aws Guarantee
With the aws Guarantee, Austrian companies receive collateral for bank loans to increase their chances of loan approval. Investment and working capital financing are secured up to 80%. Applications can be submitted at any time until 31.12.2027.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
The aws guarantee supports bank loans for innovation and growth projects of companies of all sizes by assuming up to 80% of the loan collateral, in order to facilitate investments and working capital financing and thus strengthen economic development in Austria.
Eligible expenses
- tangible and intangible investments (e.g., machinery, construction measures)
- research and development costs (e.g., personnel costs, prototype costs)
- non-capitalizable growth and innovation measures (operating resources)
- marketing and sales costs
Non-eligible expenses
- Projects without plausible success or sustainable development
- Projects outside Austria (exception: internationalization)
- Costs from small invoices under EUR 150
- pure contract financing
- Refinancing of existing loans (except stabilization)
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Eligible to apply
- Companies
- Founders
Funding requirements
- Company headquarters or place of business in Austria
- Independent operation in own name and on own account
- Positive contribution to strengthening Austria as a business location
- Project is carried out in Austria
- Application must be submitted before project start (exceptions for de minimis and aid-free guarantees)
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Evaluation criteria
- Contribution to strengthening the business location
- Creditworthiness and risk sharing
- Degree of innovation and growth strategy
Description
The aws Guarantee enables Austrian companies and founders to gain uncomplicated access to bank loans by covering up to 80% of the required loan collateral. Eligible are investment and working capital financings for innovation and growth projects across all sectors, including R&D costs, marketing and sales expenses, as well as tangible and intangible acquisitions such as machinery or construction measures. Applicants may be commercial and industrial enterprises of all sizes – from sole proprietorships through SMEs to large corporations – with headquarters or business premises in Austria and a positive contribution to strengthening the economic location. The cap is set at €30 million per project, with the guarantee term lasting up to 20 years. Applications can be submitted continuously; the program is scheduled to end on December 31, 2027.
The selection process follows a first-come, first-served principle via the aws Fördermanager, with a processing time of approximately two weeks to two months. Key criteria include creditworthiness, risk sharing, as well as the project's degree of innovation and growth strategy. Excluded are, for example, pure contract financings, projects without sustainable prospects of success, or those carried out outside Austria (exceptions: internationalization measures). The fee for the guarantee depends on creditworthiness and term, starting at 0.3% p.a. of the secured loan amount. Thus, the aws Guarantee offers a strategic financing support that compensates for missing collateral and reliably assists companies of all sizes in implementing future-oriented projects.
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