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CHANCENLAND VORARLBERG Location Brochure
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Issue 3 January 2012
Publisher
Federal State Administration of VorarlbergRoemerstrasse 15, 6901 Bregenz Austriawww.vorarlberg.at
Editing, text and graphics
Wirtschafts-Standort Vorarlberg GmbH (WISTO)Hintere Achmuehlerstrasse 1, 6850 Dornbirn Austriawww.wisto.at
Photo credits
Photo credits are listed on the respective pages.
All rights reserved
This brochure is not intended to be exhaustive. There are a number of similarly important busi-nesses, institutions, companies, projects and personalities as well as leisure, culture and sport activities in Vorarlberg worth mentioning in addition to the examples listed here.
EUROPÄISCHE GEMEINSCHAFT
Gefördert aus dem Europäischen Fonds für Regionale Entwicklung
With the friendly assistance of
“Keep an open mind” is a saying that has defined Vorarlberg for many years. As a pioneer in the tourism industry and an ex-port leader, Vorarlberg reflects on a long tradition of making international visitors feel right at home. The state of Vorarlberg is driven by innovation and many of the successful companies within its borders have developed into global players. Vorar-lberg attracts a great deal of international attention, not only because of its extraor-dinary architecture, internationally recog-nised art and culture initiatives and supe-rior standard of living, but also thanks to its strong, growing economy.
This reputation is in part thanks to the people of Vorarlberg, who are characteri-sed by their dedication, motivation, coura-ge and above all by their ability to think and act beyond state borders. The state’s positive image is also bolstered by the many international businesses and entre-preneurs, whose dynamism and innovati-on focus are always creating exciting, new career opportunities.
I would like to personally welcome you as you embark upon a unique and exciting career path here in Vorarlberg – a vital, thriving and wonderful place to live!
As the spokesman for Vorarlberg busi-nesses, I like to emphasize that over the years, the state’s economic policies and its Chamber of Commerce have establis-hed an important framework to maintain the competitive advantage our busi-nesses have achieved for themselves in the global marketplace. And what’s more: We are proud to report record growth in exports, employment, efficient use of re-search funding and in registered patents. “We” in this context means a multitude of large, globally operating companies and dynamic, creative SMBs that successful-ly fill important market niches and are distinguished by their unique selection of
products and services. Vorarlberg busi-nesses not only provide exceptional ser-vices, but are also attractive employers.
We offer a wide range of social bene-fits not found anywhere else in Euro-pe paired with a modern, international work environment in a truly remarkable setting. Here, everything is within reach: The world and successful career oppor-tunities await you. Let us travel the path of success together – we look forward to welcoming you!
WELCOME TO VORARLBERG
MAG. KARLHEINZ RÜDISSER Deputy State Governor
MANFRED REIN President of the Vorarlberg Chamber of Commerce
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Bludenz
Feldkirch
Dornbirn
BREGENZ
Germany
Tyrol
Lake Constance
Switzerland
Liechtenstein
01 A PORTRAIT OF THE REGION An impressively diverse region
The economic centre of the Austrian federal state of Vorarl-berg is concentrated around the Rheintal-Walgau metropo-litan area. This is where the state’s major cities can be found positioned north to south, beginning with the state capital of Bregenz and continuing to Dornbirn, Feldkirch and finally Bludenz. The area is also home to a thriving economic and cultural region that leads the way in Europe.
Vorarlberg is surrounded by the majestic Alpine regions of Montafon, Arlberg and Bregenzerwald, which come together in the dynamic four-country-region of Lake Constance and create a unique blend of urban life and natural simplicity.
Vorarlberg’s appealing geographic location offers residents a world of remarkable cultural and economic opportunities, not to mention an excellent range of leisure activities and employment options.
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC STRENGTH
In recent decades Vorarlberg has developed from a suc-cessful, albeit one-sided textile manufacturing location into an economic powerhouse and a creative, high-tech region that is now home to a plenitude of different industries. Very few regions are capable of executing this type of structu-ral change as brilliantly as Vorarlberg. So many businesses in Vorarlberg boast continuous success and products from Blum, Zumtobel, Alpla, Wolford and Doppelmayr are in high demand worldwide. What they all have in common is
that their achievements are rooted in hard work, technical
precision, economic expertise and unsurpassed knowledge.
CULTURAL COSMOPOLITANISM
The same characteristics can also be ascribed to the region‘s residents. The “typical Vorarlberger” is often described as hard-working, efficient, open-minded, intrepid and friendly. Performance is just as important as creativity and personal dedication. Ideals such as community and family life play an important role, and the numerous clubs and voluntary commitments reflect this.
WELCOME TO VORARLBERG
Experience everything Vorarlberg has to offer, from busi-ness to sports and leisure to cultural events you are sure to enjoy!
On the following pages we’ve put together an overview of the region for you. We are pleased to show you our state’s economic strength and its businesses, how it excels in ar-chitecture, culture and creative endeavours, the outstanding sport and leisure opportunities available to you and the foundation on which our region is built: an exemplary edu-cation and social welfare system.
WolfVision is one of the globally successful companies that stands out thanks to their innovative products and a human resources policy that clearly demonstrates their commitment to employees. Lunch together in the garden in front of the company headquarters in Klaus. Photo ©WolfVision GmbH
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VORARLBERG
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02 FACTS AND FIGURESA brief initial overview
AT THE HEART OF EUROPE
Vorarlberg is frontier land. 80 % of the state’s 350 km long borders are also national borders. The region shares its bor-ders with the Swiss cantons of St. Gallen and Graubünden, the German state of Bavaria, the Principality of Liechten-stein and the Austrian state of Tyrol. This unique location between four countries and Lake Constance is responsible for the region’s openness and the international appeal of its businesses.
A REGION WITH A PROMISING FUTUREn Since 1900 Vorarlberg’s population has climbed by 185 %,
a growth rate higher than any other state in Austria. n Vorarlberg has the youngest population in Austria. With a
ratio of children and adolescents under 20 years of 24 % of the population, Vorarlberg easily surpasses the Austri-an average of 21 %.
n The Vorarlberg Rhine Valley is the second most densely populated region in Austria, right behind Vienna. Unlike the monocentric structure of a large city, Vorarlberg’s city centres are spread across the region, thus creating a lar-ge metropolitan area with a seamless border to the Swiss Rhine Valley and Germany.
TOTAL AREA 2,601 km²
CAPITAL CITY Bregenz
POPULATION 370,500
POPULATION DENSITY 142/km²
POLITICAL ORGANISATION 96 municipalitites in 4 districts
Citizens of Vorarlberg enjoy an above-average standard of li-ving and an extraordinary quality of life. The region is situated between some of the world’s best places to live: Zurich, Mu-nich and Vienna. The cornerstone of the Vorarlberg’s appeal is its economic strength, ranking the region among major in-ternational metropolitan regions such as Paris and Munich.
Paris1,5 h flight
London2 h flight
Rome1,5 h flight
Bratislava1,5 h flight
Berlin1,5 h flight
Copenhagen1,5 h flight
Munich2 h drive
Stuttgart2,5 h drive
Friedrichshafen0,5 h drive
Memmingen1 h drive
Innsbruck1,5 h drive
Vienna6,5 h drive
Zurich1,5 h drive
Milano3,5 h drive
Vorarlberg is situated right at the heart of many of Europe’s most important technology regions. This image shows the nearest airports and distances. Graphic ©WISTO | TOP Lech-Zürs is one of the most popular ski resorts in the Alps. Photo ©Vorarlberg Tourismus
1.6 % 0.1 %
Vorarlberg
38,433 € 26,700 € 36,440 € 34,690 € 27,512 € 21,515 € 23,515 €
Austria Switzer-land
Baden-Wuerttemberg
Bavaria GermanySt. Gallen
03 PIONEERS IN BUSINESSVorarlberg: Innovation and export champion
Vorarlberg’s economy is just as diverse as its landscape. A wide range of industries and regional value chains wor-king by international standards are characteristic business drivers here. This is why the state is one of the strongest economic regions and largest exporters in Europe today.
BUSINESS LOCATION - FACTS
n Fastest economic growth: 3.2 % (Eurostat 2008)
n Real GDP per capita 35,800 € (Statistics Austria 2008)
n Highest per capita export in Austria (See graphic bottom left)
n Ranks 3rd among EU‘s most innovative regions
ROBUST ECONOMIC STRUCTURE
Vorarlberg’s economic landscape is distinguished by po-werful, innovative SMEs involved in a remarkable number of different industries. This gives the region its flexibility in responding to changing demands within the marketplace and its international reputation for resilience.
TOP INDUSTRIALISED AREA
Industry plays a key role in Vorarlberg’s economy. Together with manufacturing it makes up nearly a third of the enti-re economy (30 %). This is considerably more than in other regions and states. Industry here is primarily focused on iron and metalworking (47 % of industrial production), but
the electrical and electronic equipment (14 %) and food and beverage production (13 %) also play a key role in the regi-onal economy. With 266 out of 1,000 workers of the region‘s labour force employed in the industrial sector, Vorarlberg is the most industrialised state in Austria.
COSMOPOLITAN EXPORT CHAMPION
Around 60 % of goods and services from Vorarlberg are sold to foreign countries, making Vorarlberg Austria’s export champion. In comparison, the export rate for all of Austria is 42 %. The main export market is Germany, but goods are also exported to Switzerland, Italy, Great Britain, Liechten-stein and France.
EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH
Research in Vorarlberg is responsive to market demands, practical in nature, connected by an international network, efficient and generally carried out by businesses them-selves. It is not uncommon to see business R&D ratios of up to 20 % of turnover.
The Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences (FHV) is home to facilities that conduct research in a number of different industries. Some of the university’s research areas include microtechnology, mechatronics and process and product engineering. The V-Research industrial research centre cooperates with local businesses such as Erne Fittings, Liebherr, Gebrüder Weiss and Zumtobel to find solutions to tribological problems and carry out logistics engineering projects. The Research Institute for Textile Chemistry and Textile Physics works on high-level European Union projects and uses Vorarlberg’s textile industry experience for perfor-ming state-of-the-art research.
Other areas of research that span multiple industries inclu-de lighting technology, molecular biology and respiratory gas analysis.
LEFT International comparison of export focus between Vorarlberg and the economical strong regions of East Switzerland and South Germany. Source: WKV, Statistics Baden-Wuerttemberg, Statistics, St. Gallen, Austria, Bavaria and Switzerland (2009) | RIGHT Europe’s most innovative regions. Source: EPA (2009) | Graphics ©WISTO
Baden-Wuerttem-
berg
SouthNether-lands
Stockholm Bavaria SouthSweden
Paris (Île de
France)
SouthFinland
Vorarlberg
563 467 443 397 391 377 309 264
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ECONOMY
56 % higher than the Austrian average
33,652 €
Austria
Austria
Bavaria Baden-Wuerttemberg
35,300 € 33,800 €
0.1 %
Exports per capita by international comparison Patent applications at European Patent Office per m. inhabitants
Bavaria Baden-Wuerttemberg
(See graphic bottom right)
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04 HOME TO POWERFUL BRANDSGlobal players from Vorarlberg
Vorarlberg has a larger concentration of internationally known brands than virtually any other region in the world. The local economic landscape features countless high-performance industrial companies successful in numerous market niches and a wide range of industries.
MARKET LEADERS (Excerpt)
Alpla GmbH & Co.KG www.alpla.com
One of the world‘s leading plastics processing companies, produces bottles and caps for Coca Cola, Procter & Gam-ble, Johnson & Johnson, Unilever, for exampleEmployees: 703 / 12,000*
Bachmann electronic GmbH www.bachmann.info
World market leader in the automation of wind power plants and in other areas of renewable energies Employees: 450 / 550
Doppelmayr Holding AG www.doppelmayr.at
Undisputed world leader in ropeway engineeringSubsidiary DCC‘s cable cars enjoy international success, tooEmployees: 970 / 2,215
Gebrüder Weiss GmbH www.gw-world.com
Austria‘s largest private forwarding company Employees: 850 / 4,500
Getzner Textil AG www.getzner.at
Leading global supplier of fashion fabrics and Damask; for Armani, Hugo Boss, Calvin Klein, among othersEmployees: 670 / 810
Getzner Werkstoffe GmbH www.getzner.com
Leading specialist supplier of insulation and vibration in-sulation (e.g. for railway tracks)
Employees: 200 / 290
Head International GmbH www.head.com
Leading global supplier of rackets and winter sports equipment
Employees: 280 / 2,100
ELB Form primarily produces piping for engines in the automotive industry for manufacturers such as Audi. The automotive supplier industry in Vorarlberg is strong and delivers internationally competitive quality. Photos ©WKV/Adolf Bereuter
SUCCESS WITHOUT BOUNDARIES
Alwin and Helmuth Lehner founded Alpla in 1955. Today the company is the only globally active packaging manuf-acturer of its kind. Alpla develops and produces plastic bottles and caps for customers around the globe. Around 12,000 employees in over 134 locations in 37 countries contribute to the company’s extraordinary success as a packaging manufacturer for popular food and beverage, cosmetics and cleaning product and oil and lubricating industry brands.
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Hirschmann Automotive GmbH www.hirschmann-automotive.com
Mechatronic automotive component manufacturer for pre-mium brands including Mercedes, BMW and Audi
Employees: 620 / 2,000
Jäger Bau GmbH www.jaegerbau.com
Internationally recognised specialist for underground, structural and civil engineering and project development
Employees: 545 / 600
Julius Blum GmbH www.blum.com
Leading international manufacturer of hinge systems for furniture, supplier to IKEA and other major manufacturers
Employees: 4,100 / 5,300
Mahle König KG www.koenig-kg.at
Cylinder, piston and piston ring supplier to global custo-mers such as KTM
Employees: 400 / 400
Omicron electronics GmbH www.omicron.at
Global market leader in testing and measurement technology Honoured as one of Europe‘s 15 best employers Employees: 330 / 475
Rauch Fruchtsäfte GmbH www.rauch.cc
Austria‘s largest fruit juice and tea beverage producer with brands such as Happy Day, Ice T, Nativa, Bravo
Employees: 700 / 1,300
Ölz Meisterbäckerei GmbH www.oelz.com
Leading manufacturer of baked goods and sliced bread Employees: 470 / 840
Rupp AG www.rupp.at
Austria‘s king of chees, owners of the Alma brand Employees: 350 / 350
Tridonic GmbH & Co KG www.tridonic.com
Developer of leading-edge ballasts and control systems for light management systems and LEDs
Employees: 600 / 2,255
Wolford AG www.wolford.com
Luxury textiles manufacturer focused on stockings, hose-rie and body apparel, successful worldwide Employees: 900 / 1,680
Zumtobel Group www.zumtobelgroup.com
Global market leader in the areas of electronic lighting technology and professional lighting systems
Employees: 1,607 / 7,480
*(Number of employees in Vorarlberg / Total)
Head has long been an established international brand in the world of sports – both among skiers and tennis players. Photo ©WKV/Adolf Bereuter TOP Photo ©Doppelmayr GmbH
STRAIGHT TO THE TOP
Nearly everyone who has been on a winter holiday has taken a seat in a Doppelmayr facility. In 77 countries on five continents, 13,500 Doppelmayr ski lifts transport three billion passengers each year. In 2008 Doppelmayr built a record-breaking cable railway spanning 4.4 km on Whistler Mountain in Canada (Peak to Peak) just in time for the Olympic games. The railway crosses the Fitzsim-mons Valley, connecting the Whistler and Blackcomb Mountain ski resorts.
ECONOMY
05 INTERNATIONAL EXCELLENCECentres of excellence for international corporations
Many global companies have chosen Vorarlberg as business location. Their steady flow of investments and expansion projects attest to the location’s competitive advantages.
INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONS (Excerpt)
Carcoustics Austria GmbH www.carcoustics.com
Globally active, leading-edge developer and manufac-turer of complete solutions for vehicle acoustics
Employees: 220 / 420
DMG Europe Holding GmbH www.gildemeister.com
Central control of the sales and service activities for all European DMG companies
Employees: 15 / 5,370
Grass GmbH www.grass.at
Würth Group competence centre for pull-out and guide systems for premium furniture brands
Employees: 960 / 1,900
Hilti AG www.hilti.at
Global supplier to the construction industry, cutting-edge products and systems
Employees: 495 / 20,300
Hydro Aluminium Nenzing GmbH www.hydro.at
One of the leading manufacturers of customised alumini-um profiles in Europe, part of Norsk Hydro ASA Employees: 365 / 23,000
Kraft Foods Austria GmbH www.kraftfoodscompany.com
Europe‘s second largest chocolate factory, produces Milka and Suchard, the market leader for 100 years Employees: 365 / 700
Liebherr Werk Nenzing GmbH www.liebherr.com
Part of the Liebherr group (world‘s largest construction machine manufacturer)
Employees: 1,700 / 33,000
Red Bull GmbH www.redbull.at
With 70 % of the global market share, Red Bull is the lea-ding energy drink worldwide Employees: 20 / 7,760
Rexam Beverage Can Enzesfeld GmbH www.rexam.com
Sole supplier of Red Bull cans Employees: 135 / 19,000
SIKA Group www.sika.com
Leading manufacturer of speciality chemicals worldwide Employees: 150 / 13,480
Viessmann (Mawera/Köb) www.viessmann.at
Competence centre for bioenergy Employees: 310 / 9,400
Liebherr manufactures mobile cranes for ships and ports at the plant in Nenzing, located in the heart of the Alps. Photo ©WKV/Adolf Bereuter TOP A.M.I. develops precision surgical operating equipment. Photo ©WKV/Adolf Bereuter
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06 SUCCESSFUL GAZELLES Aspiring innovators
What makes this business location so attractive is its dyna-mic economic growth. And it wouldn’t be complete without the many innovative, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Due to their rapid growth and their ability to fill high-ly specialised niches, these nimble, versatile companies are called “gazelles“. Today, many of them are among the leading global enterprises in their respective business sectors.
INNOVATIVE SMEs (Excerpt)
A.M.I. - Agency for Medical Innovations GmbH www.ami.at
High-quality medical technology equipment and methods
BAUR Prüf- und Messtechnik GmbH www.baur.at
Experts in high-voltage testing and measurement technology
Bitschnau Stahlbau GmbH www.bitschnau.com
Specialist for customised constructions made of steel and alu-minium, built the Olympic ski jump in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Dorner Electronic GmbH www.dorner.at
Hardware and Software solutions for the construction ma-terials industry
Gantner Electronic GmbH www.gantner.com
Innovative system solutions for access control, time recor-ding, identification, entry and accounting
Heron Gruppe www.heron.at
Automation component manufacturer
High Q Laser Production GmbH www.highqlaser.at
Laser technology, development of the world‘s shortest pulse laser (femtosecond laser)
Identec Solutions AG www.identecsolutions.com
Manufacturer of wireless sensor networks based on active RFID technology
inet-logistics GmbH www.inet-logistics.com
Internet-based transport logistics solutions
Meusburger Georg GmbH & Co KG www.meusburger.com
Manufacturer of high-quality moulds for producing plastic parts
Montfort Werbung GmbH www.montfortwerbung.com
Full-service international agency, largest owner-operated marketing agency in Austria
Obrist Engineering GmbH www.obrist.at
Developer of environmentally friendly CO² vehicle air condi-tioning systems
robotmech - Stössl GmbH www.robotmech.at
Experts in rapid prototyping
S.I.E System Industrie Electronic AG www.sie.at
Manufacturer of customer-specific industrial computers
Schelling Anlagenbau GmbH www.schelling.com
Global market leader in panel saws
SOLA Messwerkzeuge GmbH www.sola.at
Premium-quality measurement tool manufacturer
WolfVision GmbH www.wolfvision.com
Leading manufacturer of visualisers, Google, Microsoft, Nike, HP, NASA and Porsche all use devices made by WolfVision
ZIMM Maschinenelemente GmbH & Co KG www.zimm.at
Specialist for drive and automation technology
Identec Solutions’ advanced RFID solutions ensure safety on oil platforms, among other applications. In the event of an emergency everyone on the platform can be located in real time and visualised on a surveillance monitor. Photo ©WKV/Adolf Bereuter
ECONOMY
07 FIT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR Sport and recreational activities
Whatever your heart desires: That’s how you could descri-be the wide-range of recreational activities in Vorarlberg. Thanks to its location, topography and natural surroundings, the varied landscape dotted with mountains, valleys and lakes offers virtually limitless opportunities for sport and recreation.
EXCITING, SNOWCAPPED FUN
In the winter Vorarlberg is brimming with places to ski, snow-board, to go cross-country skiing or on ski tours, sledding or ice skating – whether in Arlberg, Brandnertal, Bregenzerwald, Grosses Walsertal, Kleinwalsertal, Klostertal or Montafon.
“Virtually the entire southern half of Vorarlberg is a ski resort.”
More than 35 ski areas offer beginners and experts over 1,200 km of ski trails. Lech-Zürs is home to the longest ski race in the world held each year, i.e. the White Ring. Parti-cipants must conquer the 22 km course and a difference in altitude of 5,500 metres. Modern snowparks give skilled snowboarders and skiers the thrill they’re looking for. Well-maintained toboggan runs attract bob-sleigh enthusiasts day and night, on the nature run or the Alpine Coaster.
FROM SPRING TO AUTUMN
Vorarlberg offers around 6,000 km of marked hiking trails. Moreover, Vorarlberg has plenty of places for climbers of all levels to climb, whether right on the mountain, in climbing parks or ropes courses, or in the indoor climbing hall. Moun-tainbikers will love the varied mountain trails with their ma-jestic scenery.
Lake Constance offers a wide range of watersport activi-ties. There are over 100 sailing sport clubs. In good wind and weather conditions visitors will enjoy windsurfing and kitesurfing, and diving in Lake Constance is both challenging and fun. 90 football clubs with over 8,000 members train re-gularly on 105 top-quality football pitches. Numerous inter-national clubs take advantage of Alpine conditions for their training camps. There are also plenty of options for canyo-ning, rafting and canoe tours in Vorarlberg.
INSPIRATION MEETS AMBITION
Gigi Rüf (*1981 in Au) is a true trendsetter in the world of winter sports and is one of the world’s most versatile snowboarders. Burton was his sponsor for 12 years. To-day he rides for Volcom and appears in advertisements for Nike. His ambition, talent and determination led him from the wintry paradise of Bregenzerwald to internati-onal film productions and magazines. He is one of a se-lect few athletes who have managed to stay on top of the fast-paced snowboarding scene for so long.
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Vorarlberg’s trails are a dream come true for mountainbikers and hikers – take Wurzachalpe in Bregenzerwald for example. Photo ©Vorarlberg Touris-mus, Florian Strigel | TOP Gigi Rüf is one of the most successful professional winter athletes from Vorarlberg. Photo ©Scott Sullivan, ESPN
“The Spanish national football team trained in Montafon before going on to win the
2010 World Championship title.”
There are even more tennis players than football players. Famous tennis giants from Vorarlberg include Julian Know-le and Tamira Paszek. Hockey and handball are also quite
popular. The A1 Bregenz and Alpla Hard handball teams not only lead the national league but also play at the internatio-nal level. Golf is experiencing a significant boom as well. The high Alpine backdrop in many areas offers a breathtaking setting for the state’s six golf courses, which are sure to suit every taste.
“Hochjoch in Schruns has unique thermal conditions that attract paragliders from around the world.”
PRINCIPLE HOPE
Beat Kammerlander (*1959 in Nüziders) is one of the best climbers in the world and has contributed significantly to the success of the sport of climbing. In his home of Vorarlberg he successfully completed a number of first ascents, some of which are considered the most difficult Alpine routes in the world.
His route „Prinzip Hoffnung“ (Principle Hope) on the 40-metre high Bürs plate cliff, whose surface resembles ingrain wallpaper, is one of his own personal highlights. At 50 years of age, Beat climbed the vertical face clean, i.e. without bolts or normal hooks – an extraordinary feat both physically and mentally.
UPLIFTING FREE SPIRIT
Martin McFly Winkler (*1978 in Bregenz) is one of the best-known names on the European freeskier scene. In his youth he perfected the art of skiing off the piste in Schröcken and today he travels around the world – as a judge at the Freeski World Tour, starring in films by War-ren Miller, as entrepreneur and owner of zero Division or as the coordinator of the Austrian Freeski Open.
Martin appreciates his home, as the Arlberg region at-tracts freeriders from around the world every year.
Lake Constance is Europe’s most vital water reservoir and is also the perfect place to swim in the summer with water temperatures of 25 °C. The Hotel Kaiserstrand’s Lochau Bathhouse is featured in this picture. Photo ©Flickr.com Schwä | TOP left Beat Kammerlander climbing the Bürs plate cliff. Photo ©Planet Talk | TOP right Martin Winkler rides in Chamonix. Photo ©Salewa
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LEISURE AND LIFESTYLE
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08 THERE‘S SO MUCH TO SEE! Vorarlberg‘s diverse art and culture scene
Vorarlberg’s cultural scene offers something for everyone. So many of Vorarlberg’s established art and cultural initiati-ves shine far beyond the region’s borders.
CULTURE ON A WORLD STAGE ON LAKE CONSTANCE
The Bregenz Festival is home to the world’s largest floating stage, right on Lake Constance, and glitters with opera and musical productions that receive rave reviews. The floa-ting stage on the lake has showcased some of the world’s greatest opera performances, including Wagner’s Flying Dutchman, Beethoven’s Fidelio, Verdi’s Nabucco, A Masked Ball, Troubadour and, most recently, AIDA, Puccini with La Bohème and Tosca. The festival is currently presenting An-dré Chénier, Italian composer Umberto Giordano’s most po-pular work. Even James Bond was fascinated by the floating stage in the summer of 2008 and filmed part of the movie Quantum of Solace there. The festival is not just for fans
of classical productions though; performances are sure to captivate anyone against the impressive backdrop of Lake Constance, with magnificent sets and state-of-the-art stage technology.
The newly built area surrounding the Bregenz festival thea-tre also offers theatre performances, musicals, ballets and shows throughout the year. Highlights include the Bregenz Spring, Bregenz Master Concerts and the Vorarlberg Sym-phony Orchestra Concerts.
The Montafon Summer Culture Festival impresses visitors to South Vorarlberg with a wide range of musical genres and arenas. From open-air jazz on the reservoir to late Baro-que period operas in a farmhouse through to Montafon folk dance in an open dance arbour. The festival is held every July and aims to familiarise visitors with the rich, unique variety of Montafon and its culture.
ARCHITECTURAL MASTERPIECE
When it comes to contemporary art, the Kunsthaus Bregenz (KUB) has one of Europe’s best exhibit programmes. The
The Bregenz Festival performances have an international reputation. This image features a scene from André Chénier by Umberto Giordano on the floating stage. Photo ©Bregenzer Festspiele GmbH | TOP Performance of the theatre experiment entitled “Wo du nicht bist” (Where You Are Not) in the Bregenz Festival Theatre. Photo ©Bregenzer Festspiele GmbH
GO AHEAD AND LISTEN
The Schubertiade in Schwarzenberg and Hohenems has become one of the most important and popular Schubert festivals worldwide. Music enthusiasts hold this festi-val in high regard as a complete work of art comprising landscape, atmosphere, acoustics and featuring the best musicians from around the world. The festival has been a fixture of Vorarlberg life since 1976 with around 70 events and over 30,000 visitors. Small concert halls and an intimate ambiance inspire Schubert aficionados and cultural enthusiasts every summer.
architecture alone, designed by Peter Zumthor of Switzer-land, is worth a visit. Zumthor’s sophisticated light design makes a one-of-a-kind space for avant-garde artists’ own productions. But the building itself is unobtrusive, leaving plenty of room for artistic freedom. Here as well you will find the pragmatism so typical for Vorarlberg – a focus on what truly matters.
“KUB is one of the most important museum buildings featuring contemporary art and has already hosted in-ternationally recognised artists like Roy Liechtenstein, Hans Schabus, Marcel Duchamp and Cindy Sherman.”
With over 60 museums Vorarlberg has an extraordinary va-riety of exhibits. The Jewish Museum in Hohenems attracts visitors from around the world, Bregenzerwald is home to Austria’s first women’s museum and Dornbirn features the world’s largest Rolls-Royce collection.
Kunsthaus Bregenz hosted the Art/Architecture exhibit by regime critic Ai Weiwei – featured in this image: the “Moon Chest” exhibit piece. | Photo ©Kunsthaus Bregenz | TOP right Antony Gormley beautifies the Alps. Photo ©David Levene, The Guardian | TOP left Bregenzer Frühling hosts a number of unusual dance performances. Photo ©Bregenzer Frühling
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LEISURE AND LIFESTYLE
THE INATURA EXPERIENCE
The inatura natural science and technology museum in Dornbirn is paving the way to a new kind of museum cul-ture. It reveals the secrets of nature in Vorarlberg in a playful and entertaining manner. The museum also co-vers future technologies such as bionics. The newly in-stalled Science Centre is designed to increase children’s curiosity for science and technology.
HIGH-ALPINE ART PROJECT
Hikers, skiers and culture-seekers can enjoy Austria’s largest landscape installation in the Vorarlberg moun-tains until April 2012. 100 life-size cast iron figures form a horizontal line at 2,039 metres above sea level – spread across an area of 150 km² in Bregenzerwald and Arlberg. The idea for the “Horizon Field” project came from artist Antony Gormley, who collaborated with the Kunsthaus Bregenz to make it happen. Horizon Field speaks to the body, perception and imagination of eve-ryone who approaches the figures and pays homage to the deep connection between geological landscape and social memory.
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09 QUALITY OF LIFE IN EVERY RESPECTHigh-quality care and a wide range of services
TASTEFUL GOURMET REGION
Good food and drink is a matter of course in Vorarlberg. With the highest concentration of gourmet restaurants in Austria and an above-average number of family restaurants and cosy inns serving first-rate meals, Vorarlberg is on its way to becoming Europe’s next gourmet region. Much of what is served in Vorarlberg comes from the surrounding area. Fish from Lake Constance, meat from local farms, fruit and vegetables from gardens in the Rhine Valley. Regional cui-sine signifies superb quality and is appreciated far and wide. Vorarlberg’s most popular culinary product is its Alpine and mountain cheese, but veal and Alpine pork dishes from the „Ländle“ are also highly sought after within the region’s bor-ders and beyond.
The KäseStrasse (Cheese Route) in Bregenzerwald is the only one of its kind worldwide – a network of over 200 far-mers, restaurant-owners, craftsmen and traders from Bre-genzerwald all aim to preserve the landscape and products from the region. Visitors to the KäseStrasse will delight in a variety of taste sensations steeped in 2,000 years of rich cheesemaking tradition.
Austria is known for its many top chefs. Delicacies from gourmet restaurant Irma. Photo ©Hotel Post Bezau | TOP The view from Karren offers an im-pressive panorama from the city of Dornbirn to Lake Constance, reaching into Germany and Switzerland. Photo ©Karren Dornbirn
RESTAURANT TIPS
Gasthof Hirschen, SchwarzenbergThe uniquely authentic atmosphere of the village Schwar-zenberg alone is worth taking a break to relax and enjoy the scenery. Home to so many regional delicacies, Gast-hof Hirschen is an insider tip for gourmet lovers.
Viva Restaurant, BregenzThis Mexican restaurant is ideally situated right at the heart of the fun in the port of Bregenz. Visitors often stick around after a meal to enjoy a drink or two at the bar.
Steakhouse Patagonia, GaißauAfter swimming in Lake Constance, it’s worth taking a small detour to Gaißau to enjoy the best steaks in Vorar-lberg. Prepared according to authentic Argentine tradi-tion, this restaurant brings a number of Swiss gourmet fans to Vorarlberg. Reservations recommended!
Lindauer Hütte, TschaggunsLindauer Hütte lies at the foot of the “Three Towers” at 1,744 metres altitude and attracts a number of hikers and mountain enthusiasts in the summer and winter seasons. The large terrace offers a fantastic mountain panorama and home-style dishes will quickly help you forget the effort involved for reaching the loaction.
Restaurant Karren, DornbirnThis glass-enclosed restaurant offers guests a splendid view of the Rhine Valley and Lake Constance from the nearly 1,000 metre high Karren in Dornbirn. Visitors can see how close Switzerland and Germany are from here. It is an especially popular destination in the evening, where traditional Kässpätzle (egg noodles with cheese) and healthy salads are served.
WHEN NIGHT FALLS
Night owls will find any number of opportunities to have fun all over Vorarlberg. Nightclubs, bars, and cafés are great places to relax and meet friends. And night life wouldn’t be complete without a number of events, concerts and festivals to choose from. The cities of Dornbirn, Bregenz and Feld-kirch are known for their many bars and clubs.
“The market place in Dornbirn is transformed into a huge open-air bar every Thursday in the summer.”
The Freakwave Festival brings culture together with trend-setting sports like wakeboarding, BMX and freerunning. The Bregenz outdoor swimming pool boasts a view of the festival stage and is host to five full days of exciting athletic and musical activities. Further south, the Open Air Festival in Lustenau offers visitors three days of entertainment. The largest open air festival in Western Austria attracts up to 16,000 people to the Rhine location and features numerous bands with a variety of music styles.
Also worth seeing are the New Orleans Festival, the Lange Nacht der Musik and the Hafenfest (all of which are in Bre-genz) as well as the Origano Festival in Dornbirn, the Feldkir-cher Weinfest, the “Kilbi” in Altenstadt, the ALPINALE Short Film Festival and the Milka Chocolate Festival in Bludenz.
A cosy jazz breakfast at the poolbar Festival – just one of many fabulous events featured in the programme. Photo ©Flickr.com Peter Marcel Ionan | TOP left Cocktails at the Feldkirch Festival Photo ©Feldkirch Festival | TOP right Kosheen, Macy Gray, Tocotronic and Nada Surf played at the poolbar Festival. Photo ©poolbar
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LEISURE AND LIFESTYLE
INCOMPARABLY DIFFERENT
The poolbar Festival draws close to 20,000 alternative and pop culture fans to Feldkirch every summer. The stage is a unique indoor swimming pool, which offers a first-rate, seven-week programme featuring a number of interna-tional bands. Every year the festival reinvents itself and finds completely new ways to make use of the space.
In addition to the extraordinary atmosphere, the festival’s true quality lies in its unusual combinations: Interna-tional meets local, stars meet young talent, indie rock meets hip hop and film meets theatre. The varied pro-gramme invites guests to enjoy breakfast in the garden while listening to jazz. Visitors travel here from all over Austria and nearby Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
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10 LIFELONG LEARNING Education in Vorarlberg
Vorarlberg has a broad range of education and continuing learning programmes available. Lifelong learning is the key phrase behind the motivation that allows students to choose their own, individual approach at the start of their education, thereby opening the path to higher learning.
A solid general education starts with high school or se-condary school for 10 to 14-year-olds; each of these paths opens different opportunities: an apprenticeship certificate or a university entrance diploma known as the Matura (A-level). The polytechnic provides an opportunity to take part in an apprenticeship, while the senior high schools and the vocational middle and upper-secondary schools (BMHS) all lead to A-Level. The vocational middle and upper-secondary schools provide education in the fields of business admini-stration, technical engineering and social work.
FHV ranks high among universitites thanks to its practical training, excellent facilities and international education. Photo ©FHV | TOP left Trainees re-ceive an outstanding education in Vorarlberg’s electrical and metalworking industry (Vorarlberger Elektro- und Metallindustrie - V.E.M.). | Photo ©V.E.M. | TOP right An overview of the Vorarlberg education system Presentation ©WISTO
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“The education of apprentices in Vorarlberg (dual edu-cation) enjoys an excellent international reputation.”
Predominantly learning takes place within the apprenti-ceship companies and the education in vocational schools supplements the hands-on knowledge gained. Holders of the apprenticeship diploma can pass the “Berufsreifeprü-fung”, which enables them to study at universities.
UNIVERSITY STUDY AND TRAINING
The courses of study available at the University of Ap-plied Sciences Vorarlberg (FHV) in Dornbirn cover eight bachelor’s degree and seven master’s degree programmes. Independent rankings give FHV regular praise for their mo-dern facilities, international atmosphere and highly practi-
cal approach to education. Foreign exchange semesters and career internships are an integral part of the course pro-grammes and provide valuable experience. To satisfy the demands of local businesses, some majors are offered as work-study programmes.
Other established and highly respected educational insti-tutions include: Schloss Hofen (university level courses), the Eurostudienzentrum (university level courses from the distance learning university in Hagen and the University of Linz) and the Pädagogische Hochschule (teacher’s college).
InterMedia students at the FHV learn all of the basic principles of modern media technology. Photo ©Darko Todorovic | TOP Why do electrical sockets have two holes? – The Vorarlberg “Kinderuni” (Children’s University) features special lectures for children. Photo ©FHV
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EDUCATION AND LEARNING
A CURIOSITY FOR SCIENCE
FHV has organised the exemplary Kinderuni Vorarlberg project since 2005. Professors and industry experts pre-sent content to children in special lectures designed to be both informative and entertaining. Divided into winter and summer semesters, there are lectures every month for children aged 8 to 12. The project aims to peak children’s curiosity for science and encourage them to pursue a col-lege education early on.
BACHELOR PROGRAMMES AT FHV
n Mechatronicsn Software and Information Engineeringn Electrical Engineeringn Mechanical Engineeringn Engineering with Business Administrationn International Business n InterMedian Social work
MASTER PROGRAMMES AT FHV
n Mechatronicsn Computer Sciencen Business Process Engineeringn Controlling and Financen International Marketing and Salesn InterMedian Social work
Schloss Hofen offers further education programmes in the fields of micro and nanotechnology, integrated product de-velopment, video journalism, location management and wood construction (in cooperation with the University of Art and Design Linz).
“The surrounding Lake Constance area is home to many renowned educational facilities and colleges
with an inter-regional focus.”
They are all connected by the International Bodensee Hoch-schule (IBH) network, an association of institutions of higher education in the Lake Constance area. The region’s Univer-sities of Applied Sciences are particularly well-known for their professional, practical technical and business educa-tion programmes.
PROMOTING TALENTS
The state supports working individuals who must make significant financial sacrifices for their education with a financial grant. For others, costs of on-the-job educational training are supported with a “learning bonus”. Employees returning to work following leave and apprentices also re-ceive benefits known as “starting capital”.
The large selection for lifelong learning opportunities in-clude institutions such as the Wirtschaftsförderungsinsti-tut (WIFI), the learning centre of the Chamber of Labour or the many adult education courses provided by the Volks-hochschule.
The inatura experience lets visitors discover more about nature and technology in an exciting atmosphere. Photo ©Darko Todorovic | TOP left Elite international education in the “Four Country Region”. Photo ©Flickr.com ebvImages
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INTERNATIONAL ELITE
The International School Rheintal (ISR) is a cross-border institute that offers children a balanced international educational programme. The school is located in Buchs – strategically positioned between Liechtenstein, Austria and Switzerland – and unites students and teachers from 22 different countries. Approximately 120 students from nursery school age to A-levels receive a world-class ed-ucation. The International School’s objective is to afford even young children an internationally oriented educa-tion and bring together different cultures. A number of different studies confirm the success of the ISR.
UNIVERSITIES IN THE LAKE CONSTANCE AREA (Excerpt)
n Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences, Dornbirnn Schloss Hofen, Lochau (Center for continuing education)n University of Liechtenstein, Vaduzn Technical University of Buchs (NTB) n University of St. Gallen (HSG)n Technical University of Zurich (ETH)n University of Konstanzn University of Baden-Wuerttemberg (DHBW), Ravensburgn University of Albstadt-Sigmaringenn Zeppelin University, Friedrichshafen
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11 CLEVER INITIATIVES Family benefits in the state of Vorarlberg
Family benefits are taken very seriously in Vorarlberg. The project “Kinder in die Mitte”, an initiative created by the state of Vorarlberg, aims to make Vorarlberg the most child, youth and family friendly state of Austria.
The “Family Point” (info and service centre for all family-related matters) was established to give parents access to and support for child care and after-school supervision, as-
sist people with family-related needs and help find options for caring for family members. The initiative offers a com-prehensive selection of family learning workshops, courses and events covering every aspect of child-rearing to help parents balance their work and family life.
Child care programs can be found for children of any age. There are parent-child centres, nursery facilities, nannies, play groups, kindergartens and after-school supervision centres. Children between 6-12 years of age can enjoy their summer vacations at the various summer camps in Vorar-lberg. These camps are focused on engaging children in in-telligent and creative recreational activities.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Compatibility of family and work is the subject of the “Most Family Friendly Company in Vorarlberg” competition. Fle-xible work time models, continuing education options specially designed for women and men on maternity and paternity leave are just some of the criteria taken into consideration for this award. More and more businesses in Vorarlberg are offering their own childcare services to their employees. Communities can also get involved in the “Family Friendly Communities” project to improve the qua-lity of life for families.
KIMI in the Rheintal Competence Centre is one of three childcare centres run by PRISMA that cares for children of working parents. Photo ©Marcel Hagen | TOP There are all kinds of children’s events in Vorarlberg. This image features “Die Lange Nacht der Forschung” (Research Night). Photo ©Darko Todorovic |
EDUCATION AND LEARNING
CHILDREN‘S DAYCARE FACILITIES
n 85 children‘s daycare facilities (1 1/2 – 6 years) n approx. 260 professional nannies (0 – 14 years)n 235 kindergartens (4 – 5 years)n 92 play grouops and parent-child centresn 9 after-school supervision centresn 102 after-school programmes in schoolsn 7 holiday camps
FAMILY BENEFITSn Family subsidiesn Child allowancen Child tax deductionsn Tax deductions for sole wage earnern Tax deductions for single parentsn Familiy pass
12 DESIGN UND CRAFTMANSHIPInnovative tradition
Vorarlberg values the four design pools of architecture, craftsmanship, communications and industrial design. The Vorarlberg style is inimitable and the creativity of Vorarlberg’s designers and architects is acknowledged around the globe.
“When it comes to the percentage of creative workers, Vorarlberg can easily compete with design
meccas like Hamburg and Berlin.”
The region has developed an impressive group of forward-thinking, capable craftsmen with a close relationship to lo-cal architects. Owing to a blend of tradition, innovation and creativity with an international focus and thanks to the wer-kraum bregenzerwald initiative, Vorarlberg craftsmanship is known for its quality far beyond its borders. werkraum is a coalition of around 90 craftsmen in Bregenzerwald, pro-viding impetus and serving as a platform for addressing its members’ concerns. Cooperative projects, discussions, ex-hibits and documentation strengthen the brand and provide information on the services offered by members. werkraum promotes both craftsmen and designers as well as young, creative talent.
POWERFUL INDUSTRIAL DESIGN LANGUAGE
Vorarlberg has the highest concentration of industrial acti-vity in Austria. Products from local industrial companies are known for their ability to combine functionality and aesthe-tics. The expertise of local industrial designers plays a key role here. This is how Dominic Schindler was able to give Gildemeister cutting machines, which are actually rather bulky, a surprisingly light and elegant design. The success
of this collaboration is confirmed by many awards Gildemei-ster has received.
REGIONAL PLATFORM FOR EXCHANGING IDEAS
The designforum Vorarlberg initiative works with the Vienna Museum Quarter to create a symbiosis of creativity-driven and production-oriented businesses in Vorarlberg. CAMPUS Dornbirn offers a leading-edge, highly versatile presentati-on platform for works and services provided by domestic and international designers. The programme includes ex-hibits, lectures, workshops and innovative formats such as the Pecha Kucha Night.
Florian Scheuring makes high-quality furniture for the Markus Faißt carpenter’s workshop. Photo ©Vorarlberg Tourismus | TOP Visitors can see first hand the excellent regional craftsmanship that goes into local products at werkraum bregenzerwald. Photo ©werkraum Bregenzerwald
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TIMELESS DESIGN
Tradition-steeped Längle & Hagspiel (L&H) of Höchst is the region’s unmistakable symbol of elegance in design. L&H manufactures high-quality designer chairs, benches and tables made of solid wood. Production is focused on stabi-lity, long life and sustainability. The furniture is considered to be simple, classic and certainly timeless and tasteful.
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13 ARCHITECTURAL MECCAA region of architectural artists
Nowhere else in the world there is so much construction activity and such a high concentration of unparalleled con-temporary architecture as in Vorarlberg. Countless publi-cations around the globe and the continuously growing ar-chitectural tourism industry in Vorarlberg bear witness to the region’s special relationship with architecture and the creative use of resources. Developments over the last 40 years have brought with them a concentration of architectu-rally beautiful everyday buildings that cannot be overlooked. Vorarlberg’s architects have established a name for them-selves around the world.
“Simple, clear designs, sophisticated details and precision craftsmanship – these are the characteristics
associated with Vorarlberg’s architecture today.”
Early attention to sustainability gave Vorarlberg an enor-mous head start in architectural development. However, the purist-like style of Vorarlberg’s architectural masterpieces is not only influenced by aesthetic principals; it also reflects the local attitude and the pragmatism this region is known for. Responsible treatment of existing resources can be tra-ced back to the traditional Bregenzerwald house and still applies today – both for residential and for commercial and municipal buildings.
Vorarlberg boasts an incredibly thriving wood construc-tion business. The goal here is to introduce wood into mo-dern, advanced construction and technology. Modern wood construction is a magnet for tourists who are interested in architecture, and the Vorarlberger holzbau_kunst brand is recognised even outside of the region‘s borders. The Rhine Valley and Bregenzerwald in particular are home to architec-tural jewels that truly enhance the breathtaking landscape.
“In Austria three percent of all home-builders hire an architect to design their homes;
in Vorarlberg it is one out of three.”
There’s no denying the awareness for architecture in the region, but Vorarlberg’s economy is also a continuous boon for the innovative, progressive construction industry. Net-working has always been strong within the construction in-
Vorarlberg wood construction creates aesthetic accents throughout the local landscape. This image features a single-family home in Hörbranz, desig-ned by Jürgen Hagspiel. Photo ©Hagspiel/Vlbg. Wood Construction Award | TOP The System3 modular home impressed visitors to New York’s MOMA. Photo ©Flickr.com C-Monster
CREATIVITY
A GUEST IN NEW YORK
The architectural duo Kaufmann | Rüf received an ama-zing honour in July 2008. They were one of five architect’s offices chosen from around the world to present their work at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York. 800,000 visitors to the exhibit in Manhattan were im-pressed by System3, an economically and ecologically sustainable modular house that represents the future of prefabricated homes. The construction quality and the futuristic, yet functional design fascinated both the jury and the visitors.
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dustry. This attitude unhindered by industry definitions and borders guarantees the overall excellence of a building and also focuses on the optimisation of energy efficiency and lighting concepts.
LEARNING IN STYLE
Even the schools in Vorarlberg are elegantly designed. The village of Warth is 1,500 metres above sea level in an area that sometimes cannot be accessed during winter time due to avalanche risk. This is why the community built their own
school in 1992. A house with a porthole, a half-timbered roof and an abundance of glass that has won the Austrian Buil-ders’ Award among other prizes.
“In Vorarlberg children grow up with new architecture in kindergartens and schools, and then build their own
homes when they are adults. This is how domestic construction continues to develop its style.”
Children grow up surrounded by Vorarlberg’s aesthetic architecture. This image shows the Bizau kindergarten, designed by Bernardo Bader. Photo ©Adolf Bereuter/Vlbg. Wood Construction Award | TOP right Office building element by Wolfgang Ritsch. Photo ©Battisti GmbH | TOP left Feel at home with the modern architecture of the Hotel Rote Wand designed by Dietrich | Untertrifaller. Photo ©Hotel Rote Wand
WELL-BEING MEETS PRAGMATICS
Architecture enthusiasts will want to see the Hotel Rote Wand (Red Wall) in Lech. The hotel, designed by archi-tecture duo Dietrich | Untertrifaller, is representative of a traditional atmosphere combined with timeless ele-gance and modern comfort. Despite the many awards they’ve received, the architects remain modest: “We’re not interested in creating sensational architecture; our solutions are simple and pragmatic.” The popular Fe-stival Theatre in Bregenz and the inatura experience in Dornbirn were also designed by Dietrich | Untertrifaller.
CENTRAL ARCHITECTURAL MASTERPIECES
Wolfgang Ritsch is one of the most renowned architectu-ral artists in Vorarlberg and paved the way for the Vorar-lberg Architectural Institute (vai). He initiated the institute in 1997 together with members of the Central Architects’ Association of Vorarlberg. Under his presidency vai esta-blished itself as a centre for excellence and knowledge and as the standard bearer for regional architecture and a key instrument in brand formation.
14 VORARLBERG RESPONSIBILITYEnergy independence and cleantech
BLUE GOLD
Water is Vorarlberg’s most important natural resource. Hy-droelectric power stations like the one at the Silvretta Reser-voir ensure a lasting supply of energy, and Lake Constance is the state’s source of potable water. Illwerke VKW employs 1,250 individuals and is one of the largest employers in the state. 97 % of all electricity produced in Vorarlberg is gained from hydropower. This power also benefits households in neighbouring Baden-Wuerttemberg and Tyrol.
PURE SUNSHINE
In addition to hydropower, the sun is also an increasingly important source of energy.
“Vorarlberg is Europe’s leading solar region. The state has doubled the total solar panel surface
area in the last five years.”
Today there are approximately 200,000 m² of solar panels in-stalled on residential buildings; this translates into more than half a square metre per resident. More and more builders are also buying heat pumps. The market share of heat pumps in subsidised new buildings is currently an astounding 68 %.
THE FUTURE STARTS HERE
Citizens of Vorarlberg appreciate nature and have their eyes set on the future. With the VLOTTE project the state is setting an example in the field of electromobility, as London does. Sustainable thinking reaches from energy efficient homes to eco-friendly forms of transportation all the way to future-oriented education and responsible business practices.
MAINTAINING BALANCE
Vorarlberg has a balanced budget, short communication pa-ths and streamlined administration to enforce the efficacy of regional political measures – and these efforts are ap-preciated by businesses and residents of Vorarlberg alike.
Ernest Hemingway was also captivated by Vorarlberg’s mountains. He spent his summers in Schruns. This image depicts the hiking paradise of Widder-stein. Photo ©Vorarlberg Tourismus, Peter Mathis | TOP Sustainable mobility is one of Vorarlberg’s environmental objectives. Photo ©aboutpixel.de HB1111
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SUSTAINABILITY
A MODEL REGION FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Cleantech is becoming increasingly important in Vorarl-berg. It can be described as the use of technology to gua-rantee a sustainable reduction in emissions and resource consumption while maintaining or improving capacity.
Local businesses not only see cleantech as an future market full of potential, but also as a comprehensive company philosophy. In addition to the many Vorarlberg businesses directly involved in the energy/environmen-tal technology industry (e.g. Bachmann electronic, Wink-ler Solar, Enercret, Weider Heat Pumps), companies from other sectors are also setting standards when it comes to sustainability through investments, projects or pro-ducts. Whether with eco-friendly packaging, the use of renewable energy sources or clean machines and more efficient production systems.
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HighQLaser developed the world’s shortest pulse laser, which can machine any type of material (including diamond and human tissue) without causing thermal damage. Photo ©HighQLaser GmbH | TOP Branches of 15 select Vorarlberg companies (without sales partners) Graphic ©WISTO
15 INTERNATIONAL WORKPLACEFrom Vorarlberg to the world
People who grow up in Vorarlberg are used to crossing bor-ders. The same applies to entrepreneurs who establish their businesses here. Often it’s only a question of time until their products reach the neighbouring economic areas of Swit-zerland, Liechtenstein and Germany (comprising a market of over 70 million consumers with tremendous purchasing power). Here internationalisation comes just as naturally as crossing geographic borders to surrounding countries.
“Vorarlberg’s desire for internationalisation is re-flected not only in the high quality of products, which
are designed for international competition, but also in the education and attitude of its people.”
Vorarlberg’s products are in use around the world, providing local professionals with opportunities for global careers.
16 USEFUL ADDRESSES
Federal State Administration of VorarlbergRoemerstrasse 156901 Bregenzwww.vorarlberg.at
Chamber of Labour VorarlbergWidnau 2-46800 Feldkirchwww.ak-vorarlberg.at
District Authority Administrations Bludenz / Bregenz / Dornbirn / Feldkirchwww.vorarlberg.at | Districts | District Authorities
Local Tax Offices in VorarlbergBregenz / Feldkirchwww.steuerverein.at/finanzamt/finanzamt_vorarlberg.htm
Federation of Austrian Industry - VorarlbergMillennium Park 46890 Lustenauwww.iv-vorarlberg.at
Vorarlberg Chamber of Commerce (WKV)Wichnergasse 96800 Feldkirchwww.wkv.at
Wirtschafts-Standort Vorarlberg GmbH (WISTO)Hintere Achmuehlerstraße 16850 Dornbirnwww.wisto.at
Vorarlberg TourismusPoststraße 116850 Dornbirnwww.vorarlberg.travel
Chancenland Vorarlberg www.chancenlan.at
Vorarlberg Online News Portal www.vol.at
Calendar of Events www.huet.at
Leisure and Recreation www.vorarlberg.com
Official Help Online www.help.gv.at
Career Consulting
Eduard Konzett www.konzett.atGiesinger & Ebner www.ebnerpersonal.atHRM-Institut www.hrm-institut.atKathan & Sepp www.die-personalberater.atLändlejob- Online jop portal www.laendlejob.atMayer Personalmanagement www.mayer.co.atNeumann International www.neumann-inter.com
Real Estate www.laendleimmo.at
Public Transportation
Vorarlberg Mobil (buses and trains) www.vmobil.atOrder a Taxi Online www.taxionline.atAustrian Railways www.oebb.atInnsbruck Airport www.innsbruck-airport.comAltenrhein Airport (CH) www.stgallen-airport.chZurich Airport (CH) www.flughafen-zuerich.chFriedrichshafen Airport (GER) www.fly-away.deMemmingen Airport (GER) www.airport-allgaeu.deMunich Airport (GER) www.munich-airport.de
Vorarlberg‘s Media
Vorarlberger Nachrichten (daily newspaper) www.vn.vol.atNEUE Vorarlberger Tageszeitung (daily newspaper) www.neue.atVorarlberger Wirtschaft www.wirtschaftsbund-vbg.atDie Wirtschaft - WKV Business Journal www.wkv.at
The view of snow covered Dornbirn at twilight. Photo ©Flickr.com Matthias Rhomberg
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