Austrian Research and Technology Report 2020

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Austrian Research and Technology Report 2020
where promising topics and societal challenges need to be addressed. Against this background, the Aus-
trian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) uses the following instruments:
• low-threshold, project-based support for innovation activities for small enterprises and newcomers in 
an attempt to broaden the innovation base;
• R&D project funding with no topic-based restrictions and predominantly via opportunities for submis-
sion that are constantly open in order to pick up companies’ specific innovation strategies where they 
stand and to stabilise innovation processes and promote radical innovations;
• highly competitive R&D project funding geared towards specific topics that sends a strong signal as a 
contribution towards solving societal challenges and entering new markets;
• promotion of efficient research infrastructures and cooperation platforms in order to increase the per-
formance of the innovation system through efficient cooperation structures;
• promotion of the development of young talents into innovative and expert R&D employees in research 
institutions and companies. Qualification of established employees in the context of more critical qual-
ification requirements, such as in the context of digitalisation.
Fig. 2-1: Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG): Share of funding volume (commitments, present 
value) as a % in 2018 and 2019
21%
19%
12%
11%
25%
2%
1%
9%
15%
23%
13%
10%
22%
3%
1%
12%
En
er
gy
/En
vi
ro
nm
en
t
ICT
Li
fe
s
cien
ce
s
M
ob
ili
ty
Pr
od
uc
tion
Se
cur
ity
Spac
e
Oth
er
2018 (€500.7 million present value)
2019 (€493.8 million present value)
Source: Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG).
The Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) actively addresses key innovation topics. The distribution 
of funds (see Figure 2-1) illustrates the range and underlines in particular the FFG’s contribution in safe-
guarding Austria as a production location, which is subject to particular pressure in terms of transforma-
tion and therefore innovation in the balancing act required as a result of the challenges posed by digital-
isation and climate protection.

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