Practice-oriented support for your company
In Carinthia, companies find support at every stage – from foundation to research & development to international expansion. The focus is on a tailored range of promotional services with personal advice and practical solutions. Over 800 projects are successfully promoted every year. This is a positive sign of active business development on the southern side of the Alps. Together, the Carinthian Economic Promotion Fund (KWF) and the Carinthian Economic Chamber (WKK) form an effective network that advises companies and provides long-term support.
Promote, accompany, connect: Carinthia’s success model for companies
In Carinthia, economic promotion is thought of in entrepreneurial terms. Companies benefit from targeted support, direct exchange and strong networks, for example in the areas of digitalisation, research & development and internationalisation.
1. Promotion in all phases
From the initial idea to global market entry: the KWF’s promotional products cover all stages of development. The path to suitable promotion begins with a personal consultation, which is individual, free from red tape and solution-oriented. Our expertise is in providing support for projects with a focus on digital solutions, sustainable technologies and international market opportunities.
Austria / Kärnten / Frantschach / MONDI Papierindustrie
Foto Copyright by Johannes Puch www.johannespuch.at
2. Personal consultation
Carinthia’s economic promotion works hand in hand with everyday business life, both in terms of space and content: consultations also take place directly on site, for example with the “KWF on the road | Carinthia is our office” format. This creates straightforward practical solutions directly within the company.
One example: Innovation is often only associated with larger companies and corporations. “But innovation is everywhere,” emphasises KWF Director Roland Waldner. “Companies often don’t associate their plans with the term ‘innovation’,” says Waldner, in reference to a company, which, having consulted the KWF experts, realised that it was actually already conducting research and development and producing innovations in the process.
Michael Stabentheiner
3. Strong networks
Economic promotion in Carinthia means thinking beyond individual support. Companies are specifically connected with research institutions, clusters and EU projects. Dialogue and an entrepreneurial perspective are the top priorities. This creates collaborations that can accelerate innovation and strengthen the location.
Friends meeting at Lakeside Park 2024-05-28
4. Partner in everyday business
The Carinthian Economic Chamber is more than just a representation of interests. It supports companies with services relating to trade law, exports and digitalisation. Through WIFI Kärnten, it supports companies in qualifying their own specialists, for example with in-house training, preparation for master craftsman examinations or further training in key qualifications. Together with KWF, this provides a comprehensive support system from idea to implementation.
Michael Stabentheiner
INTERVIEW with Dr. Roland Waldner, Director of KWF
“We bring promotion to where it is needed – directly to the companies”
Dr. Roland Waldner, Director of the Carinthian Economic Promotion Fund (KWF), focuses on proximity to companies, practice-oriented consulting and targeted impulses for research, development and innovation. In this interview, he talks about the “KWF on the road | Carinthia is our office” initiative and explains how Carinthia is making its own mark in the competition for the best ideas and illustrates why even a small impulse can be enough to unleash hidden potential.
Dr. Roland Waldner, Director of KWF
“Dormant ideas often need just a little push to wake them up.”
“We bring promotion to where it is needed – directly to the companies”
Dr. Roland Waldner, Director of the Carinthian Economic Promotion Fund (KWF), focuses on proximity to companies, practice-oriented consulting and targeted impulses for research, development and innovation. In this interview, he talks about the “KWF on the road | Carinthia is our office” initiative and explains how Carinthia is making its own mark in the competition for the best ideas and illustrates why even a small impulse can be enough to unleash hidden potential.
Carinthia.com: Dr. Waldner, you are actively shaping the future of Carinthia as a business location. What is particularly important to you and where do you currently see the greatest potential?
Dr. Roland Waldner: We place our customers at the centre of our activities. A great example of this is our “KWF on the road | Carinthia is our office” initiative, in which we regularly visit local companies. Together with our partners, we work to create real added value for Carinthian companies and their challenges by listening, understanding and providing tailored support. This also strengthens our joint network in the long term.
Why is proximity to the practice so important to you?
Dr. Roland Waldner: By actively approaching companies, we get to know their plans and requirements better. We want to know what is needed and to avoid developing products for which there is no demand. We also gain valuable insight from a survey, which we evaluate with the help of AI, allowing us to be more flexible in adapting and tailoring our offers.
Where does Carinthia set its own priorities in economic promotion, i.e. beyond nationwide programmes?
Dr. Roland Waldner: With the aforementioned “KWF on the road | Carinthia is our office” initiative, we bring advice directly to the companies, which makes things simpler for them and cuts travelling time. By combining our enabler products with the offers of the federal funding agencies, we maximise the opportunities for Carinthian companies to access available funding and financing.
In particular, we support SMEs in the early phases of innovation and research and development, and facilitate access to research institutions. In addition to workshops on the topic of innovation, our Fokus.F&E workshop series – in cooperation with academics – enables entrepreneurs to tap into currently unthinkable innovation potential. As part of Fokus.F&E, participants can combine their expertise from their field with specialist knowledge about the potential applications of new technologies in a confidential setting.
With Start.F&E, we support companies that are dealing with R&D for the first time or in new areas. This is a decisive step towards promoting resilience, growth and jobs. Best practice examples from “KWF on the road” also strengthen a common innovation mindset across industries. We also offer workshops on project accounting to ensure that funding projects are optimally planned and implemented right from the start.
How do targeted funding measures contribute to strengthening key sectors such as microelectronics, the green economy or digitalisation?
Dr. Roland Waldner: Funding products, not only from KWF but also nationwide, give companies access to funding to implement high-risk but potentially forward-looking innovation projects in a wide range of sectors. This accelerates innovation, lowers barriers to market entry and creates jobs for the future.
Our Innovations.TALENT and Kooperations.TALENT programmes train young professionals who are specifically educated to the needs of companies in these key sectors. This also creates a strong innovation ecosystem. The networking between companies, research institutes and educational institutions ensures faster technology development and broader practical application.
Have you had any ‘Eureka!’ moments when working with companies?
Dr. Roland Waldner: In personal conversations, we notice time and again that many companies do not associate their plans and projects with the term ‘innovation’. One example: A craft business owner said that R&D was not for them. During the conversation, it turned out that he had just commissioned a customised machine that had never been available on the market before. This is research & development. If there is a problem that you want to solve and you create something new that did not exist before – that is innovation. Many companies are not aware of how innovative they are.
What locational advantages does Carinthia offer from your point of view?
Dr. Roland Waldner: Carinthia is located in the heart of Europe and there are numerous research institutions, universities and companies within a radius of 300 kilometres – a day’s journey. Our province is an attractive business location for sustainable growth and international activities, with a high quality of life for employees. With institutions such as the University of Klagenfurt, Carinthia University of Applied Sciences, Silicon Alps Cluster and Lakeside Science & Technology Park, Carinthia has a dynamic innovation environment with great potential for practical cooperation between research and educational institutions and business.
Our location at the crossroads with Italy, Slovenia and Southeastern Europe ensures short distances to important markets, optimal logistics and access to international suppliers. Here, international companies meet motivated people and a future-oriented innovation environment, which is supported by global players, innovative SMEs and strong research institutions.