{"id":25658,"date":"2026-03-03T22:25:19","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T20:25:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/glossary\/innovation-funding\/"},"modified":"2026-03-06T15:15:35","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T13:15:35","slug":"innovation-funding","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/innovation-funding\/","title":{"rendered":"Innovation Funding"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"background:#f0f1f3;padding:1.5rem;margin-bottom:2rem;border-radius:12px;\">\n<strong>In brief:<\/strong> Innovation funding encompasses all public programs, grants, and tax measures through which the federal government, states, and EU provide financial and advisory support to companies for research and innovation projects. In Austria, SMEs have access to a broad range of funding options\u2014from the research premium to direct project grants.\n<\/div>\n<nav style=\"background:#f8f9fa;padding:1.5rem 2rem;border-radius:8px;margin-bottom:2rem;\">\n<strong style=\"font-size:1.1rem;\">Table of Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol style=\"margin:0.75rem 0 0;padding-left:1.25rem;\">\n<li><a href=\"#definition\" style=\"text-decoration:none;color:#1a5276;\">What Is Innovation Funding? \u2013 Definition and Significance <\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#oesterreich\" style=\"text-decoration:none;color:#1a5276;\">The Austrian Funding Landscape at a Glance<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#programme\" style=\"text-decoration:none;color:#1a5276;\">Key Funding Programs for SME Innovation<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#forschungspraemie\" style=\"text-decoration:none;color:#1a5276;\">The Research Premium: 14% Tax Credit<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#antrag\" style=\"text-decoration:none;color:#1a5276;\">Submitting a Funding Application: 5 Steps to Success<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#tipps\" style=\"text-decoration:none;color:#1a5276;\">Practical Tips for Successful Innovation Funding<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#beratung\" style=\"text-decoration:none;color:#1a5276;\">Innovation Consulting as a Funding Multiplier<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#faq\" style=\"text-decoration:none;color:#1a5276;\">Frequently Asked Questions About Innovation Funding<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#verwandte-glossar-begriffe\" style=\"text-decoration:none;color:#1a5276;\">Related glossary terms<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h2 id=\"definition\">What Is Innovation Funding? \u2013 Definition and Significance <\/h2>\n<p>Innovation funding refers to the totality of all governmental and supranational measures aimed at supporting the innovation activities of companies, research institutions, and founders. It is a central instrument of economic and location policy. <\/p>\n<p>For Austrian companies\u2014particularly SMEs\u2014innovation funding is a strategic lever: it reduces the financial risk of innovation projects, enables access to external expertise, and accelerates the implementation of <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/innovation-strategy\/\">innovation strategies<\/a>. When used correctly, funding can make the difference between an idea in the drawer and a successful <a href=\"\/glossar\/geschaeftsmodell-innovation\/\" style=\"color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;\">business model innovation<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>The funding landscape is broadly diversified and includes direct financial grants, tax incentives, favorable loans, <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/innovation-consulting\/\">consulting subsidies<\/a>, and access to infrastructure and networks.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"oesterreich\">The Austrian Funding Landscape at a Glance<\/h2>\n<p>Austria is among the countries with the most comprehensive innovation funding in Europe. The key players: <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>FFG (Austrian Research Promotion Agency):<\/strong> Central point of contact for business-oriented research and innovation funding. Offers programs from basic research to market launch <\/li>\n<li><strong>aws (Austria Wirtschaftsservice):<\/strong> Promotes startups, growth, and innovation through grants, guarantees, and equity. Particularly relevant for <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/startup\/\">startups<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/scaling\/\">scaling<\/a> <\/li>\n<li><strong>State funding:<\/strong> Each federal state has its own economic development agencies with regional programs\u2014e.g., Vienna Business Agency or SFG (Styrian Business Promotion Agency)<\/li>\n<li><strong>EU funding:<\/strong> Horizon Europe, ERDF structural funds, and other programs offer additional opportunities for international cooperation<\/li>\n<li><strong>Research premium:<\/strong> Tax incentive that grants 14% of R&amp;D expenditures as a tax credit\u2014automatically, without application<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"programme\">Key Funding Programs for SME Innovation<\/h2>\n<table style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;margin:1rem 0;\">\n<thead>\n<tr style=\"background:#f1f5f9;\">\n<th style=\"padding:0.75rem;text-align:left;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">Program<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:0.75rem;text-align:left;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">Funding Body<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:0.75rem;text-align:left;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">Funding Type<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:0.75rem;text-align:left;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">Suitable For<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:0.75rem;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">Basic Program<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:0.75rem;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">FFG<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:0.75rem;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">Grant + Loan<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:0.75rem;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">R&amp;D projects across all industries<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:0.75rem;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">Innovation Voucher<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:0.75rem;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">FFG<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:0.75rem;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">Up to \u20ac12,500 grant<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:0.75rem;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">Initial research collaborations<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:0.75rem;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">aws Innovation Protection<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:0.75rem;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">aws<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:0.75rem;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">Grant for patent costs<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:0.75rem;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">IP protection, patent filing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:0.75rem;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">KMU.DIGITAL<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:0.75rem;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">WKO\/BMDW<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:0.75rem;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">Consulting funding<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:0.75rem;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/digitization\/\">Digitalization<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/sme-digitization\/\">SME digitalization<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:0.75rem;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">aws Preseed\/Seed Financing<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:0.75rem;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">aws<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:0.75rem;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">Up to \u20ac800,000 grant<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:0.75rem;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;\">Deep-tech startups, <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/venture-building\/\">venture building<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 id=\"forschungspraemie\">The Research Premium: 14% Tax Credit<\/h2>\n<p>The Austrian research premium is one of the most attractive tax-based R&amp;D instruments in Europe:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Amount:<\/strong> 14% of recognized R&amp;D expenditures as a direct tax credit (negative tax possible)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Application procedure:<\/strong> Via FinanzOnline, after confirmation by FFG of the scientific quality<\/li>\n<li><strong>Eligible costs:<\/strong> Personnel costs for R&amp;D staff, material costs, costs for contract research (up to certain limits)<\/li>\n<li><strong>No minimum revenue:<\/strong> Even startups and young companies without profits benefit<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Many companies\u2014especially SMEs\u2014do not utilize the research premium even though their activities would be eligible. Even the systematic development of new <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/business-model-patterns\/\">business model patterns<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/digital-business-models\/\">digital business models<\/a>, or <a href=\"\/glossar\/ki-strategie-unternehmen\/\" style=\"color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;\">AI strategies<\/a> can be recognized as R&amp;D. <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"antrag\">Submitting a Funding Application: 5 Steps to Success<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Survey the funding landscape:<\/strong> Identify all relevant programs for your project. The FFG funding finder database and the aws website provide good overviews <\/li>\n<li><strong>Define your project:<\/strong> Formulate your innovation project clearly\u2014with objectives, milestones, budget, and the expected degree of innovation. Tools like the <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/business-model-canvas\/\">Business Model Canvas<\/a> help with structuring <\/li>\n<li><strong>Check eligibility:<\/strong> Ensure that your project meets the funding criteria\u2014particularly the innovation content and commercial exploitation<\/li>\n<li><strong>Prepare the application:<\/strong> Create the funding application according to the guidelines. Pay attention to a clear presentation of the innovation, market potential, and implementation competence <\/li>\n<li><strong>Submit and follow up:<\/strong> Submit the application on time and keep all documents ready for evaluation<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2 id=\"tipps\">Practical Tips for Successful Innovation Funding<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Plan early:<\/strong> Begin funding planning during the <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/innovation-process\/\">innovation process<\/a> phase &#8220;concept development&#8221;\u2014not when funds are running low<\/li>\n<li><strong>Use combinations:<\/strong> Different funding programs can often be combined (e.g., FFG Basic Program + research premium + state funding)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Seek advice:<\/strong> Professional <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/innovation-consulting\/\">innovation consulting<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/innovation-coaching\/\">innovation coaching<\/a> are often eligible for funding themselves and significantly increase the chances of success in application submission<\/li>\n<li><strong>Documentation from the start:<\/strong> Keep an R&amp;D diary and document all activities comprehensively\u2014this facilitates both the application and subsequent accounting<\/li>\n<li><strong>Leverage networks:<\/strong> Clusters, chambers of commerce, and innovation centers offer free initial consultations and networking with funding bodies<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"beratung\">Innovation Consulting as a Funding Multiplier<\/h2>\n<p>Professional <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/innovation-consulting\/\">innovation consulting<\/a> can significantly increase the return on funding:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Funding strategy:<\/strong> Which programs are optimally suited to your project? Which combinations maximize the funding amount? <\/li>\n<li><strong>Application preparation:<\/strong> Experienced consultants know the evaluation criteria and formulate applications to send the right signals<\/li>\n<li><strong>Project design:<\/strong> Sometimes a project can be structured to better fit the funding criteria\u2014without changing the project content<\/li>\n<li><strong>Innovation management:<\/strong> The consulting itself is often part of <a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/innovation-management\/\">innovation management<\/a> and can be funded through programs like KMU.DIGITAL<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1e3a5f,#2563eb);color:#fff;padding:2rem;border-radius:12px;margin:2rem 0;text-align:center;\">\n<h3 style=\"color:#fff;margin-top:0;\">Optimize Your Use of Innovation Funding<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-size:1.1rem;\">We support you in identifying suitable funding programs and successfully submitting applications. Often our consulting is itself eligible for funding\u2014ask us about the possibilities. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/business-model-innovation-services\/\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#fff;color:#1e3a5f;padding:0.75rem 2rem;border-radius:8px;text-decoration:none;font-weight:600;margin-top:0.5rem;\">Schedule a Funding Check Now \u2192<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<div itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/FAQPage\">\n<h2 id=\"faq\">Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)<\/h2>\n<details itemscope=\"\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" style=\"background:#eaecee;border-radius:8px;margin-bottom:0.75rem;overflow:hidden;\">\n<summary itemprop=\"name\" style=\"padding:1rem 1.2rem;font-weight:600;cursor:pointer;color:#2c3e50;\">What innovation funding is available in Austria for SMEs?<\/summary>\n<div itemscope=\"\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"padding:0 1.2rem 1rem;color:#2c3e50;\">\n<div itemprop=\"text\" style=\"margin-top:0.75rem;\">\n<p>SMEs in Austria can benefit from a wide range of funding options: FFG Basic Program and Innovation Voucher for R&amp;D projects, aws funding for startups and growth, KMU.DIGITAL for digitalization consulting, state funding depending on the federal state, the research premium (14% tax credit on R&amp;D costs), and EU programs like Horizon Europe. The right combination depends on the innovation project, company size, and location. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details itemscope=\"\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" style=\"background:#eaecee;border-radius:8px;margin-bottom:0.75rem;overflow:hidden;\">\n<summary itemprop=\"name\" style=\"padding:1rem 1.2rem;font-weight:600;cursor:pointer;color:#2c3e50;\">Do I have to repay the funding if the project fails?<\/summary>\n<div itemscope=\"\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"padding:0 1.2rem 1rem;color:#2c3e50;\">\n<div itemprop=\"text\" style=\"margin-top:0.75rem;\">\n<p>That depends on the type of funding. Non-repayable grants (such as the Innovation Voucher) do not have to be repaid even if the project fails\u2014provided the funds were used properly. Low-interest loans (e.g., in the FFG Basic Program) must generally be repaid, but often offer relief in cases of proven failure. In any case, comprehensive documentation and proper accounting are essential.   <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details itemscope=\"\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" style=\"background:#eaecee;border-radius:8px;margin-bottom:0.75rem;overflow:hidden;\">\n<summary itemprop=\"name\" style=\"padding:1rem 1.2rem;font-weight:600;cursor:pointer;color:#2c3e50;\">What is the typical funding rate?<\/summary>\n<div itemscope=\"\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"padding:0 1.2rem 1rem;color:#2c3e50;\">\n<div itemprop=\"text\" style=\"margin-top:0.75rem;\">\n<p>Funding rates vary depending on the program and company size. Typical values for SMEs: FFG Basic Program 40\u201360% of project costs (mix of grant and loan), Innovation Voucher 100% up to \u20ac12,500, research premium 14% of R&amp;D costs. Through strategic combination of multiple programs, total funding rates of 50\u201370% of innovation costs can be achieved.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details itemscope=\"\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" style=\"background:#eaecee;border-radius:8px;margin-bottom:0.75rem;overflow:hidden;\">\n<summary itemprop=\"name\" style=\"padding:1rem 1.2rem;font-weight:600;cursor:pointer;color:#2c3e50;\">Is a funding application worthwhile even for small projects?<\/summary>\n<div itemscope=\"\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"padding:0 1.2rem 1rem;color:#2c3e50;\">\n<div itemprop=\"text\" style=\"margin-top:0.75rem;\">\n<p>Yes\u2014especially for getting started with innovation funding, low-threshold programs like the FFG Innovation Voucher (up to \u20ac12,500) or KMU.DIGITAL are suitable. The effort for the application is manageable, and the experience with the funding system is valuable for later, larger projects. The research premium is worthwhile even from a few thousand euros in R&amp;D costs, as it is automatically claimed through the tax return.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details style=\"background:#eaecee;border-radius:8px;padding:0;margin-bottom:0.75rem;\">\n<summary style=\"padding:1rem 1.2rem;font-weight:600;cursor:pointer;color:#2c3e50;list-style:none;\">How much time does preparing a funding application typically take?<\/summary>\n<div style=\"padding:0 1.2rem 1rem 1.2rem;\">A well-prepared innovation funding application typically requires 40-80 hours of work, including project plan development, financial calculations, partnership agreements, and documentation. First-time applicants often need more time to understand requirements and gather necessary materials. Many companies underestimate this effort and submit rushed applications with lower success rates. Working with experienced consultants can reduce time investment and significantly improve approval chances \u2013 their fees are often eligible costs within the funded project.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Related Terms<\/h2>\n<div style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;margin-top:0.5rem;\">\n<a style=\"display:inline-block;background:white;border:1px solid #d5d8dc;border-radius:20px;padding:0.4rem 1rem;margin:0.3rem;color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;font-size:0.95em;\" href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/innovation-management\/\">Innovation Management<\/a><br \/>\n<a style=\"display:inline-block;background:white;border:1px solid #d5d8dc;border-radius:20px;padding:0.4rem 1rem;margin:0.3rem;color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;font-size:0.95em;\" href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/design-thinking\/\">Design Thinking<\/a><br \/>\n<a style=\"display:inline-block;background:white;border:1px solid #d5d8dc;border-radius:20px;padding:0.4rem 1rem;margin:0.3rem;color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;font-size:0.95em;\" href=\"\/en\/glossary\/business-model-innovation\/\">Business Model Innovation<\/a><br \/>\n<a style=\"display:inline-block;background:white;border:1px solid #d5d8dc;border-radius:20px;padding:0.4rem 1rem;margin:0.3rem;color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;font-size:0.95em;\" href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/digital-transformation\/\">Digital Transformation<\/a><br \/>\n<a style=\"display:inline-block;background:white;border:1px solid #d5d8dc;border-radius:20px;padding:0.4rem 1rem;margin:0.3rem;color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;font-size:0.95em;\" href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/lean-startup\/\">Lean Startup<\/a><br \/>\n<a style=\"display:inline-block;background:white;border:1px solid #d5d8dc;border-radius:20px;padding:0.4rem 1rem;margin:0.3rem;color:#1a5276;text-decoration:none;font-size:0.95em;\" href=\"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/glossary\/change-management\/\">Change Management<\/a>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In brief: Innovation funding encompasses all public programs, grants, and tax measures through which the federal government, states, and EU provide financial and advisory support to companies for research and&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24529,"parent":25140,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-25658","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Point-of-New-Business-Model-Innovation-Benedikt-Hasibeder-scaled.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25658","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25658"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25658\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28063,"href":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25658\/revisions\/28063"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25140"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24529"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pointofnew.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25658"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}