regional revival - european...

en

Regional RevivalSuccessful projects financed by the Structural

Funds in Austria

2003

European Commission

ÖSTERREICH

The European Commission wishes to thank all the national, regional and local bodies,organisations and private sector enterprises that have collated and provided the necessaryinformation for this publication.

Photographs (pages): Amt der Kärntner Landesregierung (2-3), Christian Fischer (42), LantechInnovationszentrum (36), Österreich Werbung-Austrian National Tourist Office (6, 8, 10, 14, 15, 18,19, 22, 23, 27, 30, 31, 34, 35, 47, 48), Mike St. Maur Sheil (4, 7, 11, 13, 16, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 33,39, 44, 45, 46), TZE Eisenstadt (12)Cover picture: Österreich Werbung-Austrian National Tourist Office

Further information on the EU Structural Funds and their use in Austria can be found at thefollowing addresses:

European Commission

DG Regional PolicyINFOREGIO SERVICECSM2 - A00/COUB-1049 BRUSSELS

Phone: +32 2 296 06 34Fax: +32 2 296 23 05E-mail: [email protected]: http://www.europa.eu.int/inforegio

Visit address: Brussels - Avenue de Tervueren, 41Subway Metro "Mérode"

• Regional Policy DGhttp://europa.eu.int/comm/regional_policy/index_en.htm

• Employment and Social Affairs DGhttp://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/index_en.htm

• Agriculture DGhttp://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/index_en.htm

• Representation of the European Commission in Austriahttp://europa.eu.int/austria

Austrian Conference on Regional Planninghttp://www.oerok.gv.at/

Interreg in Austriahttp://www.interreg.at/

Information on the European Union is available on the Internet via the Europa server (http://europa.eu.int).

The European Commission publishes this brochure to enhance public access to informationabout its initiatives, European Union policies in general and the ERDF in particular. Our goal is tokeep this information timely and accurate. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try tocorrect them. However the Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever withregard to the information presented in this document.

Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 2003

ISBN 92-849-4376-6

© European Communities, 2003Reprinting with source reference permitted.

Printed in BelgiumPRINTED ON CHLORINE-FREE BLEACHED PAPER

3Regional revival

Contents

Foreword ................................................................................................................... 5

EU regional policy in Austria ................................................................................... 6

Burgenland............................................................................................................................................................ 11Eisenstadt: Technology at the centre .................................................................................................................. 12Güssing: Heat from the forest.............................................................................................................................. 13

Carinthia................................................................................................................................................................ 15Arnoldstein: Environmentally friendly products for the world market ............................................................ 16Millstätter See: Hotels working together............................................................................................................ 17

Lower Austria ....................................................................................................................................................... 19Krems: Biotechnology on the Danube ................................................................................................................ 20Gars am Kamp: Holiday and health..................................................................................................................... 21

Upper Austria........................................................................................................................................................ 23Steyr: Factors for improving competitiveness ..................................................................................................... 24Geinberg: Thermal Centre safeguards employment .......................................................................................... 25

Salzburg ................................................................................................................................................................ 27Salzburg: Women in business............................................................................................................................... 28Pinzgau: Cycling paradise for all.......................................................................................................................... 29

Styria ..................................................................................................................................................................... 31Bruck an der Mur: Vehicle and aircraft engineering .......................................................................................... 32Niklasdorf: High-tech in series ............................................................................................................................. 33

Tyrol ....................................................................................................................................................................... 35Landeck: Emphasis on ‘Alpine technology’......................................................................................................... 36Absam, Lienz and Brixen: Old handicrafts revived ............................................................................................. 37

Vorarlberg ............................................................................................................................................................. 39Egg: Impetus for the Bregenzerwald forest region............................................................................................ 40Dornbirn: New life in ‘Rhomberg’s factory’ ........................................................................................................ 41

Community initiatives and cross-border cooperation ........................................... 42

Vienna: Urbion upgrades the ‘urban belt’ .......................................................................................................... 44Bregenz: Tri-national women’s network ............................................................................................................. 45Feldkirch: ‘SPEAK’ Europe — Languages in Europe ........................................................................................... 46Austria–Hungary–Czech Republic–Slovakia: ‘CCC’ for cooperation.................................................................. 47Austria–Italy–Slovenia–Hungary: KATER manages water ................................................................................. 48

4 Regional revival

5Regional Revival

ForewordIn contrast to many countries in the European Union, Austria displayssatisfactory indicators of prosperity. The country’s gross domestic product percapita is 10 percentage points above the Community average, with neitherthe current growth figures nor the inflation or unemployment rates givingcause for concern. This brochure presents 21 successful projects in which theEU Structural Funds have been involved over the past few years, whichillustrate clearly that Austria also has a number of structurally weak regions inneed of acceleration. The financial solidarity of the Union applies just as muchto them as it does to others. The European Home means more than creating amarket, it is something that should be brought home to the citizens of theUnion through the deployment of the Structural Funds, in particular.

In my 26 years as a representative in the French department of Savoie, I havebeen able to confirm my belief in the power of the European idea when itcomes to practical transnational cooperation. Tackling joint projects is the

best guarantee for the visibility of Europe at a time when the EU is perhaps taken for granted by some.

The degree of openness of the Austrian economy vis-à-vis the EU Member States and countries of easternEurope increased substantially following Austria’s accession. Viewed in geographical and historical terms,Austria is the gateway to eastern Europe and thus has a special role and responsibility in the imminentenlargement process. Eastern Europe is Austria’s most important region for foreign trade after the EU. In2001, almost one fifth of all Austrian exports were to eastern Europe. With just 2 % of the total numberof EU residents, Austria accounts for over 8 % of the EU’s business with the East. There is no doubt thatAustria’s quality as an industrial and commercial location will be further enhanced by EU enlargement.

The enlargement of Europe, together with changes in the geopolitical situation, is confronting the Unionand its citizens with new challenges. In an EU of 27 or more Member States, the extent of regionalinequalities will increase. With the accession of their home countries, people in the new Member Statescan correctly expect the EU to assist them in the economic acceleration process. With this in mind, Ilaunched the debate on economic cohesion policy some time ago, and the Commission is prepared topresent the necessary proposals to reform this policy.

Cohesion policy should not be confined to structural policy in the economic sense. It should also provideexpression for the solidarity of the European Union, so that citizens can see and feel that Europe benefitsthem directly, wherever they live and work — by modernising structures, by giving impetus fordevelopment and by learning through others. Seen in this context, our policy also represents acontribution towards a European civil society.

The projects illustrated here represent only a small selection of a large number of projects co-financed byEU funding. They are intended to give an insight into the diversity of what can be achieved through theStructural Funds. Local public authorities and project promoters are particularly vital for the success ofthese projects. They have also made a crucial contribution to the creation of this brochure, and I extendmy heartfelt thanks to them for their endeavours.

Michel BarnierMember of the European Commission responsible for Regional Policy and Institutional reform

6 EU Regional Policy in AustriaRegional Revival

EU regional policy inAustriaAlthough Austria’s economic and social situation can be generally assessed in positive terms within the EU, a num-ber of regions still display some structural disadvantages. For this reason, they receive support from the EU’s Struc-tural Funds. Around EUR 1.6 billion was made available between 1995 and 1999, with the corresponding figure forthe period 2000–06 amounting to EUR 1.8 billion.

Approximately 2 million of the country’s inhabitants live in regions supported by the Structural Funds. There are fourfunds involved in the Structural Fund support process: the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which par-ticipates in infrastructure and investment support; the European Social Fund (ESF) for the vocational support of un-employed persons through further training and employment; the European Agricultural Guidance and GuaranteeFund (EAGGF) to support rural development; and the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) aimed atmodernising the structures in that sector.

With GDP per capita below 75 % of the EU average, the Burgenland region meets the criteria for a so-called Objec-tive 1 region. In the other eight Austrian federal states, there are regions undergoing structural change that are eli-gible for support as Objective 2 regions. The main emphasis of the support is focused on modernising existing enter-prises, establishing new, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, support for people setting up newbusinesses, particularly in the service sector and new technologies, plus further training and employment as well asthe development of rural areas. The EU makes available a sum of around EUR 358 million for joint initiatives, princi-pally for supporting transnational cooperation under the Interreg III initiative.

With around 280 000 inhabitants, Burgenland accounts for approximately 3.3 % of the total Austrian population.Considerable regional differences between the more prosperous northern Burgenland region in the vicinity of Vien-na and the central and southern Burgenland regions have a negative effect on the overall region’s economic devel-opment. The Objective 1 programme with a contribution of EUR 271 million of EU funding and a total volume ofEUR 860 million is aimed at improving the region’s economic efficiency as well as the competitiveness of the enter-

7EU Regional Policy in AustriaRegional Revival

prises situated there. Special attention is focused on innovation, transfer of technology and the development ofcooperation networks between enterprises.

Almost one quarter of the inhabitants of Austria live in the Objective 2 regions suffering from ‘structural problems’.In addition to these regions in Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Vorarlberg and Viennathere are more than 1 million residents in the so-called ‘transition regions’, for which the support provided duringthe 1995–99 period is now running out. Funding of around EUR 680 million (at 1999 prices) is made available toAustria via Objective 2. This amount breaks down into EUR 578 million for the regions coming under Objective 2 andEUR 102 million for the transition regions.

Objective 3 of the Structural Funds supports the adaptation and modernisation of education, vocational training andemployment policies and systems. Under Objective 3, active labour market support programmes can be fundedacross the entire territory of the European Union (with the exception of regions coming under Objective 1). A sum ofEUR 528 million (at 1999 prices) is being made available to Austria via Objective 3 for the 2000–06 period.

Above and beyond these three priority objectives, the European Structural Funds will be involved in four joint initia-tives over the period 2000–06, for which a total of EUR 358 million is being provided:

Interreg III: assists cross-border, transnational and inter-regional cooperation, i.e. the forming of partnerships beyondnational borders in order to support the balanced regional planning of supraregional areas (EUR 183 million)

URBAN II: supports innovative strategies for reviving urban centres or districts of urban centres affected by crises(EUR 8 million)

Leader+: brings together players in rural areas for the purpose of implementing local strategies for sustained devel-opment (EUR 71 million)

EQUAL: aims at eliminating the causes of inequality and discrimination on the labour market (EUR 96 million).

The European Centre for Renewable Energy in Güssing (Burgenland).

8 EU Regional Policy in AustriaRegional Revival

EU Structural Funds for Austria from 1995 to 1999

at 1999 prices (million EUR)

Total Objective 1 Objective 2 Objectives 3/4 Objective 5a Objective 5b Community initiatives

936 395 388 153

Burgenland 174 174

Carinthia 61 61

Lower Austria 140 23 117

Upper Austria 115 11 104

Salzburg 17 17

Styria 151 61 90

Tyrol 36 36

Vorarlberg 18 10 8

Total 1 648 174 105 395 388 433 153

EU Structural Funds for Austria from 2000 to 2006

at 1999 prices (million EUR)

Total Objective 1 Objective 2 Objective 3 Community initiatives

886 528 358

Burgenland 261 261

Carinthia 85 85

Lower Austria 177 177

Upper Austria 122 122

Salzburg 18 18

Styria 215 215

Tyrol 45 45

Vorarlberg 23 23

Vienna 18 18

Total 1 850 261 703 358

9EU Regional Policy in AustriaRegional Revival

Waldviertel

Innviertel Linz-WelsWien

Mostviertel-EisenwurzenWiener Umland/Südteil

Nordburgenland

Niederösterreich-SüdSteyr-KirchdorfTraunviertel

Salzburg und Umgebung

Östliche ObersteiermarkLiezen

Mittelburgenland

OststeiermarkPinzgau-PongauSüdburgenland

Westliche Obersteiermark Graz

Bludenz-Bregenzer Wald Innsbruck

Tiroler Oberland

Lungau

Osttirol UnterkärntenOberkärnten

Klagenfurt-Villach

Weinviertel

Wiener Umland/Nordteil

Sankt Pölten

West- und Südsteiermark

Mühlviertel

Außerfern Tiroler Unterland

Rheintal-Bodenseegebiet

Objective 1

Objective 1

Objective 2

Objective 2

Objective 2 (partly)

Phasing-out(till 31.12.2005)Phasing-out (partly)(till 31.12.2005)

Regional boundaries

NUTS 3 boundaries

AustriaStructural Funds 2000-2006 : Areas eligible under Objectives 1 and 2

Sources: © EuroGeographics Association for the administrative boundaries (1997)

0 km10 50

REGIONAL POLICYDIRECTORATE-GENERAL

DGREGIO-GIS

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

SIG16SIG16

ITALY

GERMANY

CZECH REPUBLIC

SLOVENIACROATIA

HUNGARY

SWITZERLAND

SLOVAKREPU- BLIC

Mittelburgenland

Nordburgenland

Südburgenland

0 km5 25 gRe oi GISge oi GISRObjective 1

The Burgenland region is situated in eastern Austria,bordering the Republic of Slovakia, Hungary andSlovenia. Over the period 2000–06, around EUR 261million will be made available from the EU StructuralFunds via the Objective 1 programme. As in the period1995 to 1999, Burgenland, with its 280 000 inhabitants,will continue to be an Objective 1 area through to2006. The regional economy displays substantial differ-ences in regional development, with the absence ofcompetitive SMEs particularly noticeable in central andsouthern Burgenland. EU funding under the Interreg IIICommunity initiative is also available to the Burgen-land region for transnational cooperation. The aim ofthe Objective 1 programme is to help create and safe-guard 4 750 new jobs, and it has five main emphases:

• trade and industry;• research, technology and development;• tourism and culture;• agriculture and forestry, fisheries and nature conser-

vation;• human resources.

Burgenland

11EU Regional Policy in AustriaRegional revival

Inhabitants: 280 000— of which living in Objective 1 areas: 100 %GDP per capita/region (2000) (1): 73.2Unemployment rate (2000) (2): 3.3 %Agricultural workers (2000): 8.0 %Industrial workers (2000): 31.8 %Service sector workers (2000): 60.2 %

(1) EU = 100; according to ‘Second Progress Report on Economic and SocialCohesion’, Brussels, 2003.

(2) According to Eurostat.

EU Structural Funds1995–99: EUR 174 million2000–06: EUR 261 million

B u r g e n l a n d

Managing authority

Office of the Burgenland Regional Government Mag. Harald JankovitsAmt der Burgenländischen LandesregierungLandesamtsdirektion — Verwaltungsbehörde Ziel 1Europaplatz 1A-7000 EisenstadtTel. (43-2682) 600 29 92Fax (43-2682) 600 29 27E-mail: [email protected]: http://www.burgenland.at

North Burgenland is home of Austria’s largest continuousvineyard.

Work on setting up the Technology Centre Eisenstadt(TZE), with the focus on telecommunication and infor-mation technologies, began in 1997.

The demand potential within a ra-dius of 45 km from the TZE coversapproximately 450 000 inhabitantsand 75 000 persons working intrade, commerce and industry. Theoutline economic conditions in thevicinity of the regional capital,Eisenstadt, were favourable forachieving the project. The TZEaccommodates existing and newlyfounded enterprises. In 1999, a fur-ther expansion stage was completedin the form of the Technopark. Apolytechnic centre with modernstudy courses on offer has also beenestablished in the vicinity.

The enterprises housed in the TZE have 30 000 m2 ofspace at their disposal with state-of-the-art infrastruc-ture. The development shows that it is possible to revivethe regional economy and raise the level of technologyin this way. Industry and the training centres inEisenstadt cooperate closely with the TZE. Leadingcompanies from the information and communicationtechnology sector have established themselves there,with incentives provided for setting up new small andmedium-sized enterprises and high-quality jobs createdin the information and communication technology sector.

E I S E N S T A D T

Technology at the centre

12 EU Regional Policy in AustriaRegional revival

Total costs: EUR 32.7 million

European Union contribution (ERDF): EUR 7.2 million

Contact informationErnst HorvathTechnologiezentrum Eisenstadt GmbHMarktstraße 3A-7000 EisenstadtTel. (43-2682) 70 40Fax (43-2682) 704 91E-mail: [email protected]: www.tze.at

E i s e n s t a d t

The TZE houses several SMEs and start-ups.


The local community of Güssing in southern Burgen-land has been placing its faith in renewable energysources since 1990.

A European Centre for Renewable Energy Sources is alsolocated there, which is intended to provide the regionwith new momentum for its economy. A plant was erect-ed by the company Güssinger Fernwärme GmbH with EUsupport between 1995 and 1999 in which certain techno-logical innovations relating to a biomass heating plantwere applied for the first time in Austria. Under thisproject, forest cuttings from the commercial forests ofthe Burgenland region are used to supply public andprivate customers with remote heating energy.

The project thus represents a model for the exploita-tion of alternative energy sources and improves thequality of life in the region. Regional competence inthe domain of ‘renewable energies’ is further en-hanced. The biomass heating plant in Güssing operateswith new ‘fluidised bed gasification’ technology togenerate electricity and heat from biomass in whichforce-heat coupling is implemented using gas motors.

G Ü S S I N G

Heat from the forestTotal costs: EUR 7.9 million


Contact informationReinhard KochGüssinger Fernwärme GmbHWiener Straße 19AA-7540 GüssingTel. (43-3322) 446 23 or (43-9010) 850 31Fax (43-3322/9010) 850 11E-mail: [email protected]: www.eee-info.net

G ü s s i n g

Biofuel offers newopportunities.

The federal state of Carinthia (‘Kärnten’), which is situ-ated in southern Austria on the borders of Slovenia andItaly, will receive around EUR 85 million from the EUStructural Funds via the Objective 2 programmebetween 2000 and 2006. Of the 564 091 inhabitants ofCarinthia, 256 580 live in Objective 2 areas. Trade andindustry as well as agriculture and forestry and thetourism sector are undergoing serious restructuringproblems. Funding from the Interreg III Community ini-tiative is also available to Carinthia for transnationalcooperation, as are financial resources for further train-ing and employment measures from the EuropeanSocial Fund. The Objective 2 programme is intended tohelp attract companies and establish new enterprises aswell as strengthen the tourism sector. It has three mainareas of emphasis:

• trade, industry and production-related services;• tourism and regional development;• further training and industry.

Carinthia


C a r i n t h i a

Inhabitants: 564 091— of whom living in Objective 2 areas: 256 580GDP per capita/region (2000) (1): 96.0Unemployment rate (2000) (2): 4.8 %Agricultural workers (2000): 6.9 %Industrial workers (2000): 31.1 %Service sector workers (2000): 62.0 %




Klagenfurt-Villach

Oberkärnten

Unterkärnten

0 km5 25 gRe oi GISge oi GISR

Objective 2

Phasing-out(till 31.12.2005)

Managing authority

Mag. Reinhard Schinner,Kärntner Wirtschaftsförderungs Fonds (KWF)Heuplatz, 2A-9020 KlagenfurtTel: (43 463) 558 00 23Fax: (43 463) 558 00 22E-mail: [email protected]: http://www.kwf.at/

Arnoldstein is situated in the region where Slovenia,Italy and Austria meet. Following economic restructur-ing measures and the closure of the establishedBleiberger Bergwerksunion in 1994, the unemploymentrate in the region grew to 30 %. Under a reorientationscheme, the Euronova industrial park and an innova-tion centre were created in Arnoldstein. Chemetall wasone of the first companies to move to the industrialpark.

With a progressive product policy, Chemetall GmbH, asuccessor company of Bleiberger Bergwerksunion-Chemie, aims to offer an ecologically oriented range ofproducts on its principal markets in Europe, Japan andthe United States. The project supported by the EU wasconcerned with developing environmentally friendlyfriction linings with new materials based on so-calledmatrix sulphides. In order to achieve greater penetra-tion of the market for environmentally friendly productinnovations, further developments are underway withthe aim of increasing the efficiency of materials at lowtemperatures and in the production of substitute sub-stances for copper in the matrix sulphides.

A R N O L D S T E I N

Environmentally friendlyproducts for the worldmarket


Total costs: EUR 508 000

European Union contribution (ERDF): EUR 40 800

Contact informationPeter FaulandChemetall GmbHGailitz 195A-9601 ArnoldsteinTel. (43-4255) 222 60Fax (43-4255) 24 35E-mail: [email protected]: www.chemetall.at

A r n o l d s t e i n


The economy around the Millstätter Lake in UpperCarinthia, one of the largest recreation lakes in theregion, is heavily influenced by craft trades, construc-tion and the tourism sector. A business cooperationstrategy was pushed through to counteract the declinein the numbers of visitors and place new emphasis onthe tourism market.

Between 1997 and 1999, a multi-stage project, theMillstätter See Hotel Cooperation project, was support-ed by EU funding, with 13 hotels elaborating a jointinitiative to improve their capacity and to develop newforms of cooperation. Based on a feasibility study, thefollowing areas of cooperation were agreed upon:

• purchase of materials for kitchens;• staff pool to cover different operational capacities;• transport pool and machinery;• insurance;• laundry and cleaning;• joint initial and further training of staff;• sales and marketing.

The project can also set examples for tourism in otherregional enterprises with regard to developing a po-tential tourist industry in the inner Alpine region.

M I L L S T Ä T T E R S E E

Hotels working together



Contact informationGerhard MaierMillstätter-See Hotel Kooperation GmbH und Co KGSeefeldstraße 30A-9873 DöbriachTel. (43-4246) 77 80 25Fax (43-4246) 73 84E-mail: [email protected]: www.tiscover.com/millstaettersee

M i l l s t ä t t e r S e e

A view of the Millstätter lake.

Mostviertel-Eisenwurzen

Niederösterreich-Süd

Sankt Pölten

Waldviertel

Weinviertel


Wiener Umland/Südteil

0 km5 25

gRe oi GISge oi GISR

Objective 2




Lower AustriaThe federal state of Lower Austria (‘Niederösterreich’), which is located in north-eastern Austria on the border of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, will receive around EUR 177 million from the EU Structural Funds via the Objective 2 programme over the period 2000–06. Of the region’s 1 538 000 inhabitants, 495 869 live in Objective 2 areas. The regional economy is characterised by the dominance of smaller and, in part, non-competitive businesses with an above-average dependency on employment in agriculture. Funding from the Interreg III Community initiative is also being made available to the Lower Austrian region for transnational cooperation, as are financial resources from the European Social Fund for further training employment measures. The Objective 2 programme is intended to help create around 3 400 new jobs and has three main points of emphasis:

• regional development, enterprise infrastructure and pilot projects;

• entrepreneurial development and promotion of innovation;

• tourism and leisure sector.

Inhabitants: 1 538 000— of whom living in Objective 2 areas: 495 869GDP per capita/region (2000) (1): 96.8Unemployment rate (2000) (2): 3.2 %Agricultural workers (2000): 9.7 %Industrial workers (2000): 29.4 %Service sector workers (2000): 60.9 %




L o w e r A u s t r i a Managing authority

Dr Wolfgang SchwarzMag. Henriette Leuthner-SturAmt der Niederösterreichischen LandesregierungAbt. RU2-Geschäftsstelle für EU-RegionalpolitikLandhausplatz 1A-3109 St PöltenTel. (43-2742) 900 51 41 90Fax (43-2742) 900 51 41 70E-mail: [email protected]

[email protected]: http://www.noe.gv.at/service/ru/ru2/StrukturZiel2.htm

Left: Melk Abbey on the Danube.

Over the past few years, nine regional innovation cen-tres have emerged in Lower Austria as part of theregion’s plan to promote the setting-up of new busi-nesses and to develop technologies.

A centre of this type was established in Krems on theDanube in 2000 with the focus on biotechnology. With23 000 inhabitants, Krems is the largest town in theWaldviertel region and is particularly affected by eco-nomic change because of its traditional industrialstructure.

An interesting location base for companies, the KremsScience Park is taking shape on an area of 84 000 m2 inclose cooperation with the municipality of Krems, theDanube University, a regional development agency andthe regional innovation centre. People setting up busi-nesses there are provided with an extensive range ofconsultation and information services as well as thenecessary infrastructural facilities.

K R E M S

Biotechnology from the Danube


Total costs: EUR 6 million

European Union contribution (ERDF): EUR 1.2 million (total for Objectives 2 and 5b)

Contact informationThomas PopRIZ Regional-Innovations-Zentrum NÖ-NordInformationstransfer und Beratungsgesellschaft mbHMagnesitstraße 1A-3500 KremsTel. (43-2732) 87 47 01 10Fax (43-2732) 874 70 47 50E-mail: [email protected]: www.riz.at

K r e m s


With its unspoiled landscape, the Waldviertel borderregion offers excellent possibilities for developinghealth tourism packages. This segment is being max-imised in Gars am Kamp with the help of individualpilot projects.

The Gars Bio-Training Hotel was established in 1986and now has over 146 beds in the four-star category.With 100 employees, the hotel is the leading tourismenterprise in the Kamptal region. An additional hotelfeaturing similar activities was opened in Gars in 2001,creating 12 new jobs and appealing to new targetgroups. With the establishment of a health centre onthe banks of the River Kamp, additional training pro-grammes for doctors and seminars for laypeople onChinese health practices and on alternative therapieswill be offered in the future. It is anticipated that 22new jobs will be created there.

It is envisaged that these projects will create a momen-tum for development in this structurally weak regionwhich will boost the regional economy, employmentand the supplier industry.

G A R S A M K A M P

Holiday and health

Hotel extensionTotal costs: EUR 4.6 millionEuropean Union contribution (ERDF): EUR 0.7 million

Health centreTotal costs: EUR 4.1 millionEuropean Union contribution (ERDF): EUR 0.6 million

Contact informationSonja BurgstallerBIO-Trainingszentrum Gars Hotel GmbH & Co KGHauptplatz 58A-3571 Gars am KampTel. (43-2985) 266 67 14Fax (43-2985) 26 61E-mail: [email protected]: www.willidungl.com

G a r s a m K a m p

Well-being Austrian style: Chinese health practices and good food.

Innviertel Linz-Wels

Mühlviertel

Steyr-Kirchdorf

Traunviertel

0 km5 25gRe oi GISge oi GISR

Objective 2



The federal state of Upper Austria (‘Oberösterreich’)borders on the Czech Republic in the north andGermany in the west. During the period 2000–06, a sumof around EUR 122 million will be made available tothe region from the EU Structural Funds via the Objec-tive 2 programme. Of the region’s 1 377 000 inhabi-tants, 302 005 live in Objective 2 areas. The aim is toimprove the regional economic structure by providingimpetus in the areas of research and tourism, amongstothers. Funding from the Interreg III Community initia-tive is also being made available to the Upper Austriaregion for transnational cooperation, as are financialresources from the European Social Fund for furthertraining employment measures. The aim of the Objec-tive 2 programme is to create and safeguard 4 135 newjobs. It has three main points of emphasis:

• economic infrastructure;• promoting companies, industry, services and tourism;• sustainable regional economic development.

Upper Austria



(1) EU = 100; according to ‘Second Progress Report on Economic And SocialCohesion’, Brussels, 2003.



U p p e r A u s t r i a

Managing authority

Mag. Eva ZsigoAmt der Oberösterreichischen LandesregierungAbteilung GewerbeAltstadt 17A-4021 LinzTel. (43-732) 772 01 56 14Fax (43-732) 772 01 51 88E-mail: [email protected]: http://www.ooe.gv.at/foerderung/eu/

St. Florian Abbey near Linz.

Left: Schloss Ort onLake Traun.

Modern production requires research and technologytransfer. The company ‘Profaktor’, based in Steyr, wasfounded in 1994. Since then it has been combiningpure and applied industrial research with innovativesolutions for industry within the framework of inter-national and regional projects.

There are more than 50 physicists, mathematicians,mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, computerscientists and management specialists conductingresearch to improve products and processes. The mainfocus in this respect is on cooperation with small andmedium-sized enterprises in the following areas:

• simulation-assisted planning and optimisation ofcomplex production, energy and environmental in-stallations;

• manageability of regulated production processes,e.g. in high-speed cutting (HSC), sensor-controlledrobotics and coating techniques;

• information and management systems for innova-tions in technology and organisation.

S T E Y R

Factors for improvingcompetitiveness




Contact informationGerfried ZeichenChristoph KendlbacherProfactor Produktionsforschungs GmbHWehrgrabengasse 1-5A-4400 SteyrTel. (43-7252) 88 42 00Fax (43-7252) 88 42 44E-mail: [email protected]: www.profactor.at

S t e y r


The most important project for the economic develop-ment of the municipality of Geinberg near Linz overthe past few years has been the setting-up of theThermal Centre.

The combination of bathing and thermal areas, sportsfacilities, sauna village and health centre offers a signif-icant competitive advantage. Combining tourism withhealth promotion has markedly enhanced the attrac-tiveness of the location.

The establishment and operation of the Thermal Cen-tre has both safeguarded and created a total of 400jobs, with increasing numbers of visitors taking advan-tage of the local hotel and catering businesses in par-ticular. The diverse programmes offered are directed atdifferent objective groups: while the ‘health hotel’awaits the ‘modern health tourist’, the spa hotel isgeared towards guests staying for longer periods.

G E I N B E R G

Thermal Centre safeguardsemployment

G e i n b e r g



Contact informationTayfun UcarTHG Thermenzentrum Geinberg Errichtungs GmbHRudolfstraße 53A-4040 LinzTel. (43-732) 70 09 90Fax (43-732) 71 77 39E-mail: [email protected]: www.therme-geinberg.at/

Healthy for the local economy too.

The federal state of Salzburg is situated in thegeographical centre of Austria and bordering Germanyto the north. During the period 2000–06, a sum ofaround EUR 18 million will be made available to theregion from the EU Structural Funds via the Objective 2programme. Of the region’s 515 000 inhabitants,43 389 live in Objective 2 areas. The regional economy ischaracterised by the dominance of tourism as well asthe timber, furniture and construction industries, whileresearch and development are under-represented.Funding from the Interreg III Community initiative is alsobeing made available to the region for transnationalcooperation, as are financial resources from theEuropean Social Fund for further employment training.The aim of the Objective 2 programme is to createaround 1 400 new jobs with the following three mainemphases:

• tourism and leisure industry;• processing industry and associated services;• industry-wide regional development.

Salzburg






S a l z b u r g

Lungau

Pinzgau-Pongau


0 km5 25SSgRe oi GIge oi GIR

Objective 2



Managing authority

Dr Christian SalletmaierMag. Maria RettenbacherAmt der Salzburger LandesregierungAbteilung 15 — Wirtschaft, Tourismus und FremdenverkehrFanny-von-Lehnert-Straße 1A-5020 SalzburgTel. (43-662) 80 42 42 31 or 37 93Fax (43-662) 80 42 34 44/54E-mail: [email protected]: http://www.land-sbg.gv.at/eu/strukturpolitik.htm

This project, carried out between 1998 and 2000 underthe Interreg III Community initiative focused on womenin the Salzburg–Bavaria border region. The objectivesof the ‘Women in business’ advice centre in Salzburgwere to promote equal opportunity, support entrepre-neurial initiatives, as well as encourage transnationalcooperation and the creation of new jobs.

Women set up mostly very small enterprises, preferringcertain service sectors and normally requiring only asmall amount of start-up capital. One of the main mo-tives for women to set up their own business is thedesire and necessity to reconcile professional, family andprivate interests. ‘Women in business’ has helped the set-ting-up of numerous new enterprises and, as a result ofcooperation at regional, national and internationallevel, it has established itself as an important centre forcontact and communication, competence and furthertraining to develop women’s entrepreneurial skills.

S A L Z B U R G

Women in business



European Union contribution (Interreg, ESF): EUR 147 500

Contact informationDaniela DiethörVerein Frau & ArbeitFranz-Josef-Straße 16A-5020 SalzburgTel. (43-662) 88 07 23Fax (43-662) 88 07 23 15E-mail: [email protected]: www.frau-und-arbeit.at

S a l z b u r g

Reconciling professional, family and private interests.


Between 1997 and 1999, the EU provided support forthe ‘Pinzgau cycling tourism programme’ project, inwhich 28 local communities cooperated to establish acycling path network.

The aim was to take advantage of cycling tourism asone of the most successful tourism sectors for furtherdevelopment of the regional economy.

With the help of the Salzburg Objective 5b pro-gramme, uniform and easily discernible signs wereplaced along the entire Tauern cycle route as well asthe newly developed mountain bike routes. Nineinformative resting places were also set up withcovered information boards, wells, tables and stools aswell as a playing field for gymnastic loosening-upexercises. Support was likewise provided for theproduction of easily understandable cycling route mapsfor the entire Pinzgau region and for organising eventsfocusing on all elements concerned with cycling.Pinzgau is the leader in Austria in this sector with acycle path network in excess of 1 200 km. Everythingthe cyclist could possibly want is available there, fromthe extreme mountain bike route in the rockymountainous region, to the relaxed flat route at thefoot of the valley.

P I N Z G A U

Cycling paradise for all

P i n z g a u



Contact informationErnst DemelVerein Pinzgauer RadverkehrsnetzA-5092 St. Martin bei LoferTel. (43-6588) 85 10Fax (43-6588) 85 10 75E-mail: [email protected]: www.bike-pinzgau.at

Finding one’s way in the Pinzgau cycling network.

Graz

Liezen

Östliche Obersteiermark

Oststeiermark


Westliche Obersteiermark

0 km5 25

Objective 2




The federal state of Styria (‘Steiermark’), which is situ-ated in the south of Austria on the border of Slovenia,will receive around EUR 215 million from the EU Struc-tural Funds via the Objective 2 programme for the peri-od 2000–06. Of the region’s 1 204 000 inhabitants,660 773 live in Objective 2 areas. Styria is continuouslyundergoing change in its economic structure, accompa-nied by the modernisation of industrial companies, thefounding of new enterprises and investments inresearch infrastructures. Funding from the Interreg IIICommunity initiative is also being made available tothe region for transnational cooperation, as are finan-cial resources from the European Social Fund for fur-ther training employment measures. The Objective 2programme has four main emphases:

• promotion of the production and service sectors;• competitive locations and information society;• integrated regional development, tourism and culture;• employment and workforce potential.

Styria






S t y r i a

Managing authority

Dr Gerd GratzerAmt der Steiermärkischen LandesregierungFachabteilung 14 C — WirtschaftspolitikNikolaiplatz 3A-8020 GrazTel. (43-316) 877 31 54Fax (43-316) 877 31 29E-mail: [email protected]: http://www.ziel2steiermark.at

Admont Abbey’slibrary.

Left: A view of Graz, Styria’s capital.

The company Pankl Racing Systems AG in Bruck an derMur specialises in the production of components forspecial engines, drives and chassis from selected alloys.

These are principally used in motor racing and the air-craft industries. The company, which employs a work-force of 240, also has subsidiaries in Los Angeles,Bicester (United Kingdom), Tokyo and Zurich.Operational research and development projects appliedin the field of aircraft and automobile engineering weresupported via funds from the Objective 2 programme.

When the company expanded production and its R & Dactivities, the EU assisted in the necessary plant exten-sion, e.g. with the construction of a production facilityand corresponding investment relating to engine com-ponent production.

B R U C K A N D E R M U R

Vehicle and aircraftengineering


B r u c k a n d e r M u r



Contact informationErnst WustingerPankl Racing Systems AG Kaltschmidstraße 2—6 A-8600 Bruck an der MurTel. (43-3862) 51 25 00Fax (43-3862) 51 25 02 40E-mail: [email protected]: www.pankl.com


Platingtech is a company specialising in surface tech-niques at the Niklasdorf High-Tech Centre. The compa-ny’s areas of activity cover the production and designof metal coatings in the most varied — the electroplat-ing industry — and often unusual materials as well asthe optimisation of production processes. The EUassisted in the investment costs for extending the plant.

This was necessitated by the development of the ‘lubri-coat’ technique for BMW. The process enables a pre-cise, even application of the coating of cogwheels inengine and gearbox production, for which a definedsetting of the tooth flank play is stipulated. Other pro-jects initiated by Platingtech are concerned with inno-vative surfaces for high-performance batteries, fuelcells, filters and air preservation systems.

N I K L A S D O R F

High-tech in seriesTotal costs: EUR 1.6 million


Contact informationHelga KollmannPlatingtech Kollmann & Co GmbH Parkring 3 A-8712 NiklasdorfTel. (43-3842) 835 35 10Fax (43-3842) 835 35 40E-mail: [email protected]: www.platingtech.at

N i k l a s d o r f

Environmentally safe products.


St. Anton am Arlberg.

Außerfern

Innsbruck

Osttirol

Tiroler Oberland

Tiroler Unterland

0 km5 25

Objective 2




The federal state of Tyrol (‘Tirol’) is situated in westernAustria, bordering on Germany to the north and Italyto the south. Tyrol will receive around EUR 44.6 millionfrom the EU Structural Funds via the Objective 2 pro-gramme for the period 2000–06. Of the region’s660 000 inhabitants, 123 535 live in Objective 2 areas.The economic structure is characterised by the region’sspecial geographical position as a mountainous areawith a bridging function between the industrialregions of southern Germany and northern Italy. Fund-ing from the Interreg III Community initiative is also be-ing made available to the region for transnational co-operation, as are financial resources from the EuropeanSocial Fund for further training employment measures.The aim of the Objective 2 programme is to createaround 1 400 new jobs with the following three mainemphases:

• support for companies, enhancing the attractivenessof the region, plus new technologies;

• tourism, leisure and quality of life;• innovative solutions to regional and environmental

problems.

Tyrol






T y r o l

Managing authority

Mag. Carola JudAmt der Tiroler LandesregierungAbteilung Raumordnung/StatistikMichael-Gaismair-Straße 1A-6020 InnsbruckTel. (43-512) 508 36 34Fax (43-512) 508 36 05E-mail: [email protected]

[email protected]: http://www.tirol.gv.at/eu-regional/

Innsbruck.

The aim of the Lantech Innovation Centre in Landeck isto enhance the economic momentum in the structurallyweak Oberland region of Tyrol and encourage the set-ting-up of new enterprises.

The natural surroundings of Tyrol played an essentialrole in the selection of topics to be focused on at theCentre. Apart from information technology, the mainemphasis is on Alpine technology and Alpine resources.

The Centre has been in operation since June 2000, withthe first phase covering an area of 2 600 m2. Utilisationrate is almost at 100 %, and the site houses enterprisesand organisations which occupied the area were asexpected. The establishment of the Alpine Safety andInformation Centre in December 2000 showed that theAlpine environmental technology field has a high prior-ity at the Centre. The proportion of newly foundedenterprises is very high at 45 %, illustrating how impor-tant this regional impetus is for young entrepreneurs.

L A N D E C K

Emphasis on ‘Alpine technology’




Contact informationLantech InnovationszentrumBruggfeldstraße 5A-6500 LandeckTel. (43-5442) 688 77Fax (43-5442) 688 77 77E-mail: [email protected]: www.lantech.at

L a n d e c k


Tyrol has a rich heritage of items of furniture fromdifferent cultural eras. Specialised craftsmen are needed to preserve and properly restore this rich legacy.

The project began with the idea of a committed schoolprincipal and master joiner to revive old handicraftsand make them accessible to an interested group ofpeople through a specialised course. This idea devel-oped into a future-oriented vocational training pro-gramme with several objectives. The programme’s mainaims are to provide training for higher vocational qual-ifications and help the mostly small joinery firms in theregion to develop a niche in the crafts market by com-bining old traditions with new techniques.

The organisers are the three regional vocationalschools in the northern, eastern and southern Tyrolregions (Absam, Lienz und Brixen), which drew up theconcept for this specialised training course togetherwith the Joiners Guild and other experts, which wasthen supported by the Interreg II Community initiative.Excursions to important local and international siteswere also organised for the purpose of enhancing thecontent and methodology of the programme.

A B S A M , L I E N Z A N D B R I X E N

Old handicrafts revived

A b s a m , L i e n z a n d B r i x e n


European Union contribution (Interreg, ESF): EUR 53 052

Contact informationChristof SpielbergerAmt der Tiroler Landesregierung/Abteilung JUFFMichael-Gaismairstraße 1A-6020 InnsbruckTel. (43-512) 508 35 77Fax (43-512) 508 35 84E-mail: [email protected]: www.tirol.gv.at/juff/arbeitnehmerfoerderung1.html

Wanted: highly skilled craftsmen.

Bludenz-Bregenzer Wald

Rheintal-Bodenseegebiet

0 1 5 km


Objective 2



The federal state of Vorarlberg is situated in the westof Austria, bordering Germany, Switzerland and Liecht-enstein. The Vorarlberg region will receive around EUR22.7 million from the EU Structural Funds via the Objec-tive 2 programme in the period 2000–06. Of the re-gion’s 348 000 inhabitants, 52 382 live in Objective 2areas. The economic structure is characterised by thedominance of companies in the textile, clothing andmetal industries. Funding from the Interreg III Commu-nity initiative is also being made available to theVorarlberg region for transnational cooperation, as arefinancial resources from the European Social Fund forfurther training employment measures. The Objective 2programme has two main emphases:

• development of competitive enterprises;• development of competitive regions.

Vorarlberg






V o r a r l b e r g

Managing authority

Dr Martina BüchelAmt der Vorarlberger LandesregierungAbteilung Europaangelegenheiten und AußenbeziehungenLandhausA-6901 BregenzTel. (43-5574) 51 12 03 10Fax (43-5574) 51 12 00 95E-mail: [email protected]: http://www.vorarlberg.at/Landesregierung/zukunft-sichern/start.htm

Left: Bregenz on Lake Constance.

The economic structure of the Bregenzerwald region ischaracterised by a high percentage of workers in theprimary sector and only a small number of technologyand service-oriented enterprises. The ‘BregenzerwaldImpetus Centre’ has been providing new momentumand concrete start-up assistance since December 2000.

The Centre houses companies and institutions from thetechnological and economic services sectors and isequipped with modern infrastructural facilities and func-tion rooms. Extensive management services and assis-tance with setting up new businesses are also provided.

Regular exchanges of information and experiencebetween regional institutions, associations and compa-nies, plus joint education and information events, areaimed at opening up optimum development opportu-nities for the tenants in the Impetus Centre and creat-ing new perspectives for the local economy.

E G G

Impetus for theBregenzerwald forestregion


E g g



Contact informationEgon HajekPrisma Zentrum für Standort- und Regionalentwicklung GmbHGerbe 1135A-6863 EggTel. (43-5572) 20 03 00Fax (43-5572) 20 03 09E-mail: [email protected]: www.unternehmerparks.com

People are at the heart of the Impetus Centre.


The textile company Rhomberg, with its spinning mill,weaving mill and printing facility, was founded back in1832. Then, in 1994, after more than 160 years ofcorporate history, the economy collapsed. Instead ofdemolishing the industrial complex, attempts weremade to find a new use for it.

The aim was to completely revitalise the 30 000 m2

facility as an industrial and commercial park while atthe same time preserving what was, for the most part,industrial architecture of historical value.

In an initial development phase, enterprises from thematerial technology and instrumentation sectors werebrought in. The second stage comprised the renovationand adaptation of the existing property plus the erec-tion of new office buildings. High-tech enterprises havenow been housed in this area. The halls and ‘mobile’premises are equipped with the most modern infra-structure and laid out according to user needs. In themeantime, more than 80 companies employing some1 000 people between them have found a new centrefor their operations here — a successful blend of indus-trial, commercial and trading enterprise, high-tech andservice companies, insurance firms, craftspeople, artists,graphic designers and even medical laboratories.

D O R N B I R N

New life in ‘Rhomberg’sfactory’



Contact informationChristine PesendorferRhomberg Liegenschaft GmbH & CoBelruptstraße 59A-6900 BregenzTel. (43-5574) 40 30Fax (43-5574) 40 33 09E-mail: [email protected]: www.rhombergsfabrik.at/

D o r n b i r n

The Rhomberg’s Fabrik websitegives direct access to 80 businesses.

Community initiatives are special EU programmeswithin the framework of the Structural Funds aimed atfinding common solutions to problems that existthroughout the Union. A total of EUR 358 million is be-ing made available to Austria over the period 2000–06from the Community initiatives fund, compared with asum of EUR 153 million between 1995 and 1999.The current initiatives are:

• Interreg III: assists cross-border, transnational and in-ter-regional cooperation, i.e. the forming of partner-ships beyond national borders in order to supportthe balanced regional planning of supraregionalareas;

• URBAN II: supports innovative strategies for revivingurban centres or districts of urban centres affectedby crises;

• Leader+: brings together players in rural areas forthe purpose of implementing local strategies for sus-tained development;

• EQUAL: aims at eliminating the causes of inequalityand discrimination in the labour market.

Cooperation with its neighbours in the alpine regionand in central and south-eastern Europe is of crucialeconomic significance for Austria. With eight neigh-bouring States sharing the country’s borders, mostAustrian regions are situated in border areas. Some85 % of the Austrian population live in regions no fur-ther than 60 km from the border, such as in the centralareas around Vienna and Graz. Most of the country’seconomic performance is generated in these areas.

Cooperation projects with Germany, Italy, the CzechRepublic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Switzerland andLiechtenstein help to make better use of the develop-ment potential available in this region and find com-mon solutions to transnational regional problems andchallenges.

Community initiatives andcross-border cooperation

42 Community initiatives and cross-border cooperationRegional revival

Lifting the barriers at the Austrian-Hungarian border.

D/A/CH - Alpenrhein-Bodensee-Hochrhein

A/CZ - Österreich/Ceska Republika

D/A - Bayern/Österreich

I/A - Italia/Österreich

A/HU - Österreich/Magyarorszag

A/SK - Österreich/Slovenska Republika

A/SI - Österreich/Slovenija

Mittelburgenland

Nordburgenland

Südburgenland

Waldviertel

Weinviertel


Wiener Umland/Südteil

Wien

Klagenfurt-Villach

OberkärntenUnterkärnten

Oststeiermark


Innviertel

Mühlviertel

Pinzgau-Pongau


Außerfern

Innsbruck

Osttirol

Tiroler Oberland

Tiroler Unterland

Bludenz-Bregenzer Wald

Rheintal-BodenseegebietAargau Zürich

Glarus

Schaffhausen

Appenzell Ausserrhoden

Appenzell InnerrhodenSt. Gallen

Graubünden

Thurgau

Jihocesky

Vysocina

Jihomoravsky

Schwarzwald-Baar-Kreis

KonstanzWaldshut

Bodenseekreis

Rosenheim, Krfr. St.

Altötting

Berchtesgadener LandBad Tölz-Wolfratshausen

Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Miesbach

Rosenheim, Landkr. Traunstein

Passau, Krfr. St.

Freyung-Grafenau

Passau, Landkr.

Rottal-Inn

Kaufbeuren, Krfr. St.

Kempten (Allgäu), Krfr. St.

Lindau (Bodensee)Ostallgäu

Oberallgäu

Györ-Moson-Sopron

Vas

Bolzano-Bozen

Belluno

Udine

Liechtenstein

Pomurska

PodravskaKoroska

SavinjskaGorenjska

Bratislavsky Kraj

Trnavsky Kraj

Interreg 3A programmes (2000–06):Participation of Austrian regions

© EuroGeographics Association for the administrative boundaries

0 km20 100

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

REGIONAL POLICYDIRECTORATE-GENERAL

DGREGIO-GIS


REGIO.A1-GIS/int3a_pgm_ms_a1.aml - int3a_pgm_AT_UK_a1p - 11 Sep 02

ITALY

SLOVENIACROATIA

GERMANY

CZECH REPUBLIC

HUNGARYSWITZERLAND

BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

SLOVAKREPUBLIC

FRANCE

POLAND

43Community initiatives and cross-border cooperationRegional Revival

The ‘Urban belt’ in the west of Vienna had been thefocus of urban planning measures for some time whenthe URBAN I Community initiative from 1995–99provided the opportunity to deploy EU funding forurban renewal.

The Urbion project concentrated on the attractivenessof the ‘green belt’ district and on promoting economicdevelopment. In an integrated concept, green areasand former urban railway arches were upgraded andpotential harnessed for establishing commercial andretail businesses.

Urban-Loritz Square and an adjacent park were rede-veloped, as were the areas between the former urbanrailway engineering plant and the urban belt railwaylines. Glass façades were fitted into the urban railwayarches to make the spaces suitable for use as retailoutlets.

V I E N N A

Urbion upgrades The ‘urban belt’


European Union contribution (URBAN I, ERDF): EUR 4.2 million

Contact informationDipl. Ing. Peter BrodesserAmt der Wiener LandesregierungMagistratsabteilung 27- EU-Förderungen (MA 27)Schlesingerplatz 2A-1080 ViennaTel. (43-1) 400 08 25 81Fax (43-1) 40 00 72 15E-mail: [email protected]: http://www.wien.gv.at/meu/

V i e n n a

44 Community initiatives and cross-border cooperationRegional Revival

Urban regeneration for a better quality of life.


Transnational cooperation and coordination in theLake Constance region aims at establishing a networkof information and advice centres for girls and womenin this area.

Organisations in Bregenz/Vorarlberg, St. Gallen/Switzerland and Liechtenstein work togetherto compare their concepts and further develop theirskills and competencies. The following results havebeen achieved:

• setting-up of a sustainable network for women’sorganisations;

• production of an overview for publication in abrochure referring to information and advice centreson offer for women and girls in the region where thethree countries meet;

• establishment of an Internet platform;• improvement of programmes and services for

women;• strengthening of cooperation between the different

public and private organisations;• organisation of transnational further-training events

for advice centre staff.

B R E G E N Z

Tri-national women’snetwork


European Union contribution (Interreg, ERDF): EUR 28 131

Contact informationMonika LindermayrFrauenreferat der Vorarlberger LandesregierungRömerstraße 15A-6901 BregenzTel. (43-5574) 51 12 41 13Fax (43-5574) 51 14 10 95E-mail: [email protected]: www.3laenderfrauen.org

‘ T r i - n a t i o n a l W o m e n ’ s N e t w o r k ’

Winning team providing information for women and girls.

‘SPEAK’ stands for ‘Sprachen in Europa: Animations-und Kontaktzentrum’ (Languages in Europe: Inspira-tion and Contact Centre) and is a department of theFederal Pedagogical Institute in Feldkirch/Vorarlberg.

Under an Interreg II project, information and educa-tional training in the acquisition of foreign languageswas developed together with educational institutionsof the federal state of Vorarlberg, Liechtenstein andSwitzerland. There are also cooperation arrangementswith the Chamber of Industry and the adult educationcentres in the region. The aims of the project are to:

• make the work of language and specialist teachers inall areas and at all school levels easier;

• provide teachers with assistance and resources;• lay the groundwork for the lifelong learning of other

languages;• promote linguistic and cultural awareness.

F E L D K I R C H

‘SPEAK’ Europe



European Union contribution (Interreg, ERDF): EUR 51 990

Contact informationElisabeth AllgäuerPädagogisches InstitutCarinagasse 11A-6800 FeldkirchTel. (43-5522) 753 72 14Fax (43-5522) 329 49E-mail: [email protected]: www.speak.at/

‘ S P E A K ’ p r o j e c t


The eastward enlargement of the EU will open up newopportunities for the eastern border regions of Austriaand the region around Vienna, in particular. The ‘CCC’project stands for ‘cross-border business cooperationfor central Europe’ and was supported under the Inter-reg II initiative.

The aim was to promote transnational economic activi-ties and, in particular, provide assistance to small andmedium-sized companies in developing new markets.The central players in the CCC project are the federalstates of Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland — asthe ‘Vienna Region’ — as well as the Republic ofAustria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary.There are also cooperation arrangements at the institu-tional level between the respective economic develop-ment agencies and regional management bodies, aswell as directly at company level. The following activi-ties were focused upon:

• networking with the relevant players and filling gapsin the existing range of services offered;

• supporting companies, especially SMEs;• improving the marketing of Austria’s ‘competence

for the East’ in the international competition toattract business investment;

• initial and further training activities.

A U S T R I A – H U N G A R Y – C Z E C H R E P U B L I C – S L O V A K I A

‘CCC’ for cooperation


European Union contribution (Interreg, ERDF): EUR 0.58 million

Contact informationAnita FrankTIG Technologie Impulse GmbHWalfischgasse 8A-1015 ViennaTel. (43-1) 513 26 27 12Fax (43-1) 513 26 27 10E-mail: [email protected]: www.ccc-net.at

‘ C C C ’ p r o j e c t

CZECHREPUBLIC

SLOVAKIA

AUSTRIAHUNGARY

The castle of Aggstein on the Danube.

Karst mountain ranges are complex total systems thatare of great importance for the supply of drinking wa-ter in central Europe. To ensure sustainable protectionof the sources in karst regions, information is requiredwhich can only be provided by a geographical informa-tion system.

The aim of ‘KATER’ (KArst waTER research programme),which was coordinated by the Vienna Waterworks andsupported under the Interreg II C Community initiative,is to develop such a system.

A coordinated regional planning policy can minimisemost of the negative human influences on the qualityand quantity of water extraction in karst regions. Suit-able methods and instruments for modelling the over-all system, as well as coordinating crisis managementand planning between the regions and institutionsinvolved in Italy, Slovenia and Hungary have beendeveloped for this purpose.

A U S T R I A – I T A LY – S L O V E N I A – H U N G A R Y

KATER manages water


‘ K A T E R ’ p r o j e c t


European Union contribution (Interreg, ERDF): EUR 0.22 million

Contact informationDr Gerhard KuschnigWasserwerke der Stadt Wien — MA31Grabnergasse 4A-1060 ViennaTel. (43-1) 59 95 99 45 51Fax (43-1) 599 59 72 31E-mail: [email protected]: www.kater.at

AUSTRIA

SLOVENIA

HUNGARY

ITALY

European Commission

Regional revival — Successful projects financed by the Structural Funds in Austria

Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities

2003 — 49 pp. — 21.0 x 29.7 cm

ISBN 92-849-4376-6

KN

-46-02-711-EN-C

13

ISBN 92-849-4376-6

regional revival - european...

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