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Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.

Factsheet for measure AT-2003-1/2565 Updated – measures in Austria

Go international!

Go international!

Country Austria , applies nationwide
Time period Temporary, 01 January 2003 – 21 March 2023
Context Restructuring Support Instruments
Type Other initiatives or policies
Category Supporting businesses to stay afloat
– Measures related to foreign trade
Author Bernadette Allinger (Forba) and Eurofound
Measure added 23 June 2022 (updated 09 November 2022)

Background information

Coverage extends to all enterprises that intend to establish export relationships for the first time, or to open up new markets abroad. There is a particular focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Due to the Ukraine war, a new service package for companies affected by the impact of the sanctions against Russia/Belarus or the current situation in Ukraine has been implemented in order to support the development of new markets.

‘Go international’ is managed through Advantage Austria and, as of 2020, consists of 20 specific internationalisation support measures. One of the measures is called 'Go Silicon Valley'. It can be regarded as a business initiation programme. Austrian companies are offered participation at a business accelerator in Silicon Valley for a period of one to three months, that is, they can use the accelerator’s services.

It is one or two people, usually managers with sufficient decision power of the participating Austrian company, who are supposed to go to Silicon Valley for the period stated above.

Content of measure

Support programmes are structured around the instrument's (https://www.bmdw.gv.at/Aussenwirtschaft/internationalisierungsoffensive/Seiten/DieInternationalisierungsoffensivegointernational.aspx): 

  • 1: How to do business abroad

  • 2: Enhancing strengths

  • 3: Exporting know-how

  • 4: From exporting to integrated value-chains

  • 5: Communicating Austria

Support is provided in relation to for instance market access and market development; developing intelligent strategies in respect to international business entry; human resources and know-how; and improving framework conditions.

The budget is made available jointly by the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber and the Austrian Federal Ministry of Digital and Economic Affairs ( BMDW . More specifically, the ministry contributes the financial funds while the chamber contributes in-kind through the administration of the measure and their staff.

As of April 2021, the programme has been expanded by new funding. The Ministry of Economics again makes €25,26 million available for go-international.

Updates

The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.

04 November 2022

Due to the Ukraine war, a new service package for companies affected by the impact of the sanctions against Russia/Belarus or the current situation in Ukraine has been implemented in order to support the development of new markets.

04 November 2022

The specific Ukraine/Russia/Belarus Service package funds 75% of the proven, eligible net costs. Up to three countries can be applied for at the same time. Maximum payment amount per country EUR 10,000 long-distance market and EUR 5,000 Europe. Maximum payment amount per application EUR 30,000 for three countries in the long-distance market and maximum EUR 15,000 per application for 3 countries in Europe.

Use of measure

Between 2001 and 2021 36.800 companies were supported from go-international. An evaluation study by the Institute of Industrial Sciences (IWI) shows macroeconomic significance of the supported companies.

The 'Go International' initiative's visibility among its target group is considered to be high. The decision-making process takes place within a short time frame. It has the support of approximately 100 economic chamber offices worldwide, in 73 countries. Its implementation is both simple and flexible.

The Vienna-based software firm 'opvizor', which participated in 'Go Silicon Valley' in 2014, established cooperation with two US investors and together with them founded a new joint company in Houston. This also resulted in additional jobs at the Vienna headquarters. Overall, the CEO of opvizor established 250 contacts within the three month period.

Target groups

Workers Businesses Citizens
Does not apply to workers SMEs
Importing/Exporting companies
Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors Funding
National government
Trade unions
Employers' organisations
Employers organisation
National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

Trade unions Employers' organisations
Role No involvement Consulted
Form Not applicable Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

  • Only employers' organisations
  • Main level of involvement: Regional or local level

Involvement

The budget is made available jointly by the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber and the Austrian Federal Ministry of Digital and Economic Affairs ( BMDW . More specifically, the ministry contributes the financial funds while the chamber contributes in-kind through the administration of the measure and their staff.

Views and reactions

The Austrian Federal Economic Chamber is not only supportive of the measure but jointly part of it.

Sources

Citation

Eurofound (2022), Go international!, measure AT-2003-1/2565 (measures in Austria), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/AT-2003-1_2565.html

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Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.