With its Industrial Strategy 2035, Austria presents a roadmap for a resilient, sovereign and sustainable economy. It highlights the importance of European resources, increased use of secondary raw materials and the expansion of digital platforms as key enablers of future competitiveness.
Whether in e-mobility, digitalization or energy storage: critical resources such as lithium, magnesium and copper are indispensable for everyday life and industrial applications. At the same time, these materials are finite, unevenly distributed across the globe and often associated with geopolitical risks in their extraction.
The Industrial Strategy therefore aims to make better use of European primary raw materials, diversify and secure international supply chains, and significantly strengthen recycling. In parallel, domestic raw material reserves are to be further developed.
Recycling and the Bioeconomy as Growth Drivers
To achieve these objectives, the strategy outlines a range of forward-looking measures, including the development of high-performance processing systems for battery recycling and secondary raw materials. Regional recycling and processing clusters are intended to shorten material flows, reduce transport costs and retain value creation within the region. The bioeconomy complements these efforts by promoting the use of renewable raw materials and creating an industrial ecosystem that keeps materials in circulation for as long as possible. This approach reduces CO2 emissions, lower costs and mitigates geopolitical risks.
Digital Procurement – Sustainable Benefits
In the future, digital resource platforms are to be directly integrated into public procurement processes. In doing so, Austria is implementing the requirements of the Critical Raw Materials Act. Online platforms that trade secondary raw materials and recyclates across Europe are expected to be used by federal, regional and local authorities. This will increase demand, market transparency and security of supply for valuable secondary raw materials. For SECONTRADE, this opens a significant area of application – after all, this is precisely the digital infrastructure the platform already provides today.
Strong Partnerships
Since 2018, our digital marketplace has been bringing together supply and demand for valuable secondary raw materials – across Europe, digitally and in real time. This enables the efficient reintegration of high-quality resources into the economic cycle, including metals, construction waste, biogenic residues and recyclates. SECONTRADE is also actively involved in the European PASSAT project, which focuses on identifying high-quality secondary raw materials in end-of-life processes and systematically integrating them into new value chains. The project forms part of the Industrial Strategy 2035 and makes an important contribution of strengthening the circular economy.
Shaping the Future
According to Brigitte Reich, the strategy sends clear signals for Austria as a business location: “The Industrial Strategy demonstrates the enormous potential of a well-functioning circular economy. Digital resource platforms enable fast and transparent access to materials and make companies more independent, resilient and innovative.” SECONTRADE will continue to help shape this path – through technological innovation and strong European partnerships.
Further information on the Industrial Strategy 2035:
https://www.bmwet.gv.at/en/Topics/Business-Location/industrial-strategy.html
