No Economic Upswing without Research

Austria is facing numerous economic, social and ecological challenges. As a country with few natural resources, research, technology and innovation (RTI) are inextricably linked to prosperity, growth and economic development. The Austrian research institutions and funding agencies urge that these topics be ensured in the long term and call on decision-makers to include and implement the following points in the government program.

4% research quota: catching up with the best

Every euro invested in research comes back twice. In order to promote research, support the research-intensive economy and industry and catch up with the countries with the highest research intensity, Austria must achieve a research quota of 4% by 2030. This means a budget for the three-year RTI pact (2027-2029) of around 7 billion euros (a plus of 1.7 billion compared to 2024-2026). In particular, the proportion of funds awarded competitively should be increased. Research funds are not mere expenses or subsidies. They are an indispensable investment in the future to ensure Austria’s future competitiveness and innovative capacity. 

3+3 budget: more risk in radically new fields

The federal government’s three-year performance and financing agreements enable research institutions (and universities) as well as companies to make new investments. However, there is great uncertainty as to what will happen after these three years. In order to boldly and radically open up new fields, a longer perspective is necessary. We propose a 3+3 year plan: three years of secure funding and three more years of prospects.

Preservation of the FZÖ: New tasks for the Future Fund

The Austrian Future Fund (Fonds Zukunft Österreich, FZÖ) provides significant support for cooperative and innovative projects that break new ground, strengthen key technologies and tackle social challenges. Now, a strategy process must be initiated in order to further develop the future tasks of the FZÖ with sufficient funding. At the same time, the basic tasks of the funding agencies, which have so far been partly financed by the FZÖ, must be appropriately secured.

Universities, universities of applied sciences, research institutes: Cooperation from basic research to application

In order for Austria to become a leading research country, cooperation is necessary across the entire research spectrum, from basic research to applied research to commercialization in industry. Individual measures and “small-scale” approaches should be rejected in research. We also call for this common vision through a jointly developed RTI pact.

Fast-track procedure: Removing hurdles for researchers from abroad

Research is international and thrives on networks with other countries. We are looking for the best minds from all over the world. The Austrian immigration system must not present an obstacle to the employment of excellent researchers from third countries. The introduction of a fast-track procedure for awarding the Red-White-Red Card to top researchers would help to remove barriers and increase attractiveness.

Signatories:

Brigitte Bach, Andreas Kugi, Alexander Svejkovsky, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology
Sylvia Bauer-Beck, Andreas Schaffhauser, GeoSphere Austria
Jakob Calice, OeAD-GmbH – Austria’s Agency for Education and Internationalization
Henrietta Egerth, Karin Tausz, Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG)
Heinz Faßmann, Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW)
Christof Gattringer, Ursula Jakubek, Austrian Science Fund (FWF)
Martin Gerzabek, Christian Doppler Research Association (CDG)
Martin Hetzer, Georg Schneider, Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA)
Christina Hirschl, Silicon Austria Labs
Bernhard Sagmeister, aws – Austria Wirtschaftsservice Gesellschaft mbH Elvira Welzig, Marisa Radatz, Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft (LBG)