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Vienna wants to start a major offensive in the health sector. In this context, the project for a third AKH tower begins to take shape, which should allow for specialized research and customized medical care for patients.
The Viennese healthcare system is not only one of the best in Europe, it also makes a considerable contribution to the economy of the federal capital. At € 26.7 billion, more than a quarter of Vienna’s gross regional product (exactly 28 percent) corresponds to the healthcare industry. This stems from the data of the location attorney and deputy director of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce, Alexander Biach, who addressed the issue on behalf of the city of Vienna and prepared a comprehensive economic analysis of the health sector in Vienna. Politics and business now want to jointly develop this driving force.
“A successful healthcare metropolis also needs a functioning healthcare infrastructure. The basis for this is undoubtedly Vienna, but part of it is advancing over the years,” Finance Advisor Peter Hanke told a news conference on Thursday.
The goal now is to make Vienna a mecca for medicine and research through investment. A broad alliance wants to achieve this, including the city of Vienna, the Chamber of Commerce and Doctors, the Health Insurance Fund, the Federation of Industries and the Praevenire Association. Vienna’s location should be attractive to entrepreneurs and researchers. International organizations will also be brought to Vienna. The stated aim is for the capital to have a so-called “Notified Body” for the certification of medical devices and in vitro diagnostics in Austria.
Biocenter expands
Upcoming lighthouse projects include the construction of a third AKH tower on the MedUni campus. A center is being built there that will combine biomedical research, clinical studies, genome technology, bioinformatics and Internet technology, among other things. The cost of this should be around € 60 million (see interview on page 14).
Construction will take place in the Lazarettgasse area. The buildings that are currently there will be demolished. Another workhorse is the Vienna Biocenter in St. Marx. It is a merger of 20 biotechnology companies, four academic research institutions, three organizations in the field of research communication and a university of applied sciences. The location of the life sciences (biology, medicine, pharmacy, chemistry and some others) is already one of the main directions in the field in Europe and will be further expanded.
Construction of the new Hanusch Pavilion 6 is also planned. The operating complex will be expanded and the operation of robotic-assisted surgical systems will be enabled. In Sonnwendviertel, on the other hand, a social and health center with Cape 10 on 5000 square meters is being built, which will house a primary care center, a day center for homeless women and a competence center for child health and youth.
The money for the offensive in the health sector will come from both the public sector and private investors. If all projects are implemented as planned, local lawyer Biach expects an additional € 200 million gross added value to be generated within the Viennese healthcare industry and more than 1,800 additional jobs to be created in Vienna. Across Austria, the additional economic effects represent a contribution to GDP of almost 260 million euros and a total of more than 2,100 jobs.
