What is the Frontrunner Initiative all about?
Frontrunner projects are experimental development projects that make a significant contribution to the sustainable and/or digital transformation of the economy. Furthermore, the projects are integrated into a clearly defined business field strategy.
What other strategic aspects are relevant?
The initiative is fundamentally open to all topics and technologies. The results of the project should contribute to the transformation of the economy in line with the corporate strategy. The focus is specifically on sustainability, crisis resilience, independence (e.g., supply chain security), and the expansion of digital expertise. Frontrunner projects deal, for example, with alternative forms of energy and propulsion, the use of secondary raw materials, digital transformation, digitalization in the healthcare sector, and increasing the resilience of production. Special attention is paid to Austria's areas of strength: automotive, semiconductors, and life sciences.
Frontrunner key data
- Funding is open to all topics and technologies
- Submission at any time - 7 decision board meetings per year
- Evaluations are conducted by experts of the FFG
- Costs max. 3 mil. EUR per project (eligible projects costs)
- Grant up to max. 45 % (depending on size of organization)
- Small enterprises (SE) 45 %
- Medium-sized enterprises (MS) 35 %
- Large enterprises (LE) 25 %