Spin-off Fellowship - 2nd Call, 4th Submission Deadline
Fellowship for researchers in Austria to further develop intellectual property at universities with the aim of founding a spin-off. Non-repayable grants from €100,000 to €500,000, 100% funding rate, project duration 12–18 months. Submission period 10.09.2025–21.01.2026.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
A funded spin-off fellowship aims to further develop intellectual property of a university or research institution so that commercialization through company formation is possible upon completion.
Eligible expenses
- Personnel costs
- Operating and material costs
- Costs for equipment usage
- Third-party costs for training measures and external coaching
- Travel expenses
Non-eligible expenses
- Administrative costs of the host organization
- Costs for host and mentors
- Representation costs
- Hospitality costs
- Costs for business plan and financial plan preparation
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Eligible to apply
- Educational Institutions
Funding requirements
- Employment at an eligible research institution
- 100% focus on project activities during the funding period
- Support from a host organization required
Documents required for application
- Letter of support from the university or research institution
- Motivation and recommendation letter from the host
- Individual IP exploitation agreement
- Business model in Lean Canvas or Business Model Canvas (1-page)
- Curricula vitae of the fellows
Description
The Spin-off Fellowship of the Austrian Research Promotion Agency offers researchers at Austrian universities and research institutions a unique opportunity in its second call to consistently further develop intellectual property and lay the foundation for a company formation. With non-repayable grants ranging from €100,000 to €500,000 at 100% funding, fellows can finance personnel costs, material and equipment expenses, facility usage, as well as third-party costs for training measures and external coaching during a project duration of 12 to 18 months, and cover travel expenses to professional conferences and market research. Excluded are administrative costs of the host organization, expenses for hosts and mentors, hospitality, marketing, and patent maintenance. Prerequisites include full employment at an eligible educational institution, a 100% focus on the project activity, and a binding letter of support from a host organization that provides the workplace including laboratory equipment.
The funding objective is to enable a marketable exploitation of the developed intellectual property within the framework of a spin-off formation upon completion. Applicants submit their documents electronically via eCall. Required documents include a letter of support from the institution, a motivation and recommendation letter from the host organization, an individual IP exploitation agreement, a one-page presentation of the business model according to Lean Canvas or Business Model Canvas, as well as the fellows' curricula vitae. The submission deadline is January 21, 2026, at 12:00 noon. The funding decision is expected to be made by the Federal Ministry for Women, Science and Research in May 2026. This program is exclusively aimed at eligible universities, universities of applied sciences, academies, and non-university research institutions throughout Austria.