand & IP value and sustainability. 

eurobrand proves and enlarges its competence 

continuously through independent brand & IP valuation 

and research and its contribution to national and 

international standardization. 

the independent brand & patent 

valuation experts and 

consultancy 

Brand & IP license valuation 

Brand & IP Valuation & reports 

Brand & IP balance sheet activation 

Value optimized organizational structures 

Global benchmarking database in all industries 

www.eurobrand.cc 

GLOBAL TOP 100 

BRAND CORPORATIONS

YOUR HUB 

IN VIENNA 

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LOGISTIK IM FLUSS 

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