Industrial, Innovation and International Economics

The Research Group analyses the structure and dynamics of markets, internationalisation strategies, the innovation system and the productivity of companies, industries and entire economies against the background of international competition and structural change towards a sustainable and digital economy.

The empirical analyses of the Research Group are based on sound knowledge and applications of modern industrial economics, innovation, foreign trade and growth theory. The strength of the Research Group lies in the combination of methods and findings from industrial economics, innovation research and foreign trade analysis.

The Research Group examines the determinants of economic development along the dimensions of start-up, survival, innovation, financing, growth and productivity of firms. Furthermore, the Research Group analyses the efficiency and effectiveness of innovation and regulatory systems as well as the effects of technological developments and digitalisation. In the area of international economics, the focus is on the effects of globalisation, specialisation patterns in foreign trade, supply linkages and corporate decisions in light of geo-economic upheavals in the global economy as well as the digital and green transformation.

The Research Group contributes to WIFO's economic forecasts. Within the framework of the quarterly WIFO Economic Outlook, individual forecasts are prepared for foreign trade, investment, manufacturing and economic services. The scientific management of the WIFO-Konjunkturtest (business cycle survey) is also located in the Research Group.

Study
26.01.2026
Herausforderung der chinesischen Industriepolitik und Handlungsoptionen für Österreich und Europa
Finalization: January 2026
Contractor project: Bundesministerium für Innovation, Mobilität und Infrastruktur
Study
14.01.2026
Summary
Finalization: January 2026
Project partner Austrian Institute of Economic Research, Austrian Institute of Technology
WIFO-Konjunkturtest
08.01.2026
Results of the WIFO-Konjunkturtest (Business Cycle Survey) of December 2025
Finalization: December 2025
Contractor project: European Commission
Specialist publication: WIFO-Konjunkturtest
Article in Peer-reviewed Journal
25.12.2025
Specialist publication: Journal of Cleaner Production
JEL-Codes: L62, L25, F14
Project
Ongoing project since: 21.10.2025
Contractor project: Federal Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism
Project
Ongoing project since: 06.10.2025
Contractor project: Rat für Forschung, Wissenschaft, Innovation und Technologieentwicklung
Proper Use of Generative Models of Artificial Intelligence
22.07.2025
Austria's GDP Falls by 0.23 Percent in the Short-term and by 0.33 Percent in the Medium- to Long-term
04.04.2025
Macroeconomics and Public Finance
Labour Economics, Income and Social Security
Regional Economics and Spatial Analysis
Climate, Environmental and Resource Economics