📋 Tender Overview
In recent years, Austria has succeeded in expanding its position from "innovation follower" to "strong innovator" and has recently been able to maintain or slightly improve its position. According to the Austrian Research and Technology Report 2024 (FT report), indicators of this are spending on research and development, which is well above the EU average, the success of researchers in applying for ERC grants and excellent scientific publications in the life sciences. The report, which was commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF), the Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK) and the Federal Ministry of Labor and Economics (BMAW), provides an overview of research, technology and innovation (RTI) funded by federal funds in Austria ( III-1170 d. B. ).
Research quota reaches a new record of 3.34% in 2024
According to the global estimate by Statistics Austria, R&D expenditure in Austria will total €16.64 billion in 2024. This means that the research ratio, i.e. R&D expenditure as a share of GDP, will reach a new record high of 3.34% (2023: 3.26%). Austria thus continues to occupy a leading position among the EU countries.
In 2024, the federal government will finance R&D with €4.62 billion, which corresponds to 27.76%. The share of R&D funding by the federal government in GDP will therefore increase by 5.68%, or from 0.88% in 2023 to 0.93% in 2024. With the increasing expenditure on R&D, the federal government is demonstrating its high commitment to sustainably strengthening Austria as a location for R&D and innovation, the authors of the report note.
In 2024, the largest share of R&D funding will continue to be provided by a strong corporate sector. Domestic companies will finance €7.42 billion, which corresponds to 44.59% of total R&D funding. In addition, funding from foreign companies accounts for the largest share of R&D financed from abroad, the latter amounting to €2.59 billion or 15.54%. The research premium is estimated by the BMF to be around one billion euros in 2024, or around 6% of total R&D funding.
Austria is partially catching up in terms of RTI indicators
According to the FT report, the global innovation rankings for 2024 vary depending on the indicator considered. Overall, however, a slightly positive trend is observed. Austria was able to improve its position in the European Innovation Scoreboard by two places to sixth place in 2023. Austria can therefore be classified as a leading "strong innovator", the report states. In particular, Austria is among the best countries in the EU in the RTI indicators "R&D expenditure", "ERC grants" and "Excellent scientific publications in the life sciences in the field of biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology".
Austria's position in terms of the proportion of R&D employees and the proportion of women in research has not changed. However, Austria was able to increase its respective shares compared to the previous year. For example, according to the report, the proportion of R&D employees in the working population was over 2% for the first time. In addition, Austria was able to improve its position in venture capital investments in the EU by two places to 15th place.
According to the FT report, Austria plays a clear pioneering role in patent applications in the field of quantum technologies and in scientific publications in the field of quantum research. Austria came third in the EU in patent applications in the field of quantum technologies and second in scientific publications in the field of quantum research. In terms of ecological sustainability, Austria has improved its position in the relevant indicators of the use rate of recyclable materials and resource productivity.
Since graduates in STEM subjects are important future specialists in technology-based industries, the report considers a large proportion of STEM graduates to be a positive factor for future innovation capacity. Austria currently ranks second among the EU-27 in terms of STEM graduates.
At EU level, the report shows that in the third year of Horizon Europe, research institutions and active researchers based in Austria continue to accept the European framework program for research and innovation well and are showing very good performance. The success rate is above the European average, and returns to Austria have increased compared to Horizon 2020, it says. In the first three years of the program, which started in 2021, funding of almost one billion euros has already been raised, which corresponds to 3.3% of the funds distributed by the European Commission.
Microelectronics strengths
According to the FT report, the EU Chips Act, which creates a framework for measures to strengthen the European semiconductor ecosystem, is of great importance for Austria. Austria is one of the most flourishing microelectronics locations in Europe and ranks fourth in the EU in terms of value added, employment and patent activities in this area, and third in private investments and research and development investments by companies. This means that Austria has the highest share of microelectronics production in total value added, total employment and corporate research and development in the EU. This area of ??strength is therefore being promoted by the federal government as a focus of RTI policy, the report states.
Focus on Life Sciences and Health
One focus of the current FT report is the topics of excellence and innovation in the areas of life sciences and health. Austria has clear areas of strength in cancer research, precision medicine and medical products, for example, the report states. Initial findings on personalized medical care have already been implemented in clinical practice.
