Alongside Horizon Europe COST is one of the most important pillars promoting research cooperation across Europe and beyond. It thus forms an important cornerstone of the European Research Area. COST Actions support thematic networks and facilitate the mutual exchange of ideas. It contributes to an improved coordination of research activities as well as the dissemination of relevant results. COST also provides a valuable opportunity to involve Young Researchers and Investigators in these thematic networks and contributes towards their training and education through tailored activities.

The "Digital Europe Programme", with a total budget of 7,59 billion euros, will help European society and businesses to make the most of the ongoing digital transformation. It will build digital capacities and infrastructures and support the goal of creating a digital single market. It will be implemented mainly through coordinated and strategic co-investment with Member States in the areas of advanced computing and data, artificial intelligence and cyber-security, their uptake and optimal use in the private and public sectors, and the promotion of advanced digital literacy.

Through the ECSEL programme, the Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology (bmvit) supports sophisticated innovation and technology development in information and communications technology, in the fields of micro and nanoelectronics, as well as embedded/cyberphysical and intelligent integrated components and systems. The projects are co-financed by the European Commission, with funding going to transnational, cooperative projects of industrial research and experimental development.

The European Defence Fund incentivises and supports collaborative, cross-border research and development in the area of defence. The Fund will increase the EU’s technological edge and develop the capabilities that are key for the strategic autonomy and resilience of the Union and its Member States and the protection of its citizens. About 8 billion Euro from the EU budget is dedicated to the European Defence Fund for 2021-2027. The EU will become one of the top 3 defence research investors in Europe.

The establishment of endowed professorships is designed to strengthen important areas of knowledge for Austria’s innovation system and contribute to promoting cooperation between science and industry. The Austrian Federal Ministry of Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK) as funding body supports endowed professorships in relevant research areas that are characterised by substantial academic expertise but still show some gaps. Endowed professorships are meant to strengthen R&D structures and to engage research capacity and human potential for Austrian companies.

Eureka is a European-international network for application-oriented research and development (R&D) in Europe and offers companies and research institutions a framework for cross-border collaborative projects. Currently, 40 countries and the European Union are Eureka members. South Korea, Canada, South Africa, Chile, Argentina and Singapur are associated partner countries.

Fast Track Digital addresses companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) which aim to open up new digital markets or revolutionise existing markets by developing novel digital solutions.

"Frontrunner" is aimed at internationally active companies that hold a technological frontrunner position or are on the verge of achieving it. Funding is provided for research and development projects that are embedded in an aggressive business field strategy. "Green Frontrunner" projects also address environmental and climate protection challenges. "Transformative Frontrunner" projects should make a substantial contribution to the digital and sustainable transformation of the economy. Submission is possible at any time. "Frontrunner" is aimed at internationally active companies that hold a technological frontrunner position or are currently on the verge of achieving it. Funding is provided for research and development projects that are embedded in an aggressive business field strategy. "Green Frontrunner" projects also address environmental and climate protection challenges. "Transformative Frontrunner" projects are intended to make a substantial contribution to the digital and sustainable transformation of the economy.

The funding strategy of General Programme is fundamentally based on the bottom-up principle. It is open to all branches of industry and research topics and eligible to companies and projects of all sizes. General Programme aims to strengthen the competiveness of companies based in Austria by funding the development of new products, processes and services. Funding is up to 50 % (for Startups up to 70 %) of total eligible project costs. The FFG uses a combination of several financing instruments - such as grants as well as low-interest loans. Submission of an application is possible at any time.

Think out of the box! This is the slogan of the IDEEN LAB - both for participants and for the FFG, who broke new ground with this pilot in 2018 and 2019: in few days, from developing ideas to finding a team, continuing with the planning of the projects up to the first funding recommendation. In the IDEEN LAB (co-creation event), highly innovative, interdisciplinary, cooperative projects are developed along the questions of the respective IDEEN LAB 4.0-Call.