Austria - National strategic roadmap for the Digital Decade

The Austrian strategic roadmap for the Digital Decade developed by the Federal Ministry of Finance sets out the strategical goals of the Digital Decade on the basis of the Digital Compass and has developed target paths and key measures.  

The report uses the data in the Digital Decade Report 2023 on the National Base Value of the Digital Decade Targets, the EU baseline value for Digital Decade Targets in 2023 and the EU target value for 2030. On basic digital skills, however, although Austria significantly exceeds the EU average (63% compared to 54%), there is ample room for improvement to reach the 2030 target of at least 80% of the population having a basic level of digital skills. At the same time, it is important to mention that a third of the Austrian population possesses above basic digital skills. Also on a positive note, 75% of Austrians has at least basic digital content creation skills, compared to the 66% EU average, and 90% of the Austrian population uses the internet. 

The Roadmap for Austria consists of 16 chapters:

• Skills (basic digital competences)]
• ICT specialists
• Gigabit
• 5G
• Semiconductors 
• Edge nodes
• Quantum Informatics 
• Cloud computing
• Artificial intelligence
• Big data
• Small and medium-sized enterprises
• Unicorns
• Digital Services for Citizens
• Digital Services Company 
• Electronic patient file 
• eID - 100 % achieved 

Priorities for the development of digital skills

In Austria, the proportion of people with basic digital skills is 63%. The aim is to increase this proportion to 70 % by 2026 and to 100 % by 2030, for both women and men. A total of 220,700 ICT specialists were employed in Austria in 2022, 42,700 of whom were women. Compared to 2017, this is an increase of 32,900 skilled workers or 17.5 %. Over time, there has been a positive trend in terms of the proportion of ICT specialists in total employment, the proportion of female ICT specialists and the proportion of ICT graduates.

Strategies, measures and actions to achieve the digital goals:

• Measure 1: Establishment of a "Digital Competences" office at the OeAD  
• Measure 2: Development and implementation of an overarching overall strategy to increase digital (basic) skills  
• Measure 3: Development of a 3-year programme and implementation 
• Measure 4: Introduction and application of a National Reference Framework 
• Measure 5: Digital Skills for All pilot project: Low-threshold educational programmes to increase digital skills 
• Measure 6: Digital everywhere: Low-threshold workshops and events in municipalities and cities 
• Measure 7: Digital Everywhere PLUS: Educational institutions offering in-depth qualifications  
• Measure 8: Digital end devices for pupils and teachers
• Measure 9: Further education and training for teachers, in particular MOOCs 
• Measure 10: Digital (basic) education from primary school to upper secondary level 
• Measure 11: Education portal - Digital School Portal
• Measure 12: Repository and Open Educational Resources - Eduthek 
• Measure 13: Digital competence measurement digi.check 
• Measure 14: Teaching programmes at universities  to teach digital and AI skills and digital literacy  

When driving digitalisation forward, there are also challenges to overcome: 

Challenge 1: Low basic digital skills

• In the age of digital transformation, citizens need to have basic digital skills to be able to survive in their everyday professional and private lives. These basic skills are essential for all target groups (senior citizens, parents, employees, etc.).

Challenge 2: Development and implementation of new teaching and learning methods, professional understanding of teachers

• Measure 8 (Digital end devices): Access to online resources and tools and the opportunity to integrate innovative digital learning approaches into lessons.

• Measure 9 (further education and training): Training teachers to use current and future teaching and learning methods effectively and integrate them into their teaching practice.

• Measure 10 (digital education): Systematic approach to digital education for a continuous and gradual introduction to digital concepts and skills.

• Measure 11 (education portal): SSO, organisation platform.

• Measure 12 (Eduthek): Access to free and high-quality educational resources for all.

Challenge 3: Funding girls in STEM sector

• Measure 8 (Digital end devices): Early and equal access to digital devices can help to overcome traditional gender roles and prejudices with regard to technical professions.

• Measure 10 (basic digital education): Consistent basic digital education from primary school to upper secondary level ensures that all pupils, regardless of gender, are equipped with the necessary digital skills.

• Measure 12 (Eduthek): Open Educational Resources that aim to get girls interested in STEM subjects, for example by presenting female role models or materials that are specifically tailored to the interests and needs of girls.