EAFRD 2023-2027: European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity (EIP-AGRI)

The funding instrument supports operational groups in developing practice-oriented innovations to increase agricultural productivity and sustainability in Austria. Collaborations consisting of agricultural practitioners, research institutions, educational and advisory organizations, companies along the value chain, as well as non-governmental organizations jointly develop solutions for current challenges. The national implementation takes place within the framework of the CAP Strategic Plan 2023–2027; applications can be submitted continuously until 31.12.2027. The funding is divided into a preparatory phase with a flat rate of €10,000 and an implementation phase, in which up to €400,000 (including the flat rate) can be granted. The funding rate ranges from 60% to 100%, depending on the type of expenditure. Projects can be realized over a period of up to 48 months and are evaluated based on their level of innovation, practical relevance, multi-actor approach, and the quality of the project plan.

Eligible for funding are companies, start-ups, non-profit and public institutions, educational providers, as well as private individuals who organize themselves in operational groups. A prerequisite is the collaboration of actors from at least two sectors, the involvement of the national CAP network office, and—in the case of associations without legal personality—a written cooperation agreement. Eligible costs include personnel costs, material costs, as well as investments in software and programming services; basic research and individual research projects are excluded. Multiple selection rounds per year with up to four deadlines allow flexibility in application submission. Interested groups should submit a detailed project description, a financing plan, a cooperation agreement, and a structured project plan to sustainably advance innovations in Austrian agriculture.