Innovative Skills for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
Funding of training and further education measures to strengthen the innovation capacity and competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises in Upper Austria. Applications are possible before the start of the measure and up to three months after completion.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
The goal of the "Innovative Skills" program is to strengthen the innovation capacity and competitiveness of companies through qualified employees. The purpose of the funding is the financial support of training and further education measures, the costs of which are borne by small and medium-sized enterprises and which contribute to increasing the qualification level of employees.
Eligible expenses
- Course fees
- Examination fees
Non-eligible expenses
- Travel expenses
- Accommodation costs
Eligible to apply
- Companies
Funding requirements
- Course and examination fees (excluding travel and accommodation costs)
- Training and further education measures in the areas of digital skills, export, technology, or foreign languages provided by external, professional educational companies
- In-house company training only if conducted externally and with cross-company applicability
- Absences must not exceed 25% of the total training time
- Priority application for federal funding (e.g., qualification funding AMS Upper Austria)
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Documents required for application
- Online form "Innovative Skills for SMEs"
- Attachments according to guidelines
Description
The program supports small and medium-sized enterprises in Upper Austria in increasing their innovation capacity and competitiveness through targeted training and further education measures for their employees. Funding is provided for course and examination costs in the areas of digital skills, export, technology, and foreign languages, provided these are offered by external, professional educational institutions and are applicable across companies. Internal training also receives funding if conducted externally and professionally relevant for the industry. With a funding rate of 50%–60%, the State of Upper Austria reimburses up to €5,000 per person per year, thereby specifically strengthening the qualification level in member companies of the Upper Austrian Chamber of Commerce.
A prerequisite for approval is membership in the Upper Austrian Chamber of Commerce Association as well as a fully insured employment relationship of the participants at a site in Upper Austria. Absences must not exceed 25% of the total training time. Applications must be submitted online before the start of the measure; submission of documents is possible up to three months after completion. Prior to utilization, the priority of federal funding instruments (such as AMS qualification funding) must be observed. All necessary documents and the online form can be found by interested parties on the Upper Austria Economic Portal. This funding aims to purposefully expand professional competencies and set sustainable impulses for regional SMEs.