Regional Perspectives - Villach

The lively heart of the Alps-Adriatic region

Located right at the intersection of three cultures, this city on the Drau River is both a high-tech hub in southern Austria and an impressive holiday destination.

Villach –A Region Introduces Itself

Villach is enormously fertile ground for the economy – it´s an innovative setting for long-established traditional companies as well as for creative service providers or start-ups. In the border-triangle region where the countries Austria, Italy and Slovenia meet, lived internationality and a large pool of well-trained specialists come together. In recent times, the investment of EUR 1.6 billion by Infineon Technologies Austria in the most modern chip factory in Europe and approval as one of only three locations of Silicon Austria Labs show how important the region has become on the European technology map. Established, globally active large corporations such as 3M, Imerys, Flowserve or Lam Research characterise the diversified economic structure, as do innovative small and medium-sized companies in the technology and service sector.

@ Amt der Kärntner Landesregierung

The region stands for:

Corporations such as Infineon, Lam Research or 3M as well as the microelectronics cluster or the Villach Science and Technology Area make the region an innovative location for technology.
Comprehensive educational opportunities for all age groups. The world’s leading cutting-edge research is at home here.
A high-quality mix of history, nature and adventure, extensive infrastructure and multicultural setting.

Historically evolved trading hub in the border-triangle region. Villach’s old town is the stage for a variety of events and has established itself as a cosy open-air living room for shopping sprees.
Recognised for more than a century as one of the most popular holiday destinations in Central Europe, with year-round options.
Around 28% of Villach’s urban area is nature reserve, with beautiful lakes in the area, the local mountain Dobratsch is Carinthia’s oldest nature park.

(Districts Villach and Villach-Land)

The Region in Figures

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Leading Companies in the Region

Infineon

In the last five decades, Infineon has developed into one of the most important locations for research and development as well as the production of power semiconductors in all of Europe. Infineon Austria has successfully established itself as a global player in the semiconductor market and is currently regarded as the most research-intensive industrial enterprise in Austria. With a EUR 1.6 billion investment in the most modern chip factory in Europe (opened 2021) and the expansion of the R&D department (opened 2020), Infineon strengthens Villach as a location, thus ensuring even more international relevance in the future.

Lam Research

With the spin processor, Villach’s Semiconductor Equipment Zubehör – SEZ for short – introduced a truly innovative product to the world market in the late 1980s that has made the company – as part of the global Lam Research Group – one of the leading providers of innovative technology and productivity solutions for the semiconductor industry today. In Villach, the US concern concentrates its activities on the sectors deposition, etching, fine cleaning and particle removal as well as customer service and the production of equipment, special devices and accessories for the semiconductor industry.

Silicon Austria Labs

In addition to locations in Graz and Linz, Villach forms an elementary part of the Austrian top research centre for electronic-based systems. At the High Tech campus in the Villach Science and Technology Area (VISTA), Silicon Austria Labs (SAL) forms networks with technology companies, research and training institutions and start-ups. With its research focus, SAL covers the entire EBS value chain and develops technologies in the sectors energy, lifestyle, health and mobility. Whether in the sectors – sensor systems, high-frequency technology and power electronics or the research sectors – system integration technologies and embedded systems, the team works on the basis of state-of-the-art technologies and on in-house and contract research as well as in cooperation with partners from industry and science.

Networks and Cooperations

Villach is recognised far beyond its regional borders not only for its close entrepreneurial networks and cooperations, but also for its deep regional roots. Local and international companies appreciate the numerous networking opportunities and profit in many ways from the service-oriented interaction with committed local organisations.

CIC – Carinthian International Center

The constantly growing international community in the region has been connecting in the Carinthian International Center for several years now. Here, newcomers can quickly make contact with other expats and locals. The CIC Service GmbH also offers companies and private individuals comprehensive assistance in relocation, administration and reorientation after moving to Villach.

CIC

Silicon Alps Cluster

The Silicon Alps Cluster, an Austrian technology and innovation cluster in the field of electronic based systems is located in the Villach Science and Technology Area (VISTA). As a public-private partnership between Austrian players from business, science and the public sector, it serves to develop and position the electronics and microelectronics industry.

Welcome2Villach

The working cooperation “Industry & Tourism” sees itself as a “marketplace” where plans are developed and/or projects are mutually supported through the exchange of experience. The platform www.welcome2villach.at, has created a digital business card for the initiative where key subjects are worked on and constantly expanded.

vista - Villach Science and Technology Area

Since it was founded in 2001, an international high-tech location has developed in the Sankt Magdalen district of Villach, where more than 650 employees, around 1000 students and 70 apprentices currently work, learn and teach together. Vista – formerly known as the Villach Technology Park – successfully relies on a three-pillar model consisting of research and development, training and further education and industry and business.

Stadt-Umland Regionalkooperation Villach

Stadt-Umland Regionalkooperation Villach (i.e. city and surroundings regional cooperation) was founded in 1999 and has since been able to accompany, support, co-develop and oversee 110 projects for the Villach area. With the Regional Management, the city of Villach and the 19 surrounding municipalities have created a platform that pools forces, optimises inter-communal cooperation and strengthens the region. The aim of the cooperation is to realise cross-community projects and to create leisure activities as well as living spaces.

Enjoy Life

The special geographical location and extraordinarily beautiful nature have made Villach, with its modern tourist infrastructure and special service culture, a popular holiday destination for generations now. The region not only impresses with diverse nature, the special beauty of the surrounding mountain landscapes and lakes of drinking water quality, but also with a fundamentally open-minded, modern and creative spirit. Right here in the heart of Carinthia, is the ideal starting point for all kinds of adventures. Take a day trip to by car or train to Venice, Salzburg, Ljubljana or Vienna. At the intersection of three cultures (Austrian, Italian, Slovene) in Villach, open-mindedness and tolerance are lived and simply offer unlimited quality of life.

Education and Social Services

Access to public health facilities is quick and easy. One of two Carinthian bases for psychiatric emergency and crisis services is stationed in the state hospital LKH Villach. The Private Clinic Villach also relies on high-tech medicine and a wide range of medical services. In the thermal spa resort Warmbad-Villach you will find ideal conditions for health and regeneration. In addition, there are 73 independent outpatient clinics (primarily in the sectors physical and sports medicine, prevention and precaution, dentistry and orthodontics) and 93 pharmacies. Even for the youngest residents, more than 240 kindergartens and almost 100 primary schools in Villach and the surrounding area provide the best conditions for the start into school life. Students can subsequently choose between the numerous vocational schools or higher technical, economic and humane higher educational schools and for the start of an academic career, the Villach campus of the University of Applied Sciences Carinthia welcomes you.

Your direct line to the Villach region:

Mag.a Maria-Luise Hadwiger

City of Villach – First-Stop Relocation Service

Economic Development and Business Location, Town Hall – extension (entrance 4), Standesamtsplatz 3, 9500 Villach.

+43 4242 205 5214

maria.hadwiger@villach.at

Good Accessibility – Short Distances

Thanks to the central location at the intersection of three important European motorways, the proximity to northern Mediterranean ports and the many airports in the immediate vicinity, you can get to southern Austria easily from all over the world. And vice versa, you can of course also quickly get anywhere from here. A spontaneous day trip can lead you directly to the picturesque lagoon of Venice, to the historic old town of Salzburg for a stroll or to some of the highest peaks of the Alps. Even the EU metropolises of Ljubljana, Munich and Vienna are within close distance by car or the most modern train connections. All information on the most important mobility solutions for the region can be found at https://connect.visitvillach.at/

The city of Villach also offers innovative micro-traffic solutions:

E-scooter rental
Car-sharing (CarSharingVillach and ÖBB/Austrian Railways)
Various other vehicle rental options

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Regional Perspectives - Villach

The lively heart of the Alps-Adriatic region

Villach –A Region Introduces Itself

The region stands for:

(Districts Villach and Villach-Land)

The Region in Figures