1. Rural Economic Development – Incentives attracting Enterprises AER Conference Exeter 20th Oktober 2005 Johannes Maier

2. Figures: 9 536 squ/km 559.404 inhabitants GDP (PP): 105,6 of EU25-level (2002) Greatest town: Klagenfurt (94.000 inh.)

3. 6,5% of population still working in agriculture (some Nuts III: 10,5%), 59% forest 12% organic farming, 95% are handicaped areas (mountainous) small and long valleys, surrounded by peaks up to 2.500 m (typical for south and western Austria) question of transport infrastructure Mountains...

4. Rural area at the whole... Villach Klagenfurt

5. About 900 local initiatives and small projects for businesses, farmers, municipalities, local groups, etc Stimulating co-operation and innovation Bottom up – utilizing local potentials Overarching aim: Creating jobs and income Integrated approach

6. 7 business (Tech-) Centres main measure for economic incentives hard and soft infrastructure i) Founder monitoring and services strategic planning processes and implementation mechanisms Business and Tech-centres

7. ii) Encouragement of clusters iii) Support for marketing initiatives iv) Training and skills facilities „Economic Promotion Institute” “Technikum Kärnten“ provide...

8. Decentralised technical colleges Situated in 4 locations Co-operation in projects with local enterprises Delivering new technologies and innovation New discussion: regional policy versus cost efficiency ! Technikum Kärnten

9. the whole region Business centres cover...

10. 1990: Provide solely for business premises and (hard) infrastructure 1995: extension to (soft) „services“ (founders) since 2000: know-how transfer and innovation with networking and clustering > „Lake side Park“ Klagenfurt Tasks are changing...

11. Summary conclusions: Particular public services are needed > keep alive economic activities in rural areas (founders) Business parks and local projects Modernisation, innovation, structural reforms demand reacting in time towards globalisation – earlier to Lisbon No rural development without strengthening agglomerations (towns) Rural areas: call for accessibility to innovation and research funds Successful developments are build on the regional strengths

12. Thanks for your attention johannes.maier@ktn.gv.at www.europa.ktn.gv.at Entwicklungsagentur Kärnten GmbH office@entwicklungsagentur.at www.entwicklungsagentur.at