Economic policy targeting the business sector aims to provide the best possible framework for enterprises of all sizes and sectors in an ongoing process, on the one hand, while on the other, offering support for all activities with the potential to further improve Austria’s competitiveness and economic growth.

Given the structure of Austria’s economy, in which small and medium-sized enterprises account for 99% of all businesses, it is no surprise that SME policy is a cornerstone of economic policy.

Nearly 300,000 SMEs – by definition a business with less than 250 employees – present a highly heterogeneous picture. More than half of these businesses are one-person businesses, which have no employees at all, but often show growth potential and an intention to employ people. In 2008, Austria recorded some 5,000 medium-sized enterprises (with more than 50 employees) employing a total of 500,000 persons. This clearly shows that SME’s concerns and needs tend to vary greatly. For this reason, the BMWFJ strives to take specific measures geared to the specific sector and size of a business, while at the same time, keeping the common interests of all business enterprises in mind.