Vienna is an important research location and major international knowledge hub. 31% of all research and development projects in Austria are conducted in the capital. Vienna leads the way in Europe when it comes to research spending, with an R&D expenditure ratio of 3.65%. In all, more than 50,000 people work in research and development (both 2019 figures).

International groups such as Boehringer Ingelheim, Otto Bock and Siemens are all committed to Vienna, as are numerous top-tier researchers mainly working in IT, mathematics, physics, the life sciences, and the humanities and social sciences. Many pioneering international R&D achievements first saw the light of day in Viennese laboratories and spin-offs. Vienna is an internationally respected and constantly growing location for the life sciences in particular, with around 600 companies, research institutions and other organizations working in the sector.

As the oldest - and one of the largest - university cities in the German-speaking world, Vienna is a magnet for international academic talent. More than 190,000 students study at Vienna's 23 universities. 34% of the city's residents have some form of higher education qualification (2021).

The capital's university landscape is shaped by various high-profile academic institutions. They include the University of Vienna (which was founded in 1365 and offers the most diverse range of courses in the country with around 180 regular degree programs), the Medical University of Vienna, the Vienna University of Technology, the mdw (University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna), the campus of the Vienna University of Economics and Business, and the Central European University (CEU). As a university city, Vienna covers a broad range of scientific disciplines, from the natural sciences and technology to medicine and health sciences, as well as the social sciences, humanities and the arts.