According to the latest findings from the European Investment Bank (EIB) Investment Survey, Austrian firms continue to invest at very high levels, with 90% actively investing in green technologies, digitalisation and AI, despite economic pressure and rising costs. 45% of companies already use AI, while more than half invest in energy efficiency, signalling a strategic shift toward productivity, resilience and climate action. This integrated green-digital-AI approach positions Austria among Europe’s frontrunners in sustainable and competitive business transformation.
Austrian companies are demonstrating strong economic resilience by continuing to invest heavily in green technologies, digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI), even as they face rising costs, geopolitical uncertainty and persistent labour shortages. According to the latest findings from the European Investment Bank (EIB) Investment Survey, Austria remains among the EU’s top performers in investment intensity and in the adoption of advanced technologies that support productivity, sustainability and long-term competitiveness.
Exceptionally High Investment Activity in a Volatile Economy
Approximately 90% of Austrian firms reported active investment, placing Austria well above the EU average. While overall investment volumes remain robust, around two-thirds of capital expenditure is directed toward replacement and modernisation of existing assets, rather than expansion.
This reflects a deliberate strategic shift toward:
- increasing energy efficiency,
- improving digital and AI-enabled productivity, and
- strengthening resilience to energy price volatility and supply-chain disruption.
Digitalisation and AI Move from Experimentation to Core Operations
Austria stands out for both the breadth and depth of digital adoption:
- 87% of firms have implemented at least one advanced digital technology.
- Around 60% use multiple digital technologies across business functions.
- 45% of Austrian firms report using artificial intelligence (AI) in at least one part of their operations—above the EU average.
AI is most frequently deployed in:
- process automation and optimisation,
- data analytics and forecasting,
- customer service and marketing, and
- decision-support systems.
This indicates that AI adoption in Austria is increasingly structural, supporting productivity gains and cost reductions rather than being limited to pilot projects.
Climate Investment Becomes a Strategic and AI-Enabled Priority
Climate action is now deeply embedded in corporate strategy:
- Nearly all Austrian firms report taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- More than 50% invested in energy efficiency measures, exceeding the EU average.
- Around one-third of firms view the green transition as a clear business opportunity, particularly in clean energy, low-carbon products and digital climate solutions.
Importantly, around 75% of companies report that climate change is already affecting their business operations. This has increased the use of digital and AI-based tools for:
- energy management and optimisation,
- emissions monitoring, and
- climate-risk assessment and scenario analysis.
Skills, Innovation and Workforce Challenges
While investment in technology is strong, firms face growing human-capital constraints:
- Skills shortages—particularly in digital, AI and engineering roles—remain one of the most significant barriers to investment.
- Many companies are combining AI and digital investments with upskilling and reskilling programmes to close capability gaps and maintain competitiveness.
Austria is also showing gradual improvement in gender diversity, with an increasing share of firms reporting women holding at least 40% of senior management roles, especially among SMEs and service-sector companies.
Strong Financing Conditions Support AI and Green Investment
Access to finance remains favourable:
- Only 4% of Austrian firms are classified as financially constrained, well below the EU average.
- Approximately 70% of investment is financed through internal funds, reflecting solid balance sheets.
- The remainder is supported by bank lending, public grants and EU-backed financing, including instruments targeting green and digital (including AI) investment.
Despite this, firms continue to cite high energy costs, regulatory uncertainty and labour shortages as key factors influencing investment decisions.
Outlook: Productivity, Resilience and Competitiveness Through AI and Sustainability
The evidence from the EIB survey shows that Austrian firms are not retreating in response to economic pressure. Instead, they are reallocating capital toward AI-enabled digitalisation, energy efficiency and climate resilience, reinforcing productivity and long-term competitiveness. This integrated approach positions Austria as a frontrunner in Europe’s twin green and digital transition, with AI increasingly acting as a critical enabler of both.
Read more at:
https://www.eib.org/en/press/all/2025-494-austrian-firms-push-ahead-on-green-and-digital-investment