Lower Austria and the federal government join forces to boost digital skills

Photo (COPYRIGHT: NLK Khittl): Chamber of Austria Lower Austria Director Johannes Schedlbauer, State Secretary for Digitalisation Alexander Pröll, Provincial Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner, Managing Director of the House of Digitalisation Claus Zeppelzauer

The Province of Lower Austria, the ecoplus House of Digitalisation and the Federal Government are joining forces in the field of digital skills. Provincial Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner, State Secretary for Digitalisation Alexander Pröll, Claus Zeppelzauer, Managing Director of the House of Digitalisation, and Johannes Schedlbauer, Director of WKNÖ, signed a cooperation agreement to this effect. Lower Austria is thus the first federal state to take on a central role in the regional implementation of the Digital Skills Initiative (DKO).

The aim of the collaboration is to incorporate existing and successfully proven skills programmes from Lower Austria into the nationwide initiative, to raise their profile via the DKO business platform, and to develop them further jointly. The focus is on practical programmes for businesses, start-up founders, tourism and hospitality businesses, children, women, older people and those new to digital technology.

“Lower Austria wants to play an active role in shaping digital development. With our AI strategy, the House of Digitalisation and strong partners, we are setting clear priorities in the areas of artificial intelligence and digital skills. This agreement brings our experience to an Austria-wide initiative and improves access to knowledge, advice and practical applications,” emphasises Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner.

“Digital transformation succeeds when people acquire the necessary skills and use technologies independently. Lower Austria is a strong partner in this regard, with successful programmes and a broad network. The agreement anchors digital education programmes at a regional level and makes them more accessible throughout Austria,” explains Alexander Pröll, State Secretary for Digitalisation.

“Small and medium-sized enterprises need straightforward access to digital tools and practical applications. The collaboration between the federal government, the provincial government, the Chamber of Commerce and the House of Digitalisation creates a strong foundation. Practical programmes that support businesses in tackling their real-world challenges are crucial,” emphasise Wolfgang Ecker, President of the Lower Austrian Chamber of Commerce, and Johannes Schedlbauer, Director of the Lower Austrian Chamber of Commerce.

Successful initiatives will be further expanded

The House of Digitalisation is bringing several established formats to the partnership. These include the “AI in Tourism” workshop series, organised in collaboration with Niederösterreich Werbung, the Lower Austrian Chamber of Commerce and the tourism destinations. From autumn 2026, “AI in Tourism” will be expanded to include a new focus on “AI and digital tools for everyday life in the hospitality sector”.

The webinar series “Digital Tools for Your Business” by riz up and the House of Digitalisation, as well as the joint programme with “Frauen in der Wirtschaft” (“Women in Business”) entitled “SIE & AI”, are also set to be incorporated into the collaboration. These offerings are complemented by the advisory, networking and implementation expertise of Technologie- und InnovationsPartner Niederösterreich – TIP NÖ, an initiative of the Province of Lower Austria in collaboration with the Lower Austrian Chamber of Commerce.

The existing formats will be reviewed in collaboration with the federal government with regard to their target groups, quality criteria and accessibility. Furthermore, alignment with the National Reference Framework for Digital Competences is planned. A joint programme group comprising the federal government, the State of Lower Austria, the House of Digitalisation and the participating partner organisations will oversee the coordination of content in future.

AI Action Day planned at the House of Digitalisation

Another key focus is a central Austrian AI action day at the House of Digitalisation in Tulln. In November 2026, members of the public will have the opportunity to learn about and try out artificial intelligence. The programme will include workshops, demonstrations, case studies from businesses and activities tailored to different skill levels. The DKO business platform will also be presented.

Skills Assessment and ‘Digital Everywhere’

The House of Digitalisation is rolling out the nationwide skills assessment and is set to host regular ‘Digital Everywhere’ workshops from autumn 2026 onwards. Tulln was already part of the pilot phase involving five Lower Austrian municipalities and towns.
The province’s Digital Technologies Laboratory is also to be involved, offering programmes on programming, robotics, data and AI for children, young people, families and educators.
“Through this partnership, we are linking successful programmes, reaching new target groups and making digitalisation understandable and immediately usable. The programmes are tailored to the specific challenges faced by businesses and the public and create practical added value,” explain Lukas Reutterer and Claus Zeppelzauer, managing directors of the House of Digitalisation.