Austrian Research and Technology Report 2020

66
Austrian Research and Technology Report 2020
has been used within EU RTI policy. In addition 
to traditional grants ranging from €0.5 million 
to a maximum of €2.5 million, there will also be 
a possibility of equity funding through a spe-
cially created European fund (the EIC Fund, as 
a legally autonomous entity, based in Luxem-
bourg). 
76
This equity funding is optional (and 
not necessarily linked to grant funding, though 
it may be), with a maximum possible amount of 
€15 million. There is also a possibility of syndi-
cation with private venture capital investors. In 
addition, free coaching and mentoring is pro-
vided, to help companies with scaling-up and 
growth. This service is facilitated by the Enter-
prise Europe Network (EEN).
The FET flagships launched under Horizon 2020 (The 
Human Brain Project, Graphene and Quantum Tech-
nologies) will continue to be funded on the same ba-
sis as they have so far. However, under Horizon Eu-
rope in its current form, no further FET flagships will 
be funded, although the new FET flagship proposals 
from Horizon 2020, which are now being more fully 
developed with the help of a “preparatory action”, 
will be carried over to Horizon Europe, either in the 
context of Missions, through partnerships or through 
normal calls for proposals.
In its proposal for Horizon Europe, the European 
Commission has also, for the first time, suggested an 
intervention for the development of European inno-
vation systems under Pillar III, with a tentative bud-
get of €500 million. Specifically this proposal antici-
pates bringing regional and national innovation 
stakeholders together, and supporting shared 
cross-border innovation programmes between mem-
ber states and associated countries. It considers 
supporting measures ranging from the improvement 
of soft skills for innovation, to research and innova-
tion programmes, with the aim of increasing the ef-
fectiveness of the European innovation system. 
76 See Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), 2020: Horizon Europe. 9. EU-Rahmenprogramm für Forschung und Innovation 
(EU Framework Programme for Research And Innovation) (2021-2027). 
https://www.ffg.at/sites/default/files/downloads/HORI-
ZON%20EUROPE_FactSheet_17022020_1.pdf
 
These measures are intended to complement ERDF 
support for innovation ecosystems and interregional