Austria is a high-performing startup/scaleup country, performing at 113.8% of the EU average in 2025, ranking 10th among EU Member States. The country shows a mixed performance, combining relatively strong startup and scaleup density with weaker investment outcomes. Key strengths include a high number of startups per million inhabitants, satisfaction with business infrastructure, and a strong talent base with high skills in STEM fields. However, weaknesses lie in lower numbers of centaurs and unicorns per capita, and significantly lower early-stage and later-stage venture capital investments as a share of GDP, indicating challenges in supporting firm growth and scaling.
In terms of talent, Austria's performance is strong and improving, consistently above the EU average, supported by a large, highly skilled talent pool and effective attraction of international students and researchers. The regulatory environment remains supportive but slightly weakening relative to peers, with a decline in government support policies. Austria excels in access to infrastructure, networks, and services, with high-quality business infrastructure and strong research and technology systems, though regional disparities persist. The country performs well in fast market uptake and expansion, driven by robust innovation, IP activity, and strong SME export performance.
However, weaknesses in finance are evident, with both early and later-stage VC investments lagging behind the EU average, and institutional investor participation remaining limited. The impact index shows an overall upward trend but declined in 2025, partly due to gender gaps affecting ecosystem outcomes. Austria's SME R&D ecosystem is strong, but scaling outcomes remain constrained by financial and market size limitations. Key strengths are highlighted by the highest rankings in indicators like virtual helpdesk for regulatory issues and valuation of startups with HQs outside the EU, while the lowest rankings are in employment share of young high-growth enterprises and startup establishment cost score.
