LISAvienna invites you to read the new Vienna Life Science Report. 

Download the file here: https://www.lisavienna.at/fileadmin/user_upload/LISAvienna/Downloads/Vienna_Life_Science_Report_2024-25.pdf

Executive Summary

Life sciences are one of Vienna’s most dynamic innovation engines, strengthening the city’s position as a leading hub in this sector in Europe. Applying the latest standards in innovation research, the Vienna Life Science Report 2024/25 confirms sustained growth in both scientific excellence and economic impact.

Vienna is home to 754 life sciences organisations, including 646 companies and 19 renowned research and education institutions, with a total workforce exceeding 49,000 employees. Although the city accounts for just 21% of Austria’s population, it represents over half of the nation’s entire life sciences sector. Annual revenues reached €22.7 billion in 2023 and between 2020 and 2023, employment grew by 8%, and 83 new life sciences companies were established.

A closer look at the segments shows that the regional biotechnology and pharmaceutical business sector includes 349 companies with 22,988 employees and a total turnover of €18.4 billion. Additional 297 companies are included in the medical device business sector with 10,667 employees, adding €4.4 billion in revenue.

Vienna’s innovation pipeline is driven by strong academic performance: in 2023 alone, Vienna’s research and education institutions produced 8,800 publications. More than 34,000 students were enrolled in life sciences programmes, reflecting deep and growing interest in the field and helping to ensure a future-ready talent pool.

These developments confirm the long-term success of Vienna’s strategy of cultivating a robust life sciences ecosystem over the past 25 years. By fostering innovative solutions in medicine and environmental technologies, the sector contributes significantly to both human health and planetary well-being – enhancing the quality of life that Vienna is globally recognised for and strengthening its appeal to international talent.

All the top 20 global biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical device companies (by 2023 sales) maintain a strategic presence in the Vienna region, and the dynamic start-up and scale-up scene here is pushing the frontiers of innovation exemplified by activities ranging from drug discovery to AI-driven digital solutions for a modern and effective healthcare system. Publicly announced equity investments and financing milestones, including licensing deals and M&A, have consistently reached the triple-digit million-euro range annually.

More detailed insights, data and facts are presented in this report.