15 years of the innovation voucher: How small and medium-sized enterprises benefit from research
Around 6,000 projects have been carried out so far, with an innovation voucher offering entry to the world of research
The innovation voucher is the FFG’s low threshold offering which makes it financially easier for Austrian SMEs to cooperate with research institutions. This funding instrument was launched 15 years ago. Since then, the FFG has funded 5,975 innovation voucher projects with a total volume of 48.6 million euros, and a further 2,000 projects have been approved, representing an average of 1.5 projects per day since 2007! The funding is provided by the Ministry of Climate Action and the Ministry of Labour and Economy.
The idea behind the innovation voucher is deliberately simple: SMEs can use it to commission ideas, feasibility and concept studies from universities and research institutions; to support prototyping; or to work together with research partners in preparing larger research, development and innovation projects. The funding is open to all research topics, whether established or highly topical fields of technology.
Simply purchase research services
Leonore Gewessler, Minister for Climate Action: “The first 15 years of the innovation voucher have been a complete success. It helps companies successfully bring their projects to market maturity. I am particularly pleased that climate action projects are more popular than ever. This has made the know-how encapsulated in our universities and research institutes accessible to and applicable for small and medium-sized enterprises in Austria. And in many industries and subject areas, from mobility to the circular economy.”
Martin Kocher, Federal Minister of Labour and Economy: “Innovation creates jobs and secures Austria as a business location over the long term. The innovation voucher is primarily aimed at helping smaller companies start research and development. This low-threshold funding instrument is helping us strengthen Austria’s overall innovative strength.”
Initially, the innovation voucher offered 5,000 euros per project; the Innovation Voucher Plus added in 2011 provided 10,000 euros in funding. In 2018, these two options were replaced by the Innovation Voucher with Deductible, which covers 80% of the research costs of a project with funding capped at 10,000 euros.
Innovation voucher: simple application, quick decision, database for research partners
Henrietta Egerth, Managing Director of FFG: “Many successful companies have used the innovation voucher to launch intensive research and development activities. The application is very simple, can be made to the FFG at any time, and the decision is made within three to four weeks.”
Klaus Pseiner, Managing Director of FFG: “We have also set up a database of possible research partners for interested SMEs. This allows targeted searches for potential research partners such as universities or research institutes.”
Several hundred organisations are currently included in the database. In recent years, universities (40%), research institutions (39%) and universities of applied sciences (20%) have been the most frequently requested research partners. The annual budget for the innovation voucher is currently 2 million euros. The FFG manages this funding on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK) and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Economy (BMAW).