In terms of digitization, Austria ranks 10th out of 27 EU countries this year. Austria is particularly good when it comes to “human capital” and the integration of digital technologies by companies, and according to the Index for the Digital Economy and Society catching up has to be done when it comes to cloud applications and big data use 2022 (DESI) presented on Thursday.
Secretary of State Florian Tursky (ÖVP) wants to bring Austria into the top 5 by 2025. “Obviously there’s still a lot to do here,” he explained. To reach the top 5, “we will invest in broadband expansion as well as digital administration”. Tursky described digital identity cards as a “major milestone”. “It is essential for Austria that we are among the winners of digitization,” he added.
The EU Commission particularly praised the area “Human Capital”, with the exception of the indicator “Companies offering upskilling in information and communication technology (ICT)”. According to the responsible State Secretariat in Vienna, the share of ICT specialists in Austria is above the EU average, but at the same time the share of companies that have problems filling special ICT positions is above the EU average.
Austria also achieved good values for 5G network coverage. However, in terms of very high capacity fixed network coverage and usage, Austria is still well below the EU average, as noted by the EU Commission. The biggest hurdle is still the availability of higher speeds in rural areas.
We need to catch up when it comes to the use of big data and the cloud
Austria also scored in several areas in terms of digital technology integration – especially in the use of digital technologies and in cross-border online trade. Austria is also above the EU average when it comes to artificial intelligence, “while the use of big data and cloud is below the EU average,” the report said.
Austria is also doing well in the field of digital administrative services. According to the EU Commission, Austria is well above the EU average in the number of eGovernment users. The Brussels authority has also pointed positively on e-government services for citizens, but Austria is just below average when it comes to digital government services for businesses.
Finland leading
The DESI report from the European Commission is published annually. Finland took first place this year, followed by Denmark and the Netherlands. Romania leads the rear. Austria was also in 10th place last year, after 13th in 2020.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
