Life Sciences in Vienna – insights from the ecosystem

AOP Health was founded almost 30 years ago as a living-room start-up with the goal of developing therapies for rare diseases. Today, we are a globally active company providing integrated therapies to patients around the world. We hope to see Vienna’s vibrant life sciences ecosystem continue to grow alongside us – so we can keep writing many more success stories together.

Biome Diagnostics (formerly myBioma), based in Vienna, analyzes the gut microbiome to support personalized medicine, with a strong focus on prevention. The business location Vienna offers close proximity to leading research institutions. Looking ahead, the company plans to expand internationally and further develop its diagnostic software solutions.

In today’s highly uncertain global environment, political stability and well-functioning institutions are crucial factors for business locations. Austria performs very well in this regard – as it does in terms of infrastructure and quality of life. A key factor in attracting investment and driving innovation is the research premium. We must secure and ideally expand it. As a research-driven pharmaceutical company, we place great value on a strong scientific environment that includes universities, hospitals, and small biotech companies. With the Campus Vienna Biocenter, Vienna offers an internationally recognized hub that not only hosts academic institutions, but also start-ups, and organizations dedicated to science communication. This provides an ideal setting for collaboration and forms the foundation for continued investment. Boehringer Ingelheim has invested more than one billion euros in expanding its local infrastructure over the past ten years – and we remain committed to continued growth.

At CEBINA, we turn cutting-edge science into impactful health innovations. Vienna’s dynamic life science community, international connectivity, and access to top academic institutions make it a prime location for growing a globally oriented biotech company.

At CeMESS, we explore how microbes and environmental systems shape life on Earth – from our health to global ecosystems. Our diverse, international team values Vienna’s vibrant research environment, fostering collaboration across disciplines and sectors. With strong support for early-career researchers, women, and diversity, we’re tackling today’s biggest environmental and medical challenges.

Thanks to its strong focus on innovation, contextflow has established itself as a leading player in AI-powered radiology. As a spin-off of the Medical University of Vienna the DNA of our comprehensive analysis software for chest CTs lies in beautiful Vienna – and with the people who live and work here. The support we received from the Innovation Incubation Center at TU Wien and other early believers in our vision played a vital role in building our company.

Cutting-edge research in Vienna drives innovation. The IMBA spin-off HeartBeat.bio uses stem cell-derived mini-hearts to model diseases and, through AI and automation, to develop new drug candidates for various forms of heart failure. Our international team values Vienna’s high quality of life and the broad support available for start-ups. However, new solutions are urgently needed to address the EU-wide shortage of venture capital for the scale-up phase.

ImageBiopsy Lab was founded in Vienna by a predominantly local team. The city offers access to excellent research partners, talent, and a dynamic start-up ecosystem. Our goal is to continue developing forward-looking products that position medical imaging as part of a holistic health concept – with a strong focus on prevention rather than intervention.

Since 2016, MADx has been developing revolutionary in vitro diagnostics for allergy testing. The allergy test ALEX² uses molecular multiplex technology to enable a precise analysis of around 300 allergens with just one test run. MADx provides doctors with a comprehensive sensitisation profile of their patients, helping them to derive the right therapy recommendations – based on evidence and clinical relevance.

The Medical University of Vienna is a cornerstone of innovation in Vienna’s business and research landscape – particularly in the areas of clinical trials, translational research, and advanced medical care. Its close collaboration with both start-ups and established industry leaders fosters the development of groundbreaking therapies and diagnostic solutions. Combining world-class basic research, cutting-edge technologies, access to intellectual property, and a strong commitment to generating benefits for patients, MedUni Vienna stands out as a trusted and powerful partner for the global life sciences industry.

Our app myReha delivers personalized, AI-powered speech and cognitive therapy to support patients with neurological conditions like stroke or dementia throughout their recovery journey. It enables therapy anytime and anywhere, helping close critical gaps in care. Vienna combines medical excellence with innovation—perfect for building evidence-based digital therapies.

Vienna is a key hub for pharmaceutical research and production, particularly in the field of plasma therapies. To ensure the long-term availability of life-saving treatments for patients, we need stable framework conditions, targeted support for innovation, and close collaboration between science, industry, and policymakers. Only through strong partnerships can we drive medical progress, enhance the city’s international competitiveness, and strengthen healthcare systems in a sustainable way – for the benefit of patients and society as a whole.

Vienna represents the ideal location for our research work in the medtech industry. The high quality of life, the well-developed infrastructure, and several recognized universities make it possible to attract highly qualified specialists to the location. Using this expertise, we develop together innovative devices and new technologies that help our users live more self-determined lives.

At Proxygen, we are hunters – relentlessly pursuing glue degraders, small molecules that eliminate harmful proteins. Vienna has been the ideal hunting ground for us: a hub for top-tier talent, a city that investors and board members are eager to visit, and a place where biotech is actively supported – from lab space and funding to powerful local and international networks. Here, world-class science meets classical flair, a perfect environment to create, build, and thrive.

Since our founding in 2020 in Vienna, RetInSight has been committed to using AI to improve early detection and treatment of retinal diseases. Now, with our integration into Topcon Healthcare, we are expanding our technology on a global scale. Together, we bring intelligent eye care where it’s needed most – to people everywhere around the world.

The Vienna site is of central importance to Takeda – it brings together research, development, and manufacturing. We are one of the largest production sites in the Takeda network and can look back on more than 70 years of experience at our location. What we value most about Vienna is its excellent scientific infrastructure, high quality of life, and international environment. Vienna offers ideal conditions for developing innovative therapies and delivering the best possible care to patients worldwide.

The Vienna BioCenter Core Facilities (VBCF) provide cutting-edge research infrastructure that enables groundbreaking discoveries. With state-of-the-art technologies and over 100 expert scientists, our research services are honed through years of collaboration with leading institutes at the Vienna BioCenter and beyond. As one of the world’s most livable cities, Vienna offers an inspiring environment for scientists, combining world-class research, a vibrant international community, and high quality of life.

Founded in Vienna, our scale-up XUND specializes in the development of Software as a Medical Device (SaMD), enabling digital health interactions from prevention to diagnosis. For us, Vienna’s central location in the heart of Europe, its strong ties between science and industry, and its exceptional quality of life make the city one of the most attractive innovation hubs for digital health solutions worldwide.