Koralm Tunnel, which opened in December 2025, has recently positioned Eastern Carinthia and Western Styria as part of the Baltic-Adriatic Axis, a European transport corridor stretching from the Baltic to the Adriatic Sea. This new status is also expected to give rise to a new economic region in southern Austria: AREA SÜD.

Lavanttal Technology Park, situated at the western exit of the Koralm Tunnel and in immediate vicinity of St. Paul im Lavanttal railway station, is a key component of this development. Covering 90,000 m² GFA, it is one of the largest infrastructure projects of the province of Carinthia, in which all nine municipalities of Lavanttal valley as well as St Paul’s Abbey are also involved. Following the example of Lakeside Park in Klagenfurt, research, business and education are to be brought together in a new science and innovation quarter.

The design for Lavanttal technology parc aims at creating strong urban qualities, whilst remaining flexible enough to accommodate future uses that are as yet unknown. Furthermore, sustainability, climate effectiveness and circular economy are given top priority. A productive landscape featuring a variety of tree and plant species will activate the entire site to right from the start. Acting as a ‘raw materials library’, it will inform subsequent research and construction activities on site. Furthermore, the climate-beneficial greening of the technology park will be established right from the outset.

Lavanttal Technology Park will therefore not only become a centre for research, but also a demonstration object for sustainable material, energy and construction cycles.