Austria's Digitalization: 200 Million Euro Budget by 2028

The four focal points are: further development of ID Austria and implementation of the European EUDI Wallet; Project X: expansion of Once-Only, register connections, and "dadeX"; continuation and strengthening of the Digital Competence Initiative; expansion of Public AI. The digitalization budget will also be increased for this purpose, as stated after the Council of Ministers.

For example, the development from one million users of ID Austria in 2023 to now six million results in significantly higher license fees and operating costs. In addition, there is the necessary technical implementation of the European digital wallet (EUDI Wallet) within the framework of ID Austria, with a cost of 13 million for "operations and obligations."

ID Austria: Growth from One to Six Million Users

The goal of expanding ID Austria continues to be that by 2030, all approximately 9 million people in Austria will have the app. By 2030, the figure is to reach nine million, which would make the system the nationwide standard for government processes and economic applications, according to the government's hope.

Another focal point is the expansion of the register network "dadeX." The dadeX infrastructure (Digital Austria Data Exchange) networks registers and is expected to unlock savings potential of up to 160 million euros with up to 15 million euros in 2027 and 2028. Furthermore, there is to be a budgetary authorization of up to five million euros in 2027 and up to 10 million euros in 2028 for register projects.

dadeX and Project X: Register Networking as an Efficiency Lever

The data hub is also intended to facilitate government procedures in accordance with "Project X" presented to the Council of Ministers this week. In the background, the data infrastructure is to catch up under the title "Project X." According to the ministry, this is offset by efficiency gains: the project is to unlock savings potential of around 160 million euros in the short term.

Fourth: Public AI – the use of artificial intelligence in administration – receives 6 million euros (2027) and 8.5 million euros (2028). According to the government, the focus on Public AI is not just technological ambition but necessity, as stated in the Council of Ministers. "Savings through digitalization," is the corresponding motto of Digitalization State Secretary Alexander Pröll.

Public AI: Artificial Intelligence in Administration

"Our ambition is clear: We want to make Austria a leading digital nation," says Digitalization State Secretary Alexander Pröll. "To achieve this goal, we are investing specifically in the key projects," Pröll continued. Austria aims to advance from 6th place into the top 3 of the EU digitalization league.

According to the latest digitalization ranking – Austria placed 6th – the country is already on a good track, Pröll said with pleasure. Whether Austria will actually catch up to the top 3 in Europe remains to be seen in the coming years. By 2030, the federal government expects an additional 108 million euros for digital infrastructure – that is around 108 million euros by 2030.

Ambition: From 6th Place into the EU Top 3

The investments now made possible thanks to the "ambitious budget" would bring about many times the savings in administration, it was said from the State Secretariat. The past two years had been "very much at the financial limit," he acknowledged. "Savings through digitalization, not in digitalization," is the corresponding motto.

In addition, 20 percent of the savings enabled by digitalization flow back into digital infrastructure. The funding model: 20 percent of those savings resulting from retirements and positions not refilled in administration flow directly as earmarked funds back into IT projects. Background: in the coming 13 years, around 44 percent of federal employees will retire due to age.

Refinancing through Retirement Effects

With the budget path, the government wants to set the course to digitally absorb the upcoming personnel surge in administration while creating more citizen-friendly services. The financial framework for the coming years is being expanded for this purpose, as stated from the Federal Chancellery. The 130 million euro pot in 2028 is the largest single item to date in the medium-term planning.

With the EUDI Wallet, ID Austria is to prospectively become the European standard for digital identity. The funds flow, among other things, into the technical connection to the European ecosystem, into the secure data infrastructure, and into the training of administrative employees as part of the Digital Competence Initiative.