While it struggles on gender equality in corporate leadership, Austria stands out in the European Investment Bank’s latest survey as one of Europe’s most digitalised economies. Together with Denmark, Austria is named as a top EU leader in the adoption of advanced digital technologies and an early mover on generative artificial intelligence.
The EIB survey tracks a broad suite of technologies, including the internet of things (IoT), big data and AI, robotics, 3D printing, advanced business platforms and digital tools for supply-chain management. On this composite measure, Austria ranks in the very top group of EU countries, ahead of many economies that usually dominate the innovation narrative.
IoT is the most widely used advanced technology across the EU, and Austrian firms are heavy users. The survey reports high adoption rates in manufacturing, services, construction and infrastructure, indicating that connected sensors and devices are now mainstream in many domestic industries. Austrian manufacturers, in particular, are using IoT to monitor production, optimise maintenance and cut energy costs, while service providers deploy it for logistics, customer analytics and smart building management.
The country also stands out in the race to adopt generative AI. Roughly 45 percent of Austrian firms already use generative AI tools in at least some business processes, putting Austria well above the EU average of around one-third and slightly ahead of the United States. Only a handful of countries — including Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Czechia and Sweden — show higher uptake.
Use cases span marketing content, coding assistance, document drafting, customer service, data analysis and internal knowledge management. For many firms, generative AI is an entry point into broader AI usage, lowering costs and allowing smaller businesses to experiment without large upfront investments.
At the same time, the report stresses that even in leading countries like Austria, AI is often used in isolated functions rather than integrated across the entire firm. That limits the productivity gains and competitive advantages that could be realised. The EIB warns that the gap between digital front-runners and laggards within the EU is widening, with advanced adopters pulling further ahead.
Austria’s strong numbers reflect earlier waves of investment in broadband infrastructure, industrial automation and digital skills, but they also underline the importance of continued support. The survey notes that firms across Europe still face constraints in accessing finance for digital projects, recruiting skilled staff and managing cyber risks. Austrian companies are not immune to those challenges; they simply appear better positioned than most to turn digital tools into practical business gains.
The findings also intersect with the climate transition. The same firms that invest heavily in digital technologies are disproportionately likely to invest in energy efficiency, emissions monitoring and low-carbon processes. Austria’s advanced use of digital tools therefore reinforces its status as one of the EU’s more climate-active corporate sectors.
For policymakers, the EIB report positions Austria as a potential model for how a medium-sized economy can combine strong traditional industries with high levels of digital and AI adoption. The challenge will be to sustain that lead as technologies mature, while at the same time addressing weak spots such as the underrepresentation of women in top roles and the shortage of specialised IT and data talent.
