Diversity Cheque 2026

First steps towards a more diverse organisation

The Diversity Cheque encourages and supports SMEs and non-academic research institutions to actively promote diversity within their organisations.
Due to a system changeover, there will be a longer processing time for submissions in the period from mid-June to mid-July. Please take this into account when submitting your application.

What can be funded?

Diversity among employees and an inclusive culture are among the most important drivers of innovation in companies. The Diversity Cheque aims to bring about positive change towards greater diversity in companies quickly with individual, small-scale measures.

You can choose one of the following topics for your Diversity Cheque:

  • Diversity analysis: e.g. reflection on corporate culture and identification of areas for improvement
  • Building diversity competence: e.g. through diversity trainings for employees or managers
  • Recruiting & Human Resources: e.g. developing measures to build diverse teams
  • Mentoring: developing a mentoring programme for underrepresented groups in the company
  • Gender Equality Plan: creating and implementing such a plan
  • Open category: What would make the most sense for your company? Think creatively – think outside the box!

Newbies welcome! You don't have to be a diversity professional to participate in this call for proposals. We encourage and promote curiosity, learning and openness. If this is your company's first step towards diversity, that's wonderful. Already know more about these topics? Even better, then this is your opportunity to dive even deeper.

The entire project will be accompanied by an external person with DEI expertise (DEI = Diversity, Equity, Inclusion). The eligible costs include only the costs for this third-party service.

After receiving your Diversity Cheque, you can delve even deeper into the topic if necessary: DIVERSITEC promotes organisational development measures for diversity, equality and inclusion.

Who can be funded?

  • Small and medium-sized enterprises of any legal form
  • non-academic research institutions (within the scope of their commercial activities)

that further fulfil the following requirements:

  • have a demand for people in research and development within the organisation
  • operate in the field of natural sciences and technology
  • have a place of business or branch in Austria

What is the amount of funding?

The maximum funding amount is €10,000. The funding rate is 80% of the total eligible costs (max. €12,500).

This is a de minimis grant.

What are the submission criteria?

You can find all the details in the application guidelines (available in German only).

How does the submission work?

Applications can be submitted at any time via eCall (until funding has been exhausted).

When will a decision be made?

We will review your funding application (on an ongoing basis after submission) and notify you as soon as a decision has been made.

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About the FFG

The Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) is the national funding institution for industry-related research and development in Austria. FFG funding plays a key role in generating new knowledge, developing new products and services, and thereby becoming more competitive in the global market.
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