BUSINESS ROUNDUP #1 – NEWS FROM THE WELCOME2VILLACH PARTNERS

The business location Villach is not only home to some of the region’s most significant employers but also ranks among Austria’s leading industrial hubs. According to the INDUSTRIEMAGAZIN ranking published at the end of 2025, based on the 2024 financial year, 14 companies from Austria’s southernmost state made it into the 250 highest-revenue industrial companies in the country.

Among these are three partner companies of the welcome2villach industry and tourism initiative: topping the Carinthian ranking is Infineon Technologies Austria AG, with revenue of €4.76 billion. Marcher Group secured fourth place with €626 million, while Imerys, with €118.3 million, ranked 14th. These figures underscore Villach’s economic significance far beyond regional borders.

In our new blog series, we are putting this strength in the spotlight, providing occasional insights into welcome2villach partner companies and their latest developments:

• Since August 2025, Infineon Austria’s entire semiconductor production in Villach has been powered with green hydrogen from renewable energy, significantly reducing CO₂ emissions and securing long-term production supply. The new electrolysis plant is operated by industrial gases and engineering company Linde. At the same time, last year Infineon strengthened its role as an innovation driver in the semiconductor industry and Austria’s most research-intensive company, increasing its research ratio to 15% and receiving the Industrial Excellence Award Europe.
   
• Imerys Villach achieved remarkable growth of 15.2% in the 2024 financial year, according to the 24th INDUSTRIEMAGAZIN ranking. Key drivers included high demand from e-mobility and battery production, as well as the strategic realignment of global supply chains toward European locations. Internally, Imerys also made significant strides in 2025 for employee wellbeing and sustainable practices: around 350 people are served daily by the company canteen, which holds the “Healthy Kitchen” quality seal, while initiatives like Connect Day 2025 on safety, environment, and fire protection promote a safe and sustainable working environment.
   
• Last year, the University of Applied Sciences Carinthia celebrated its 30th anniversary in Villach, solidifying its role as a hub for education, research, and innovation. Martin Waiguny took over as CEO for the anniversary year. The university was also awarded the Corporate Health Award for Student Health Management for the second time, becoming the first Austrian university to achieve this excellence status. In parallel, a new study program was developed: starting in fall 2026, the Villach campus will launch two new bachelor’s programs in Systems Engineering with focuses on Green Electronics and Green Mechatronics, combining technical expertise, sustainability, and practical experience.
   
• KABEG in Villach is also setting standards in sustainability, health, and innovation: in April 2025, LKH Villach adapted its catering concept to the Planetary Health Diet to promote plant-based, resource-efficient nutrition for patients and staff and to significantly reduce the CO₂ footprint.
   
• Fleischwerke Marcher, whose headquarters in Villach underwent extensive modernization, appointed Markus Fahrnberger-Schweizer as the new CEO of Marcher Feinkost. He brings long-standing experience from the food and branded goods industry and will strategically further develop the subsidiary.
   
• In 2025, the WILD Group was the only Carinthian company recognized as one of “Austria’s Best Managed Companies” by Deloitte Austria and Raiffeisen. The company also received ISO 14001 certification for its systematic environmental management, including measures such as optimizing production processes to reduce hazardous waste, lowering electricity consumption, and converting its vehicle fleet to e-mobility. The CAMPO training and development campus in the tpv Technology Park Villach, opened at the end of 2024, plays a central role in educating WILD apprentices: it enables cross-company exchange, hands-on insights into various technologies, and advanced professional training.
   
• 3M promotes sustainable mobility with company bicycles and bike parking directly on site. In the 2025 “Kärnten radelt” competition, the company ranked first in the employer category with more than 250 employees. A total of 45 active participants cycled 23,405.99 kilometers, corresponding to a participation rate of 17.37% of the 259 employees.

These updates from the welcome2villach partners clearly demonstrate that our partner companies are setting benchmarks in technology, education, employee wellbeing, and social responsibility – making the Villach region an attractive location for business, research, and education.