Future Forum 2025: Upper Austria's companies rely on resilience!

Future Forum 2025: Upper Austria's companies rely on resilience!

Oberösterreich, Österreich - On April 8, 2025, the future forum Upper Austria took place in 2025, which dealt with the crisis resistance and innovative ability of the Upper Austria business location. Over 500 participants from politics, business and social partners discussed strategies to strengthen the state's resilience and future viability. [OE24] reports that the state council Achleitner emphasized the key roles of research, digitization and circular economy in his opening speech. These topics are crucial in order to better build companies in times of crisis.

A central concern came from the Chamber of Commerce, which demanded relief for small and medium -sized companies (SMEs). These companies are often particularly vulnerable to economic fluctuations. The Chamber of Labor emphasized the need for fair working conditions and continuous further training in order to optimally prepare the employees for future challenges. At the same time, the Upper Austria industrial association (IV OÖ) asserted reform needs at the federal level in order to ensure better support for companies.

research on the resilience of companies

The Covid 19 pandemic has disclosed a variety of effects on the Austrian economy and has shown different people's affairs in companies, sectors and regions. A study by the Federal Ministry of Labor and Economy, entitled "Resilience and relocation - how SMEs can better manage crises", examines how companies can be strengthened by resilience. This is viewed as a strategic goal, which in the future should be increasingly in focus. The study differentiates between the micro level, which focuses on SMEs, and the macro level that the regions of Austria looks at. [Bmaw] names some characteristics of resilient companies:

• ongoing training and further training.
• Participative leadership with high employee participation.
• sustainable business models with several mainstays.
• Financial reserves for times of crisis.
• small dependence on international supply chains.
• high proportion of regular customers.

strategies for strengthening resilience

The challenges for companies are diverse and go beyond economic aspects. Commercial conflicts, corona pandemic and geopolitical tensions, are profound challenges that require an adaptation of the business models. According to [Digitalzentrum-Hamburg], entrepreneurial resilience is crucial to withstand external disorders and adapt to changed conditions. SMEs in particular often see themselves disadvantaged by limited resources and stronger dependencies.

In addition, research results show that many companies recognize the need for transformation, but often take measures without a comprehensive strategic plan. Less than 10% of companies consider resilience as an integral part of their corporate strategy. Important measures to increase resilience are:

• increase in transparency in the supply chain.
• Implementation of a supply chain risk management.
• dual sourcing strategies.
• building higher stocks.

To support SMEs in strengthening their resilience, the resilience compass was developed, a tool that can be used to analyze one's own resilience. The procedural model includes the determination of current resilience, the identification of development potential, the implementation of measures and the measurement of target achievement. This structured approach offers a helpful framework to become more resilient and better overcome crises.