RTI policy
Research, technology and innovation (RTI) make a major contribution to economic growth and competitiveness. Modern RTI policy approaches are driven by a holistic intervention logic, combining various levels and players in the science and innovation system. Over the past years, societal challenges have increasingly become subject of RTI policy goals and measures.
In its field of competence, the BMK follows a transformative innovation policy approach, focusing on climate neutrality, competitiveness and technological sovereignty as well as resilience and well-being as overriding goals. It strives to reconcile ecological with economic and societal interests. The BMK focuses on the following RTI topics:
- Climate-neutral city
- Energy transition
- Mobility transition
- Circular economy and production technologies
- Digital and key technologies
- Space and aviation technologies
- Cooperation structures
- Innovation, competitiveness and internationalization
Within these topics, the BMK develops impact-oriented measures, using a mix of RTI instruments (e.g. a differentiated set of funding instruments, activities to disseminate knowledge, measures to convert research results into products and services).
Linking the European RTI agendas with the national level is crucial for a transformative innovation policy. This includes Horizon Europe as the EU’s key research and innovation funding program, the RTI partnerships and missions of the EU, the activities of the European Research Area (ERA) and the responsibility for the Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) within the scope of the BMK.
At the same time, the BMK shapes the national legal framework and provides the funds necessary. Ongoing monitoring and regular external evaluations of implemented measures are essential in order to develop the full potential of transformative RTI policy.
Legal framework and budgets
The Research Financing Act (FoFinaG), the RTI Strategy 2030, the RTI pacts, the financing and performance agreements with the central research and research funding institutions as well as EU state aid law and guidelines for the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) and Austria Wirtschaftsservice (AWS) set the most important framework for national measures in RTI. On average, around 750 million euros per year are provided in order to implement those measures.
Research Funding Act as an essential legal basis
With the adoption of the Research Financing Act (FoFinaG) in 2020, federal research funding was put on its own legal basis, thereby significantly improving financial planning in the Austrian innovation system. Consequently, the federal government adopts triennial RTI pacts (e.g. 2024-2026), which allocate the budgets available for this period. The RTI pacts operationalize the Austrian federal government's RTI Strategy 2030. In addition, the BMK finances important RTI topics through the Fonds Zukunft Österreich (FZÖ.
Triennial performance agreements with AIT/SAL and financing agreements with AWS/FFG:
Building on the respective RTI pact, the BMK concludes triennial (currently 2024-2026) performance agreements with the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT) and Silicon Austria Labs (SAL) as well as financing agreements with the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) and the Austria Wirtschaftsservice (AWS). Hereby, the funds defined in the RTI pacts are used to address concrete RTI objectives. In addition, the BMK finances international organizations such as the European Space Agency (ESA) and research institutions at regional level.
Overarching coordination and agreement:
In order to achieve the RTI objectives, the interaction of performance and financing agreements with application-oriented instruments and the development of new research questions are central. These instruments include the Climate and Energy Fund, climate & environmental protections funding as wells as public services and regulation.