Internationalisierungscenter Steiermark

What Internationalisierungscenter Steiermark does

ICS Internationalisierungscenter Steiermark GmbH (the 'Internationalisation Centre Styria') is a privately held, publicly funded export service organization headquartered in Graz, Austria. Founded in 2005 and operating as a subsidiary of WKO Steiermark in partnership with Land Steiermark and SFG (Steirische Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft), ICS serves Styrian companies seeking to internationalize, with a primary focus on small and medium-sized enterprises that are either new to exporting ('Neoexporteure') or seeking to expand existing export activity. Its core services include an Info-Point for general export inquiries, in-depth personal consultation, the Export Academy qualification program, themed Fokusprogramme (three-year country-focused curricula), economic delegations and business missions to priority markets, and access to the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) marketplace with more than 10,000 European company profiles. Additional offerings include the online platform ExportKnowHow.at and free self-assessment Fit Checks for export readiness, digitalization, and supply chain resilience, plus advisory on UN tenders and public procurement.

ICS runs multiple EU-funded projects as part of its portfolio, including Restart Export (REACT-EU/EFRE funded, 75% subsidized coaching), DESIRE (e-health resilience), DiGEM (Digital Gateway Emerging Markets), REUSE2030 (circular economy), and TIGER (e-health and social innovation in senior care). A wholly-owned subsidiary, Steirische Exportservice GmbH, executes specific EU-funded projects such as Restart Export. The organization is led by General Manager Karl Hartleb (appointed September 2023) and operates a small team (11-50 employees). Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the organization is funded primarily through public sources including WKO Steiermark, SFG, Land Steiermark, the Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs (BMDW), and EU structural funds. Distribution leverage comes from partnerships with WKO Steiermark, AUSSENWIRTSCHAFT AUSTRIA (110+ offices in 70+ countries), and the Enterprise Europe Network.

The business model is closer to a public-sector export promotion agency than a commercial enterprise: most core advisory services are free (Info-Point, neo-exporter consulting, Fit Checks), while specialized programs operate on a 75%-subsidized basis. There are no disclosed software products, no app, and no API; the technology footprint consists of an informational website, the ExportKnowHow.at reference platform, and integrations with EEN plus standard web analytics (Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel). Marketing is conducted through the website, a newsletter (Export-News), social channels (Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, YouTube), events, webinars, and earned media via a press area. The organization received the 'Best Foreign Trade Organisation Worldwide' recognition from the International Trade Centre (WTO/UN) in 2014.

Name

Internationalisierungscenter Steiermark

Legal name

ICS Internationalisierungscenter Steiermark GmbH

Website

https://ic-steiermark.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ICS Internationalisierungscenter Steiermark is a publicly funded, Graz-based export service organization that advises and supports Styrian SMEs with international market entry, qualification programs, economic missions, and access to the Enterprise Europe Network marketplace, operating under WKO Steiermark.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Graz

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Export Advisory Services: The organization provides free initial consulting services for new exporters (Neoexporteure) and qualified export advisory through the Export Academy program. Services include information, personal consultation, workshops, and events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ICS provides advisory, consulting, and qualification services that help Styrian companies enter and expand in international markets. Its portfolio includes info-point inquiries, personal export consultations, the Export Academy training program, focus programs on target countries, EU-funded projects (e.g., Restart Export, DESIRE, DiGEM, REUSE2030, TIGER), and access to the Enterprise Europe Network online partner-search marketplace with 10,000+ profiles.

Product overview

ICS Internationalisierungscenter Steiermark is an export service organization for Styrian businesses, not a technology product company. Its offering consists of advisory services and online platforms for export support. The core services include Info-Point and Personal Consultation for general export advice, Export Academy for qualification programs, and Fokusprogramme for theme-specific seminars. The online platform ExportKnowHow.at provides reference materials and self-assessment tools (Export Fit Check, Digitalisierungs Fit Check, Supply Chain Fit Check). Additionally, ICS manages several EU-funded projects including Restart Export, DESIRE, DiGEM, REUSE2030, and TIGER. Business partner matching is facilitated through the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN). The organization does not offer a unified software product but rather delivers services, consulting, and access to funding programs for export-oriented companies in Styria.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Restart Export: EU-funded project supporting Styrian companies in recovering from COVID-19 export impacts through coaching and market entry support
• Export Academy
• ExportKnowHow.at
• DiGEM - Digital Gateway Emerging Markets
• Enterprise Europe Network (EEN)

Products and services

• Info-Point Quick information service for export-oriented companies covering country information, export matters, and contact referrals, provided by ICS in Graz.
• Personal Consultation (Persönliche Beratung) Individual, in-depth consultation sessions on country-specific and export topics for Styrian companies.
• Export Academy Qualification program for new and existing exporters consisting of webinars and seminars on country and export topics, coupled with individual consulting with industry experts.
• ExportKnowHow.at Online service and information platform that serves as a reference work and step-by-step guide for exporters, including the Export Fit Check self-assessment.
• Fokusprogramme (Focus Programs) Three-year themed seminar programs covering tax and legal frameworks, transport and logistics, insurance and intellectual property protection, and intercultural coaching for specific focus countries.
• Restart Export EU-funded coaching and market entry support program providing 75% subsidized individual coaching to help Styrian SMEs recover export activity after the COVID-19 pandemic.
• DESIRE – Development of E-Health Solutions Improving Resilience in Europe EU project focused on developing e-health solutions to improve resilience in Europe, involving Styrian companies in cross-border e-health initiatives.
• DiGEM – Digital Gateway Emerging Markets EU-funded project addressing market diversification, digitalization, and international talent development for Styrian companies seeking to enter emerging markets.
• REUSE2030 – REshaping Central Europe IndUstry Sustainability through circular Economy models by 2030 EU project reshaping Central Europe industry sustainability through circular economy models by 2030.
• TIGER – FosTering ehealth and social Innovations as Game-changers in sEnior and Remote care EU project fostering e-health and social innovations as game-changers in senior and remote care.
• UN Tenders Support (UNO-Ausschreibungen) Advisory and support service helping Styrian companies participate in United Nations tender procedures.
• Economic Missions & Country Focus Trips (Wirtschafts-Missionen & Länderschwerpunktreisen) Organization of Styrian economic delegations and country-focus trips to ICS target countries for export-oriented companies.
• Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) Business Partner Search Online marketplace with over 10,000 European company profiles for business partner matching and participation in cooperation fairs across all industries.
• Financing & Funding Advisory (Finanzierungs- & Förderberatung) Advisory on financing and public funding options for Styrian companies' internationalization projects, in cooperation with SFG and other public funders.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75% market entry funding subsidy available for qualifying SMEs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• WKO Steiermark (Wirtschaftskammer Österreich Landesstelle Steiermark)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization; ICS is a subsidiary of WKO Steiermark. Provides institutional support, network access, and co-branding for export services.
• SFG (Steirische Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose cooperation with Styrian business promotion agency; provides various funding programs supporting internationalization efforts of local businesses.
• go-internationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative of Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs (BMDW) and Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO); provides starting funds and reduced costs for international expansion support.
• AUSSENWIRTSCHAFT AUSTRIA / ADVANTAGE AUSTRIAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorldwide network with over 110 offices in more than 70 countries; helps Austrian companies enter foreign markets with expert guidance on site.
• Enterprise Europe Network (EEN)coreTechnology or IntegrationEU-funded network providing online marketplace with over 10,000 company profiles for business partner matching across Europe.
• Land SteiermarkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional government partner; collaborates on economic missions and international cooperation projects (e.g., Montenegro partnership agreement).
• Steirische Exportservice GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner100% subsidiary of ICS; serves as project executing organization for Restart Export initiative funded by EFRE/REACT-EU.
• EU Projects (DESIRE, REUSE2030, DiGEM, TIGER)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipates in various EU-funded projects addressing e-health solutions, circular economy, digital gateway to emerging markets, and e-health innovations for senior care.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT): Flemish government agency promoting sustainable international business for Flanders-based companies in investment and trade. Closely comparable in mission (regional export promotion) and funding model (government-backed).
• Austrian Business Agency (ABA): Austrian national investment promotion agency helping foreign companies establish operations in Austria. Comparable as an Austrian public agency supporting business internationalization, with overlapping partner networks (e.g., WKO).
• Bayern International: Bavaria's state-owned internationalization agency supporting Bavarian SMEs with export promotion and foreign market entry. Highly comparable as a German regional counterpart operating an analogous public-funded export promotion model.
• Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie: Berlin's public-private economic development agency supporting Berlin-based companies with internationalization, innovation, and investment attraction services. Closely comparable as a regional German public-business partnership model.
• Enterprise Estonia (EAS): Estonian government foundation promoting enterprise and regional development, including export promotion and internationalization support for Estonian companies. Comparable public-mandate export promotion agency serving a small EU member state.
• CzechInvest: Czech government investment and business development agency supporting SMEs and foreign investors. Comparable as a Central European public business promotion agency with overlapping export and internationalization services.
• Greater Zurich Area: Swiss public-private organization promoting the Greater Zurich region internationally for business location and expansion. Comparable as a regional European economic promotion agency operating with a similar public-private partnership model.
• Austria Wirtschaftsservice Gesellschaft (aws): Austria's federal promotional bank providing funding and advisory support for Austrian businesses including internationalization programs. Directly comparable as a publicly-backed business support entity serving similar customer types.
• Wirtschaftskammer Österreich (WKO): Austrian Federal Economic Chamber and parent/related body of ICS. Provides nationwide export services and chamber membership support that directly overlap with ICS's regional mandate, making it the most structurally comparable peer.
• AUSSENWIRTSCHAFT AUSTRIA / Advantage Austria: Austrian federal export promotion network with 110+ offices in 70+ countries. Direct strategic partner of ICS and the most direct functional peer for international market entry support for Austrian companies.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/icsteiermark
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCsBVGz23c1E4J7kzM8UldHA
• Facebookfacebook.com/ICSteiermark
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/icsteiermark

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Internationalisierungscenter Steiermark