Funding guide

Austria on the way: becoming a research, production and business location for life sciences

Austria is an active life sciences location with internationally visible, excellent research and development and a growing corporate landscape. Compared to other innovative sectors, the life sciences sector is by far the most innovative, has the highest research rate and contributes significantly to national value creation.

Space technologies are a worldwide market with dynamic growth. Therefore they are very interesting and important for Austria. To support Austrian science and industry to increase their importance in this market, the Austrian Space Applications Programme was initiated, based on a recommendation of the Austrian Council for Research and Technology Development.

Programme for Internationalisation of RTI Projects

The "Beyond Europe" Programme supports Austrian companies, research and university institutes and other organisations in creating and extending collaborations.

Knowledge transfer between science and economy

BRIDGE is funding calls with different submission dates under the FFG's BRIDGE Programme. Funding is made available for basic research projects conducted by consortia of partners involved in scientific research and industrial commercialisation. The projects fall into the category of industrial research according to the EU funding limits. Funding for science of up to 80 % is available if the project is carried out in cooperation with small and medium-sized enterprises. The programme is open to all research topics.

COIN contributes towards fostering Austria’s innovation performance by the better and broader transposition of knowledge into innovation.

Funding of cooperative research projects (sector projects)

The funding of cooperative research projects (sector projects) in Collective Research supports pre-competitive research projects which do not include any directly exploitable product and process or service developments. The funding level is max. up to 65 % of total eligible projects costs. Submission is possible at any time and funding is carried out by non-repayable subsidies.

The Austrian competence centre programme – COMET Centres (K1)

COMET Centres (K1) aim to develop and focus competences through excellent cooperative research with a medium to long term perspective. They conduct research at top international level and stimulate new research ideas in their fields. Continuous international benchmarking must be ensured. They contribute to initiating product, process and service innovations with a view to future relevant markets.

The Austrian competence centre programme – COMET Projects

COMET Projects (peviously K Projects) aim to carry out high-quality research in science - industry collaboration. They are characterised by a medium-term perspective and clearly defined topics with the potential for further development. COMET Projects contribute to initiating product, process and service innovations. COMET Projects open access to the COMET Programme for new consortia and topics.

The Austrian competence centre programme – COMET Centres (K2)

COMET Centres (K2) aim to focus existing competences and develop new competences by collaborating with international researchers of renown, scientific partners and companies in a joint strategically oriented research programme at the highest level.

The Austrian competence centre programme – COMET Module

The new programme line COMET Module aims to establish promising/emerging fields of research and thus new fields of expertise to strengthen Austria’s position as a research location, preparing for future challenges. COMET Modules are characterised by research of especially high-risk. COMET Modules are thematically defined research areas which carry out excellent top-level research to open up new topics being way beyond the state-of-the-art.