Funding Agencies
Our team of consultants have been supporting companies in the areas of business development, market research, and financing and funding issues for over ten years. Our expertise lies in the acquisition of national, Austria-wide grants, as well as regional grants that vary according to the federal state. We also work with international and EU grants, more specifically, business accelerators and grants from the EIT (European Institute of Innovation and Technology).
We've gathered a list of funding agencies for your to look over. If you're interested in getting funding, don't hesitate to contact us.
Austrian Funding Agencies
The Austrian Research Promotion Agency is a national funding agency with the aim of financing and researching projects in both the scientific and economic industries.
Their main goal is “to promote research, technology, development, and innovation for the benefit of Austria.”
The FFG offers comprehensive funding options, so whether your company is at the beginning of development or about to begin product launch, the FFG may have something for you.
The AWS is the “promotional bank of the Austrian federal government” and offers businesses and start-ups a wide range of funding options.
They provide funding for companies in all stages of development; those who are simply brainstorming, those looking to receive IPRs or patents, those in their pre-seed, seed, or growth phases, and much more.
The FWF is a funding organisation looking to improve and forward advancements in the sciences and humanities.
They fund both individual and bilateral research projects. The FWF may be an option for you if you’re looking to conduct research in the field of science.
The Austrian Chamber of Commerce can help support you and your business in a number of ways, whether you only have an idea, or whether you are at your go-to-market point.
They offer a wide range of business-related services as well as networking opportunities, so you can learn more about your industry, and your business idea.
Learn more about the WKO here >
The Christian Doppler Research Association looks to promote cooperation between science and business.
They offer businesses in the private sector the chance of conduct research that will benefit both the business, and the scientific community at-large.
Learn more about the Christian Doppler Forschungsgesellschaft here >
Austrian funding agencies in the federal states
The Wirtschaftsagentur Wien supports anyone looking to found a company in Vienna with a variety of services.
They offer assistance with funding, business advice, networking, and real estate. If you are looking to found a business in Vienna but you don’t know where to turn, the Wirtschaftsagentur Wien can offer valuable help and assistance.
The SFG supports over 60,000 companies operating in the province of Styria.
They have multiple funding and financing options, but they also offer coaching and real estate assistance, and should you be looking to network with other companies in Styria, they have an extensive selection of partners.
Learn more about the Steirische Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft here >
The Kärntner Wirtschaftsförderungsfonds is a funding agency founded in 1993, which sought, and still seeks to support businesses operating in Carinthia.
They offer funding for businesses in many different fields; tourism, research, industry, and many more. If you are thinking of operating within Carinthia, then the KWF may be what you’re looking for.
Learn more about the Kärntner Wirtschaftsförderungsfonds here >
Ecoplus is a business agency operating in Lower Austria, with 17 business parks, and over 100 projects funded annually, they could be your ticket to moving into the Lower Austrian market
They offer a number of funding solutions, but also offer exclusive services such as their “Expat & Relocation Service”.
Business Upper Austria “is the Upper Austrian government’s location agency”. They seek to drive innovation within Upper Austria by helping new businesses establish themselves in the region.
They provide advisory services, and help companies settle into Upper Austria.
The Wirtschaftsagentur Burgenland looks to help develop new and existing companies operating in Burgenland.
They help companies who are in any stage of the business cycle, from idea to foundation. They have a wide range of financing options and are committed to helping economic development in Burgenland.
EU and international Funding Agencies
The EIC Accelerator is an initiative by the European Innovation Council to help fund and invest in SMEs which are looking to develop potential market-changing innovations and technologies.
If you believe that your idea could completely revolutionise the market and change the game, but private investors are worried about your project being potentially high-risk, then the EIC Accelerator program is for you.
The Eureka network is the “world’s biggest public network for international cooperation in R&D and innovation, present in over 45 countries.”
They work with application-oriented R&D, and work in fields such as microelectronics, environmental protection, and materials research.
The Eurostars funding programme offers SMEs the chance to collaborate on research and development projects.
They offer public funding and have a network of experts to help you with your project.
Further information on Dharma's EU funding options can also be found here
Business Acceleration, Incubation Grants
Copernicus is the EU's Earth Observation Programme managed by the European Commission.
They support European entrepreneurs and start-ups who are work with their data to create innovative, market-shifting, and commercially viable products and services. Furthermore, they offer a range of funding programmes, grants, and contracts.
The European Space Agency looks to shape the current and future development of Europe's journey to space.
Its activities fall into two categories – ‘mandatory’ and ‘optional’. Programmes carried out under the General Budget and the Space Science programme budget are ‘mandatory’; they include the agency’s basic activities (studies on future projects, technology research, shared technical investments, information systems and training programmes).
The ESA BIC Austria opened in 2016 and is managed and operated by the business incubator centre, Science Park Graz (SPG).
With more than 18 years of experience in business incubation, ESA BIC Austria is looking for visionary entrepreneurs, researchers, students, and contacts from industry, to develop innovative and scalable space-related business ventures.
Learn more about the European Space Agency Business Incubation Grant here >
Grants of EIT (European Institute of Innovation and Technology)
The EIT Climate-KIC is a Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC), working to accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon, climate-resilient society.
Supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, they identify and support innovation that helps society mitigate and adapt to climate change. They believe that a decarbonised, sustainable economy is not only necessary to prevent catastrophic climate change, but presents a wealth of opportunities for business and society.
EIT Health aims to transform the way health care is delivered in Europe.
They do this through education programs, catalysing promising health start-ups, promoting innovation, and regular think tanks. EIT Health aims to change lives by making new leaps in healthcare that puts the patient first.
EIT Digital seeks to make a positive global impact through European innovations that are sustained and fueled by entrepreneurial talent and digital technology.
EIT Digital strengthens Europe's position in the digital world by bringing breakthrough digital innovations to market and entrepreneurial talent for economic growth and promotes improved quality of life. EIT Digital helps companies and entrepreneurs to be at the forefront of digital innovation by providing them with technology, talent and growth support.
In order to make our food supply future-proof, EIT Food has set itself the task of building an integrative and innovative community in which the consumer is actively involved.
Central focuses include healthy nutrition, the improvement of sustainability through resource conservation, and innovative entrepreneurship in the food sector.
EIT RawMaterials is the world's largest consortium in the raw materials sector and is initiated and financed by the EIT (European Institute of Innovation and Technology), an institution of the European Union.
EIT RawMaterials aims to develop raw materials into a great strength for Europe by promoting innovation, education and entrepreneurship, and the sustainable competitiveness of the European minerals.