Skip to main content

Research & Development

As a steel and technology group and a global leader in technology-intensive industries with the highest quality standards, research & development are the basis for our success. Continuously growing expenditure in this field reflects the high standing of R&D within the Group. By permanently investing in research & development, we ensure that our company can continue to generate new product solutions and processes over the long term. With a research budget of around EUR 190 million for the business year 2022/23, voestalpine is one of Austria’s most research-intensive companies.

Facts and Figures

Franz Androsch, Head of Research & Development at voestalpine

The key to voestalpine’s global success is innovation. The current record research budget of EUR 219 million clearly indicates that research, development, and innovation enjoy the highest priority in the voestalpine Group. The Group consistently invests in this key area because it is clear to everyone that securing our future as an international player in the most demanding product segments can only be achieved through specialization, paired with technological and quality leadership.

Franz Androsch, Head of Research & Development at voestalpine

Our company’s scientific R&D network includes important partners

Intensive research and development are the foundations for voestalpine’s international technology and quality leadership in its most advanced customer segments. One key research area is digital and smart technologies, including “intelligent” cold-rolled steel strip (tailor-made functional steel), and fully digital turnouts which report maintenance requirements to rail network operators in real time. At the same time, we also strive to create environmentally friendly products and processes, such as ultra high-strength steels with excellent formability for use in lightweight automotive construction, which help to reduce fuel consumption. Furthermore, we are also conducting intensive research into the gradual decarbonization of steel production using green hydrogen, with projects such as H2FUTURE at the site in Linz. 

We take an open innovation approach, involving external partners in research and development projects where they are required for the projects’ success. We aspire to create strategic, long-term partnerships based on trust and technological equality which create value for both partners. 

Our international and national partners:

  • Universities such as the Montanuniversität Leoben, with a focus on the further development of steelmaking processes, but also new processes, e.g. with whom we conduct research into carbon-neutral energy and raw materials innovations, and JKU Linz, for research into digitalizing customer relationships in the global automotive industry;
  • Universities of applied sciences, such as FH Oberösterreich (University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria), with a research project into effectively targeting environmental marketing at young people;
  • The Christian Doppler Research Association for application-orientated fundamental research.
  • Competence centers, such as the Metallurgical Competence Center K1MET or the Materials Center Leoben, which use intelligent methods in material development;
  • Customers: working with them allows us to respond directly to their needs and generates new successful product solutions.

These partnerships complement the R&D network in the best way.

Click here for blog posts about R&D