Investments in Digitalisation and Decarbonisation in Austria. Drivers, Barriers and Economic Policy Levers

The study discusses economic policy levers for facilitating investments in the areas of "digitalisation" and "decarbonisation" in Austria. It draws on the innovation diffusion literature. Investments are considered as vehicles of innovations. Furthermore, based on a literature review and a benchmarking of Austria's ICT performance, the drivers and barriers of "digitalisation" are identified. The section on "decarbonisation" discusses three sectors or technology fields and addresses the complexity of the issue. Finally, economic policy conclusions are derived from the analysis, which are characterised by the transition from COVID-19 crisis management to structural policies.