Research and
innovation

Research and innovation have formed the basis for the digitization of all areas of society, culture and the economy. Over the coming years and decades, research will create further – currently inconceivable – opportunities for digitization worldwide. This will result in the emergence of revolutionary digital technologies and applications; at the same time, a substantial benefit for society as a whole will be generated. Research and innovation therefore play a key role in economic and social development. Austria’s aim is to position itself internationally as an innovation leader in order to make the most of future opportunities.

As a research location, Austria has undergone dynamic development in recent years and is already a world leader in a number of disciplines and with a number of its institutions. In addition to sufficient funding for the public research system, Austria also needs appropriate measures and incentives to stimulate company-related research even further. Moreover, it needs to have thematic research focuses as well as a research base that covers all fields. To this end, existing areas of focus must be strengthened and expanded in the digital context. Furthermore, research itself should make use of digital methods.

Measures

  • Continue existing successful RTI programmes and initiatives; focus on Austrian fields of expertise and priorities in the digitization field; continue the thematic RTI initiatives Production of the Future, Mobility of the Future and ICT of the Future as well as the Industry 4.0 platform
  • Strengthen the research focus on quantum physics and quantum technology by developing a quantum computer demonstrator and setting up an associated funding programme from 2017
  • Strengthen Austrian research in the field of electronically based systems with the Silicon Austria funding initiative and establishment of a new research centre
  • Continue the existing funding of security research (KIRAS programme), including research into cybersecurity
  • Set up secure digital knowledge platforms to support the activities of key Austrian scientific experts and link them to project partners from business
  • Increase the use of digitization to involve citizens in the research and innovation process (open innovation)
  • Enable open access publication of all scientific publications up to 2025 as part of the open access strategy
  • Develop an Austrian open data strategy for science involving the Austrian repository landscape
  • Incorporate the participation of universities in open access and open data activities into the performance agreements
  • Develop a forward-looking and sustainable concept for eInfrastructures and data management in the life sciences
  • Ensure European links through targeted prioritization and an active search for partners under Horizon 2020 with a focus on digitization in conjunction with participation in European initiatives such as AAL (Active and Assisted Living), ECSEL (Electronic Components and Systems for European Leadership), ERA-Nets, EUREKA and Eurostars; active involvement of Austria in the creation of the European Open Science Cloud