Transport Research Knowledge Centre

Country Overviews

AUSTRIA

Introduction
National Government Departments
Research Institutes and Technology Related Agencies

See Programmes

Introduction

In accordance with the principles of Austria's federal constitution, both national government and the individual Länder pursue research, technology and innovation policies.

While there are a number of cooperation agreements between the federal state and the Länder for individual research promotion programmes (e.g. competence centres), there is no other strategic system of overall coordination.

The main responsibility for transport research and technology policy is vested within the Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology (BMVIT). Besides the BMVIT, other ministries are involved as well, such as the Ministry of Economy, Family and Youth (BMWFJ), the Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management (BMLFUW) and the Ministry for Science and Research (BMWF). The Ministry of Finance (BMF) has a horizontal budgetary competence.

Most transport research funding measures are managed by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), at the operative and administrative level, on behalf of BMVIT and BMWFJ. Further support activities are driven directly by the ministries in the form of subsidies and research contracts or special actions like prizes and awards.

More general R&D support for technology and innovation is provided by the Austria Wirtschaftsservice GmbH - including the ERP Fund - and the Austrian Science Fund FWF.
BMVIT aims to increase the technology and innovation structure at the national and regional level, by strengthening innovative systems, increasing the cooperation with research institutions and other companies and involving local activities in innovative markets.

Priority is given to establishing strategic programmes. These include supporting SME's, industry, universities and non-university research institutions, in undertaking cooperative research projects to strengthen links between industrial and scientific players.

National Government Departments

Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology (BMVIT) / Bundesministerium für Verkehr, Innovation und Technologie

www.bmvit.gv.at

IV2Splus - Intelligent Transport Systems and Services plus (2007-2012) / Intelligente Verkehrssysteme und Services plus

Programme focusing on expanding excellence in research and development through stronger international embedding of successfully established national R&D competences, with the goal of increased integration of these competences into international, industrial, value-creation chains. The three programme lines A3plus, I2V and ways2go come under the IV2Splus strategy programme.
www.bmvit.gv.at/en/innovation/mobility/index.html

A3plus - Alternative Propulsion Systems and Fuels (2007-2012) / Alternative Antriebssysteme und Treibstoffe

A sub-programme of IV2Splus, A3plus is striving to make the transport of the future significantly more energy efficient and more environmentally friendly by promoting research and development in the field of innovative propulsion technologies and alternative fuels.

www.a3plus.at

I2V - Intermodality and Interoperability of Transport Systems (2007-2012) / Intermodalität und Interoperabilität von Verkehrssystemen

I2V, also within IV2Splus, is the BMVIT's impulse programme to promote co-operative R&D projects to ensure the competitiveness and innovativeness of intermodal transport.
www.i2v.at

ways2go - Innovation and Technology for Evolving Mobility Needs (2007-2012) / Innovation und Technologie für den Wandel der Mobilitätsbedürfnisse

BMVIT programme within IV2Splus which aims at the development of sustainable mobility solutions in the context of challenges posed by future demographic and social changes.
www.ways2go.at

IV2S - Intelligent Transport Systems and Services (2002-2006) / Intelligente Verkehrssysteme und Services

Completed programme (forerunner to the current IV2Splus programme), with three programme lines:

A3 - Austrian Advanced Automotive Technology
I2 - Intelligent Infrastructure / Intelligente Infrastruktur
ISB - Innovative Rail System / Innovatives System Bahn

IKV - Innovation Programme Combined Transport of Goods (2008-2014) / Innovationsförderprogramm Kombinierter Güterverkehr

BMVIT programme which aims to extend combined transport and to shift road transport in favour of more sustainable modes of transport.
www.bmvit.gv.at/innovation/verkehrstechnologie/kombigueter/index.html

TAKE OFF

Thematic programme to strengthen the research, technology and cooperation competence of Austrian players in the aeronautics sector.
www.bmvit.gv.at/innovation/luftfahrt/takeoff.html

Research Institutes and Technology Related Agencies