Green Austria

the aim of positioning the province as a top
technology location.
The aim of the ‘Technopol Program’ is to
initiate and support research projects between
business and research institutions. So
far this has been an enormous success; the
direct transfer of research results to businesses
in Lower Austria’s ‘technopols’ is truly exemplary.
‘Technopol Krems’ is specialised in medical
biotechnology fields such as cell biology,
tissue engineering, biochemistry, blood purification,
measuring technology and adsorption
technologies. Developments in biomedical
research here are extremely dynamic, steadily
and quickly leading to new and effective
therapies for patients. Researchers at Cell
Danube are working on a single cell inoculation
against cancer. The company Arthro
Kinetics produces joint cartilage replacement
in high-tech laboratories.
‘Technopol Tulln’ is the centre for agricultural
and environmental biotechnology. Numerous
projects have already been carried
out here, for example in the field of modern
bioanalytics, the production of new materials
from beverage cartons, product refinement
using special fluidisation equipment as
well as projects in the area of food and feed
safety. At the beginning of this year technopol
Tulln was awarded the Dr. Wolfgang Houska
Award for excellent results in scientific
research in the area of moulds on food. Focused
on modern industrial technologies particularly
in the field of surface technologies,
technopol Wiener Neustadt was expanded to
include a third competence centre; following
the Competence Centres for Electrochemistry
(ECHEM) and tribology, Integrated Microsystems
Austria (IMA), a centre for microsystem
technology, went into full-time operation, ma-
HAIDEN-BAUMANN HAIDEN-BAUMANN
king it the first development and prototype
centre for microsystem technology in Austria.
Advantage through Cooperation - Lower Austria
Focuses on Cluster Initiatives
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
are the pillars of the Lower Austrian economy.
Yet it is precisely the SMEs which are most seriously
affected by the increasing globalisation
of the markets. As a result,there is a need
for innovation, a specialisation in ‘one-stop’
core competencies andholistic solutions. One
company alone is often unable to handle many
of these demands. For this reason, a vital company
strategy could be to enter into strategic
alliances with other companies focusing on
joint product development and organizational
optimization to shared procurement and use
of equipment and overall market activities.
“Clusters and networks are the concepts which
provide new opportunities to many companies
and decisively strengthen competitive capacity,”
says Richard Plitzka. ecoplus has already
established six cluster initiatives and networks.
Thus, cluster management at ecoplus is the
best point of initial contact for companies involved
in innovation and cooperation.
Advance into the new countries of the EU
Lower Austria’s excellent geopolitical location
provides the best framework for interregional
activities. Thus, ecoplus has established
business agencies in Budapest, Bratislava,
Prague and Warsaw in order to accelerate
economic relations between Lower Austria
and the new EU countries. All offers of support
are bundled together in the scope of the
new ecoplus program ‘Focusing on internationalization
in the enlargement zone.’
Further information:
www.ecoplus.at
ecoplus*
Richard Plitzka, CEO ecoplus
Lower Austrian Minister for Economic
Affairs and Vice-Governor
Ernest Gabmann: “The Lower
Austrian organisation ecoplus
was established more than 40
years ago with the aim of company
settlement. Today as a business
agency for Lower Austria
it is the interface between business
and policymakers, companies
and administration,
investors and the initiators of
regional projects – both national
and international.”
02/2006 LOCATIONAUSTRIA 41