Innovation, Competitiveness and Internationalization, Grants

The program offers non-repayable grants in Vienna for application-oriented development projects aimed at increasing the competitiveness and internationalization of Austrian stakeholders. Eligible applicants include citizens, companies of all sizes, start-ups, as well as non-profit organizations seeking to develop innovative research ideas up to the prototype stage. Applications can be submitted for the basic program from 01/01/2024 to 12/31/2026, with a focus on climate- and environmentally friendly solutions as well as the establishment of technology leadership. The funding supports the transition from experiments to market-ready products, services, or processes, thereby contributing to strengthening Austria’s innovation capacity.

The focus is on strengthening corporate competitiveness, technology and competence leadership, and technology internationalization. Small and medium-sized enterprises are supported in establishing sustainable R&D structures, as are large corporations in their role as innovation drivers. Furthermore, the program promotes innovative business models with positive societal impact and leverages public procurement to create demand impulses for new technologies. The broadly defined funding criteria allow participants of various legal forms and project sizes access to financial resources to commercialize research results promptly, create jobs, and sustainably consolidate Austria’s position in the global innovation competition.