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Austria Launches Its Largest Single Project Funding Initiative for R&D
15. September 2026The goal of the Industrial Strategy 2035 is to rank Austria among the world's 10 most competitive economies. A central building block for this: the funding initiative "Leading Companies and Ecosystems," with €60 million for companies and research.
With "Leading Companies and Ecosystems," Austria is setting an important impulse for research and development. Through the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), the Federal Ministry for Economy, Energy and Tourism (BMWET) is providing a total of €60 million over the next three to five years.
The goal is to support international leading companies in building high-performance R&D ecosystems in key enabling technologies together with startups, SMEs and research organisations. Three to four global, leading companies will each receive up to €20 million to build innovation ecosystems. A win-win process: while the "Leading Company" has investment power and is connected to international markets, its partners contribute specialised expertise and know-how in dealing with new technologies.
The initiative is part of the key technology initiative of Austria's Industrial Strategy 2035Industrial Strategy 2035 (), and was presented by Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer and FFG Managing Director Henrietta Egerth at the European Forum Alpbach.
With Leading Companies, we are implementing the next step of the Industrial Strategy by bringing companies and research together in a targeted way.
Leading Companies and Ecosystems: What's Next
The funding model follows a two-phase structure:
- Phase 1 – Roadmapping: Leading companies develop a multi‑year, technology‑driven R&D roadmap for key enabling technologies and define their innovation ecosystem. Each project is funded with up to €150,000. The call for the Roadmapping Phase is open until 30 November 2026open until 30 November 2026 (). Applications go through the FFG eCall systemFFG eCall system ().
- Phase 2 – Growing: Starting in 2027, three to four concepts will be implemented. Up to €10 million goes to the leading company for its large-scale R&D project, with a further €10 million available to the ecosystem. Partners submit their projects to FFG independently of the leading company.
You can find more information about the initiative herehere ().
Strong Starting Position: Austria Among Europe's Top Innovators
Austria offers an excellent starting point for the new programme. With an R&D intensity of 3.34%, the country ranks third in the EU. In terms of innovation output, Austria also ranks among the "Strong Innovators" according to the European Innovation Scoreboard 2026European Innovation Scoreboard 2026 (), reaching eighth place and 113% of the EU average, a performance above the European mean. The new funding initiative aims to build on this position and translate Austria's research strength even more effectively into economic success. Why Austria Is One of Europe's Most Attractive R&D LocationsWhy Austria Is One of Europe's Most Attractive R&D Locations ()
Learn more about Research & DevelopmentLearn more about Research & Development ()
FAQs
- 01
What is the "Leading Companies & Ecosystems" initiative?
"Leading Companies and Ecosystems" is a new funding initiative from the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy and Tourism (BMWET), with a total budget of €60 million. The goal is to help three or four internationally leading companies build high-performing R&D innovation ecosystems in key technologies together with startups, small and midsize enterprises (SMEs) and research institutions. The initiative is part of the key technology initiative under Austria's Industrial Strategy 2035.
- 02
Who can participate, and what counts as a "leading company"?
The initiative targets two groups. First, globally active companies with strong international growth prospects that can drive substantial R&D activity in Austria and act as the driving force behind an innovation ecosystem, these are the "leading companies." Second, ecosystem partners, including research institutions, SMEs and startups, can take part as long as their project ties into a funded leading company's project and is based in Austria.
- 03
How does the initiative work?
The funding model has two phases. In Phase 1, "Roadmapping" (Sept. 2 to Nov. 30, 2026), leading companies develop a multiyear, technology-driven R&D road map, define their planned innovation ecosystem and commit substantial investment of their own alongside the funding. In Phase 2, "Growing" (starting July 1, 2027), three or four leading-company concepts move into implementation. Leading-company projects and ecosystem projects are put out to tender separately.
- 04
How much funding is available, and how is it allocated?
In Phase 1, leading companies can receive up to €150,000 per project to develop an R&D road map in collaboration with their ecosystem, covering up to 50 percent of eligible costs. In Phase 2, a total of €60 million is available over three to five years. Each leading company can receive up to €20 million for implementation: €10 million goes toward the leading company's own large-scale R&D project based on its road map, and another €10 million is available to ecosystem partners for their projects.
- 05
How and when can applicants submit?
The call for Phase 1 (Roadmapping) is open now and runs through Nov. 30, 2026, at noonruns through Nov. 30, 2026, at noon (). Applications go through the FFG eCall systemFFG eCall system (). In Phase 2, leading companies and their ecosystem partners submit their projects to FFG separately; partner submissions are independent of the leading company but must align with its R&D road map.