Ecoplus

What Ecoplus does

Ecoplus. Niederösterreichs Wirtschaftsagentur GmbH is the official business agency of the State of Lower Austria, founded in 1962 and headquartered in St. Pölten. The organization operates as a 100% state-owned limited liability company executing a public economic development mandate under private-law structure, employing approximately 100 staff and managing 38 direct and indirect participations. Its service portfolio spans five interconnected pillars: (1) commercial real estate through 16 business parks, 6 technology and research centers (TFZ), and 4 technopoles; (2) innovation networks via 4 industry clusters (Construction/Energy/Environment, Food, Plastics, Mechatronics) and 2 platforms (Health Technology, Green Transformation/Bioeconomy) with 674 partners and 940 cooperation projects; (3) regional funding administration including the LEADER 2023-2027 rural development program across 19 regions; (4) investor services and company settlement support for both domestic enterprises and international companies via the Invest in Lower Austria initiative; and (5) subsidiary operations covering digitalization (ecoplus Digital GmbH / Haus der Digitalisierung in Tulln), startup support (RIZ UP), tourism infrastructure (ecoplus Alpin GmbH operating cable cars and alpine facilities), and Danube port logistics (Ennshafen NÖ GmbH).

The business model is primarily publicly funded rather than transactional: services to clients — including site selection, funding advisory, and project support — are provided free of charge, with operating costs sourced from the Lower Austria state budget and EU co-financed programs (LEADER, EFRE/NÖ Innovationsökosystem). Ancillary revenue streams include rental income from business parks, TFZ, and science park real estate; event venue revenue from the ecoforum and Haus der Digitalisierung; subsidiary revenue from tourism operations and port logistics. Historically, ecoplus has disbursed €1.56 billion in regional funding across 4,176 projects, supporting 37,337 jobs and triggering €3.56 billion in investment. Technology infrastructure is intentionally limited — the organization self-identifies as a service and advisory body rather than a technology company, with basic web/CRM tooling and no proprietary platform or AI capabilities. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales through relationship-based engagement with municipalities, enterprises, and international investors, augmented by international event presence at GITEX EUROPE, Bits & Pretzels, and Slush, plus partner referrals from AWS, ABA, FFG, and WKO.

Name

Ecoplus

Legal name

ecoplus. Niederösterreichs Wirtschaftsagentur GmbH

Website

https://ecoplus.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Ecoplus is the 100% state-owned business agency of Lower Austria, providing free economic development services including business parks, technology centers, regional funding administration, cluster networking, and company settlement support to enterprises, municipalities, and international investors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Economic Development Services

NAICS

Administration of Economic Programs (9261), Administration of Economic Programs (926), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744), Non-Operating Establishments (9995)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Research, Statistics & Policy Advisory (BPADAMAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Policy, Planning & Regulation (BPAIAMAA), Environmental Education, Capacity Building & Community Engagement (BPADALAO)

Keywords

• Regional economic development
• Business location advisory
• Cluster management
• Regional funding programs
• Business park operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Pölten

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Public Funding: As a 100% state-owned GmbH (limited liability company) owned by the State of Lower Austria, ecoplus operates as a government-funded business agency. Its services for businesses, municipalities, and organizations are primarily subsidized or free of charge, funded through the state budget and EU co-financing programs such as the LEADER rural development program and EFRE (European Regional Development Fund) for the NÖ Innovationsökosystem.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ecoplus is the official business agency of the State of Lower Austria, providing integrated regional economic development services. It operates 16 commercial business parks and 6 Technology and Research Centers, administers regional and EU co-financed funding programs (including LEADER), runs 4 industry clusters and 2 innovation platforms, and delivers investor advisory and company settlement support through the Invest in Lower Austria initiative. All advisory services to businesses, municipalities, research institutions, and associations are provided free of charge or subsidized under its public mandate.

Product overview

Ecoplus (ecoplus. Niederösterreichs Wirtschaftsagentur GmbH) is the business agency of the state of Lower Austria, operating as a diversified economic development organization rather than a traditional product company. Its offering comprises five interconnected pillars: (1) Wirtschaftsparks and Mietobjekte providing commercial real estate and industrial zones; (2) six Technologie- und Forschungszentren (TFZ) in Krems, Tulln, Wiener Neustadt, Wieselburg-Land, Seibersdorf, and Klosterneuburg plus four Technopole bundling academic and research competencies; (3) Cluster & Plattformen networks including Bau.Energie.Umwelt, Lebensmittel, Kunststoff, Mechatronik clusters plus health technology and green transformation platforms; (4) Regionalförderung including the LEADER rural development program and general regional funding; and (5) Investorenservice for company settlement support including Invest in Lower Austria for international companies. Supporting infrastructure includes the Haus der Digitalisierung in Tulln and its virtual counterpart, the Standortkompass online property platform, and beherbergung.aktiv for accommodation projects. The portfolio is executed through various subsidiaries including ecoplus Beteiligungen GmbH, ecoplus Digital GmbH, ecoplus Alpin GmbH, RIZ UP Gründeragentur, Ennshafen NÖ GmbH, and VIENNA REGION Wirtschaft.Raum.Entwicklung GmbH. The organization manages 16 business parks, 4 technopoles, 38 direct and indirect participations, and employs approximately 100 staff.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Invest in Lower Austria: International investment and company settlement service for Lower Austria
• beherbergung.aktiv
• Technopol Krems
• Technopol Tulln
• Technopol Wiener Neustadt
• Technopol Wieselburg
• Haus der Digitalisierung
• ecoplus Cluster & Plattformen NÖ
• LEADER

Products and services

• Wirtschaftsparks (Business Parks) Network of 16 commercial and industrial zones providing premium business locations throughout Lower Austria with modern infrastructure and facilities for company settlement and expansion.
• Technologie- und Forschungszentren (TFZ) Six technology and research centers in Krems, Tulln, Wiener Neustadt, Wieselburg-Land, Seibersdorf, and Klosterneuburg offering laboratory and office spaces for innovative companies at the science-business interface.
• Technopole Four technology poles (Krems, Tulln, Wiener Neustadt, Wieselburg) bundling competencies around educational and research institutions for technology-oriented regional development.
• Cluster & Plattformen NÖ (Innovation Clusters and Platforms) Innovation networks including Bau.Energie.Umwelt Cluster, Lebensmittel Cluster, Kunststoff-Cluster, Mechatronik-Cluster, Plattform für Gesundheitstechnologie, and Plattform für Green Transformation & Bioökonomie forming the Lower Austrian Innovation Ecosystem (NÖ Innovationsökosystem) with 674 cluster partners and 940 cooperation projects.
• LEADER Funding Program 2023-2027 EU-co-financed funding program for rural development covering 19 regions in Lower Austria, with ecoplus handling non-agricultural measures supporting investments in tourism infrastructure, accommodation, business areas, and inter-municipal cooperation.
• Regionalförderung (Regional Funding) Regional funding program supporting investments in economic and tourism infrastructure across Lower Austria, including tourist projects, accommodation, business areas, and inter-municipal cooperation; has disbursed €1.56 billion across 4,176 funded projects, securing 37,337 jobs and triggering €3.56 billion in investments.
• Investorenservice & Betriebsansiedlung (Investor Advisory and Company Settlement) Advisory and support services for company settlement, expansion, location search, financing, and funding for businesses establishing or growing in Lower Austria, including klimafitte (climate-fit) location development and inter-municipal sites.
• Invest in Lower Austria International investment and company settlement service attracting foreign companies to Lower Austria with free services including location evaluation, business settlement support, permits, and financing, including presence at GITEX EUROPE, Bits & Pretzels, and Slush.
• Standortkompass Online platform for listing and finding commercial real estate properties in Lower Austria, filterable by location and including brownfield sites.
• beherbergung.aktiv Central contact point for hotel and accommodation projects in Lower Austria, supporting development and settlement of quality accommodation establishments.
• Haus der Digitalisierung (House of Digitalization) Flagship project of Lower Austria's digitalization strategy featuring 4,200 m² of showrooms, event areas, FH Wiener Neustadt lecture halls, networking zones, offices, and a FabLab science laboratory in Tulln.
• Virtuelles Haus der Digitalisierung Virtual information hub and online platform (virtuelleshaus.at) for digitalization topics, providing structured digital knowledge resources and exhibition content.
• ecoforum Event Location Rentable event location in ecoplus business park IZ NÖ-Süd offering modern facilities for conferences and corporate events.
• XISTA Science Park Science park in Klosterneuburg providing laboratory and office spaces for companies at the science-business interface, with ongoing expansion including the new Building 4.
• EMI (Energie Mobilität Innovation) Initiative for innovative energy and mobility concepts, originally focused on electromobility and now expanded to include renewable energy and hydrogen technologies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,176 funded projects supported through regional funding
• +6 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Business Upper AustriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative between Lower Austria and Upper Austria for the Kunststoff-Cluster (Plastics Cluster) and Mechatronik-Cluster (Mechatronics Cluster). Business Upper Austria (biz-up) serves as the Upper Austrian partner, while ecoplus represents Lower Austria. This cross-state collaboration creates a unique network spanning two Austrian states for plastics and mechatronics industries.
• Vienna Region Marketing GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture company owned 50% by ecoplus and 50% by Wiener Wirtschaftsagentur (Vienna Business Agency). The partnership establishes a platform for cooperative activities in the Vienna Region and aims to position the Vienna Region as an international business and technology location.
• RIZ UP Niederösterreichs Gründeragentur GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partnerecoplus holds 100% ownership of RIZ UP, the Lower Austrian startup agency. RIZ UP supports companies throughout the entire founding and growth process with free consulting from business plan to online marketing, seminars, and video tutorials. Operates from 6 startup centers with rental spaces and seminar rooms, plus 8 advisory offices including 2 co-working space partnerships.
• Ennshafen NÖ GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint Danube port venture in Enns-Ennsdorf combining water, rail, and road transport in the ecoplus Business Park Ennsdorf. The Ennshafen NÖ GmbH (Lower Austria) and Ennshafen OÖ GmbH (Upper Austria) jointly market Austria's newest public Danube port with EHG Ennshafen GmbH.
• ecoplus Alpin GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner100% ecoplus-owned subsidiary operating cable cars and tourism infrastructure. Subsidiaries include Annaberger Liftbetriebs Gesellschaft, Erlebnisalm Mönichkirchen, Hochkar & Ötscher Tourismus GmbH, Reidl Hotel und Gastronomie Errichtungs-Gesellschaft m.b.H, Bergbahnen St. Corona GmbH with Familienarena Bucklige Welt-Wechselland GmbH.
• ecoplus Beteiligungen GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral subsidiary holding 18 additional companies including business park corporations, real estate projects like Donau Gewerbepark Krems GmbH, six technology and research centers, and ecoplus Digital GmbH.
• ecoplus Digital GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner100% ecoplus subsidiary developing and implementing the House of Digitalization project in Tulln, which opened in December 2022. Operates the 4,200 m² flagship digitalization hub with showrooms, event spaces, FH Wiener Neustadt lecture halls, networking zones, and FabLab scientific laboratory.
• AWS (Austria Wirtschaftsservice)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAustrian federal promotional bank providing funding and financing services. ecoplus connects clients with AWS as part of its comprehensive funding advisory services.
• ABA - Invest in AustriaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAustrian Investment Promotion Agency. ecoplus collaborates for international investment attraction to Lower Austria.
• FFG (Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAustrian Research Promotion Agency. ecoplus connects clients to FFG for technology-oriented funding opportunities.
• EURADAminorOthersEuropean Association of Development Agencies. International network for economic development professionals.
• WKO (Wirtschaftskammer)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAustrian Federal Economic Chamber. Partnership for business networking and SME support services.
• LEADER Local Action Groups (LAGs)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner19 LEADER Local Action Groups across Lower Austria implementing rural development strategies. ecoplus serves as the primary contact for non-agricultural measures under the EU co-financed LEADER program 2023-2027, working closely with the Agricultural Promotion Division of the Lower Austrian State Government.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves18 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wirtschaftsagentur Wien (Vienna Business Agency): Austrian state-level economic development agency for Vienna, offering direct consulting, funding advisory, real estate, and innovation services — directly comparable in mandate and service portfolio to ecoplus. Already an operating partner via the 50/50 JV 'Vienna Region Wirtschaft.Raum.Entwicklung GmbH'.
• Standortagentur Tirol: Tyrol's location and economic development agency providing investor services, cluster management, and innovation infrastructure — analogous peer for a Tyrolean state with a comparable mandate to ecoplus.
• Business Upper Austria (Bezirk Oberösterreich): Upper Austrian state economic development agency operating cluster, location, and innovation services. Joint partner with ecoplus on the Kunststoff-Cluster and Mechatronik-Cluster, making it the closest structural peer and collaborator.
• SFG – Steirische Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft: Styrian state economic development agency offering funding advisory, business settlement, and innovation cluster support — directly comparable in role and service mix to ecoplus for the State of Styria.

Broad incumbents

• AWS (Austria Wirtschaftsservice): Austrian federal promotional bank providing SME funding, equity, and startup capital across all of Austria — a nation-level incumbent that ecoplus cross-refers clients to and that competes for the same SME-customer funnel.
• Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie: Germany's largest state-level business and technology development agency, operating real estate, cluster and FDI services for Berlin/Brandenburg — among the most-scaled international analogues to ecoplus's mandate.
• Wirtschaftskammer Österreich (WKO): Austrian Federal Economic Chamber representing all Austrian businesses; broader in scope than ecoplus but overlapping on SME advisory, internationalization, and networking — a partner that also sets competing touch-points with the same SME base.
• ABA – Invest in Austria: Austrian federal investment promotion agency; broader geographic scope than ecoplus and focused specifically on inward FDI. ecoplus partners with ABA for inbound investor flows, making it the federal-level incumbent counterpart.

Emerging players

• Invest Bristol & Bath: Regional investment promotion agency for the Bristol-Bath city-region; similar sub-national mandate combining FDI, real estate, and cluster promotion. Smaller and more focused than ecoplus but directly comparable in service composition.

Others

• FFG (Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft): Austrian national research funding agency; complementary rather than competitive, channeling R&D grants to the same research institutions and innovative companies ecoplus serves via its TFZs and cluster network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/ecoplusnoe
• Xx.com/ecoplus_noe
• Facebookfacebook.com/ecoplus.noe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ecoplus-noe

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ecoplus