Styrian economic development

Styrian Economic Development Corporation
legal form	Ges.mbH
founding	1991
Seat	Graz , Nikolaiplatz 2
management	Christoph Ludwig
Branch	Business promotion
Website	sfg.at

The Steirische Wirtschaftsförderung SFG is the processing organization for economic development projects in the Austrian state of Styria . By resolutions of the Styrian state government and the state parliament , the entire operational area of economic development was transferred to the Styrian Economic Development Agency (SFG) in 1996 . On the one hand, it developed into an initiator of structural and awareness-raising activities in regional development and, on the other hand, a contact point for commercial companies, company founders and investors of all kinds of projects. Responsibility - also within the framework of European economic development - lies with the Office of the Styrian Provincial Government (Department 12 Economy, Tourism, Sport ). The company shares are 100% owned by the State of Styria.

Goal and scope

The declared aim of Styrian economic policy is to consolidate the state's position as an above-average competitive, leading European region and to shape the change towards a knowledge-based production and service society as well as to strengthen the digital skills of Styrian companies. “Growth through innovation” is therefore the guiding principle of the Styria 2025 economic strategy . For numerous projects, the Styrian Economic Development Agency (SFG) offers services in the form of advice, information and direct project funding or financing - be it the establishment or expansion of a company, the establishment of regional company locations, clarification of market opportunities or access to educational, development and Research grants. In addition, the Styrian Economic Development Agency also offers advice and support through international funding programs, for example Horizon 2020 of the EU.

Key themes, core strategies and state funding performance

The decisive factor in the implementation of the Styrian economic strategy, project period up to 2025, is the concentration on key issues and technological core competencies, core strategies and active location development. Styria should become a knowledge-based production company with a commitment to resource-saving growth. Specifically, economic policy focuses on the three main themes of mobility , green tech and health tech . It focuses on the following five core strategies: location development and location management , innovation and R&D promotion, entrepreneurship and growth of young companies , qualification and human potential , as well as internationalization of companies and locations .

In 2018, 2,385 individual projects by Styrian companies were supported by the SFG. The majority of the funds go to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) . In 2019, a total volume of around 53 million euros is available for funding and financing programs as well as for investments. In addition to numerous participations in young companies and impulse centers, the SFG also acts as the sponsor of the Styrian cluster and network initiatives. It implements awareness-raising measures and is z. B. responsible for the implementation of the annual Future Day of Styrian Economy, the Fast Forward Award - the business award of the State of Styria, whose winners are nominated for the State Prize for Innovation - and the Take Tech career orientation initiative.

Company structure of the SFG

The Steirische Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft is organized as a GmbH; its shares are 100% owned by the province of Styria. It works according to the motto "New Thinking, New Funding" and its content is based on the Styrian Economic Strategy 2025. In addition to funding, the SFG also offers financing in the form of silent participations and venture capital. In addition, the SFG holds shares in Styrian cluster and regional networks, impulse centers as well as the Grazer Messe, the FH-Joanneum, the ICS Internationalization Center and the Silicon Austria Labs.

Impulse centers and initiatives of Styrian economic development

In Styria there are numerous projects to promote the regional economy. The Styrian Economic Promotion SFG tries to contribute to this development with the following impulse centers, which concentrate on the evaluated areas of strength of the Styrian economy.

Auersbach (food technology)
Bruck an der Mur (production-related service )
Fehring ( innovative construction technology )
Grambach ( marketing , design , product development , human technology )
Lebring ( IT , automation )
Leoben IZW (materials technology)
Leoben IZR (raw materials)
Liezen (plant engineering, electrical engineering )
Mureck ( production and production - all branches)
Niklasdorf (materials technology, surface technology)
Radkersburg (cross-border services)
Smart business center
Zeltweg ( wood )
ZWT ( Center for Knowledge and Technology Transfer in Medicine )

Cluster and network initiatives:

ACstyria ( automotive industry and - suppliers , Grambach / Graz, founded in 1995, the first large, cutting-edge clusters in Austria)
CREATIVE INDUSTRIES STYRIA ( Creative Industries , Design and Art, Graz)
Green Tech Cluster ( environmental technology , renewable energy , Graz)
Wood cluster Styria ( forestry , wood processing and wood technology , Zeltweg )
Human.technology Styria (human technology, Graz)
Silicon Alps Cluster (development and positioning of electronics and microelectronics with a regional focus on Carinthia and Styria)