The Austrian Research Promotion Agency is the main public body to support industrial research, development and innovation in Austria. It operates the total budget worth more than 500 MEUR. Founded in 2004, FFG operates four main kinds of programmes: General Programmes support high-quality bottom up industrial projects open to all fields of technology and free of constraints through tender submission deadlines. Structural Programmes optimise the structures of the Austrian innovation system by developing new forms of co-operation, building know-how and improving competencies in science and economy. Thematic Programmes set national thematic priorities and optimise and standardise the processes of implementation. European and International Programmes are the centre of competence and the “hub” as regards encouraging participation in international research and development activities. FFG also incorporates an Aeronautics and Space Agency, which implements the Austrian aeronautics and space policy and represents Austria in the main international bodies in this field.

 http://www.ffg.at

MNT-ERA.NET Support Programmes

1) FFG Basisprogramme: FFG-Basisprogramme ("General Programme") is a bottom-up funding initiative open for all industrial research and development projects by companies. In 2007 alone, about 316 M€ were paid to companies working on the development of new products and technologies, including MNT as one of the most important thematic area with an amount of approx. 56 M€. Apart from technical quality and risk, the precondition for support from the fund is a concrete chance of being able to exploit the results of the project commercially. However, 80% of this programme is used by SMEs.

Contact: Dr. Birgit Mayer  (birgit.mayer@ffg.at, + 43 - 57755 - 1305)

2) The Austrian Nano Initiative is a thematic programme focused on funding cooperative RTD in Basic Research, Applied Research and Experimental Development in the field of nano technology and nano sciences. The NANO Initiative is based on a broad discussion with representatives from academia and industry as well as ministries, Federal provinces, funding institutions and multipliers with the objectives

1. Broadening the cooperation basis between science and industry

2. Strengthening research competence in fields of application relevant to Austrian enterprises

3. Accelerating technology transfer and increasing the economic utilisation of nanotechnology

4. Improving access to know-how and to cooperation partners abroad

5. Decreasing insecurities and information deficits with regard to health risks and environmental risks

6. Establishing nanotechnology in the context of public perception of Austria as a research location, of science communication and of promoting young researchers

Since the start of the Austrian NANO Initiative in 2004 about 50 M€ of funding was dedicated to high innovative, high risk RTD Projects and accompanying measures.

Due to the current European development in funding, the strategic planning of the Austrian NANO Initiative also takes bilateral and multilateral international cooperation on the programme level into account. In this context the programm action line “Transnational Cooperative RTD Projects” is supporting bi- and multilateral transnational cooperations in the Austrian NANO Initiative.

Contact: Dr. Margit Haas (margit.haas@ffg.at, +43-57755-5080); Mag. Katharina Gugler (katharina.gugler@ffg.at, +43-57755-5081)

Conditions of support:

• FFG Basisprogramme:
  pre-competitive, application oriented R&D
• Austrian Nano Initiative:
  industrial research to experimental development; pre-competitive, application oriented R&D with high risk.

Funding rates (app.):

• FFG Basisprogramme:
  funding with a mixture of funds and loans up to 50% of total costs; applied R&D is fundable
• Austrian Nano Initiative:
  funding up to 80% of the total costs (depending on org. type), applied research;

• FFG Basisprogramme:
  Companies including SMEs as well as large industry are eligible; public or non-profit-making research organisations and universities are eligible if there is a clear exploitation strategy. A demanding research and development project in the field of micro or nano technologies with market orientation and a clear exploitation strategy is required.
• Austrian Nano Initiative:
  Minimum requirement: one Austrian company has to be involved; Furthermore all kinds of RTD Organisations / Universities are eligible partners. Only projects in the field of nanotechnology are accepted (no micro). Industrial research to experimental development projects are required; application oriented R&D with high risk. Clear exploitation strategy is required.