Page content
Digital offensive Austria: Demands on a new federal government
View of the Parliament building in Vienna, Austria. Image: Pexels
On September 29, 2024, Austria elected a new government. Even though the elected representatives are still in coalition negotiations, the demands of companies, associations and society at large on the new legislature are steadily growing. This also applies to the local digital economy.
As the industry association of leading companies in the field of information and communication technologies (ICT), Digitaloffensive Österreich (DOÖ) is in constant exchange with stakeholders from politics, business, science and society. A few weeks ago, its executive committee gathered in parliament to present its “digital recovery package”.
It called not only for the expansion of digital identity in Austria, but also for a greater focus on the digitization of public administration and the expansion of domestic cybersecurity. These demands are also gaining in importance in the wake of the upcoming federal elections in Germany.
Achieving the “digitalization billion”
In order to meet the challenges facing the Austrian economy, administration and society, the Digitaloffensive Austria is calling for a significant increase in investment. More specifically, digital investments at the federal level must double from 500 million euros to one billion in the upcoming legislative period in order to compensate for the increasing shortage of personnel in the public sector. The money should particularly benefit the digitization of administrative services in order to prevent the state from failing to provide services.
Expansion of broadband through bureaucracy reduction
In terms of network infrastructure, the association would like to focus on reducing bureaucracy. According to the Digital and Economic Offensive, additional public funding can be avoided in the area of broadband in particular if legal certainty can be created and additional bureaucratic work can be avoided.
Strengthening digital identities
The Digital Offensive Austria also considers the strengthening of digital identities and the establishment of a functional platform solution for citizens to be among the pressing issues in the upcoming legislative period. The aim is to make digital administrative services easy to use. According to the DOÖ, this requires not only further investment but also targeted initiatives to gain the trust of Austrian citizens.
A data strategy for more cybersecurity
Cybercrime is also becoming an ever greater challenge in Austria. According to the digital offensive, a new data strategy that allows new and existing data silos to be used securely while supporting the local digital economy can provide a remedy. According to the stimulus package, more investment is also needed in new solutions to combat cybercrime and in the targeted upgrading of digital infrastructure.
The demands of the digital offensive show that the call for a digital turning point in the public sector is also growing louder in Austria. At #SCCON25, we will show the synergies that exist between Austria and Germany and the innovative solutions that can inspire the DACH region.
Become an exhibitor at #SCCON25
As a driving force for the future of digital administration and for equal digital living and working conditions in cities and rural areas, the Smart Country Convention is a must for all stakeholders who actively advance the digital transformation. Are you interested in advancing the digitization of our cities and municipalities too? Join us and position your company or municipality as an expert in digitalization in the public sector.