The Vienna Business Agency has supported the Austrian capital as a location for business for more than 40 years. It is actively engaged in shaping and implementing the Vienna 2030 business and innovation strategy. Within this framework, the cornerstones for the renewal of its in-house funding portfolio were developed in the form of flagship projects. Vienna is committed to promoting greater environmental, economic and social sustainability, including by responding to the challenges posed by climate change, digitalization and urbanization. In addition, changing framework conditions also bring about the need for adjustments.
24+ funding portfolio strengthens Vienna as a metropolis of health
“At the beginning of the year, we launched a completely new funding portfolio for Viennese companies. We are focusing on the pressing issues of our time: climate, the environment, digitalization, diversity and employment. This approach enables Viennese companies to respond to current challenges, position themselves for the future and implement new ideas. In designing our new funding offer, we have considered the entire Viennese economy: from local businesses and SMEs to international players and start-ups, everyone can all benefit from our new funding programs,” says Christian Bartik, Head of the Funding department at the Vienna Business Agency.
Event: On March 5, 2024, the Vienna Business Agency, together with aws and FFG, will provide information on funding for start-ups and companies. Further details and registration: https://wirtschaftsagentur.at/termine-events-workshops/informationsveranstaltung-foerderungen/ (event in German)
- Healthcare funding program
Vienna’s science and business sector is particularly strong in the life sciences. The majority of the Vienna Business Agency’s new funding programs have the potential to advance Vienna as a metropolis of health. The Healthcare funding program is at the core of its new offering for the life sciences. It focuses on human health and supports companies in the development of new, groundbreaking solutions in areas ranging from prevention and diagnostics to therapy, rehabilitation and care. Is your company preparing a research project in the field of human health in Vienna? Are you working on products, processes or services to develop drugs, diagnostics or medical devices? Are you planning research projects in the fields of digital health and ambient assisted living? This funding program supports application and market-oriented R&D projects in the life sciences sector. Personnel costs, external services such as consulting, certification and IPR acquisition, and the purchase of machinery, systems, instruments and any necessary renovation and construction measures are eligible for funding.
- Up to €600,000 per project
- Women's bonus: €10,000
- Start-up bonus: €5,000
- Submission period: 1.4.-31.7.2024
Additional information is available here: https://viennabusinessagency.at/current-funding/healthcare-funding/
The Vienna Business Agency’s Startup Grant
It began as an idea as part of the development and implementation of the Vienna 2030 business and innovation strategy. In 2021, it became reality – and has enjoyed huge popularity: the Startup Grant from the Vienna Business Agency.
“The Startup Grant helps innovative, growth-oriented founders to concentrate fully on developing their ideas – without having to worry about financial burdens. Recipients also benefit from a wide range of coaching, advice and networking opportunities. This enables them to evaluate, refine and develop their idea. With the Startup Grant, we put the founders in a positive position, helping them to make a sustainable and successful start in Vienna,” says Gabi Tatzberger, Head of the Vienna Business Agency’s Startup Services department.
- Up to €8,000 per person, up to 3 persons per start-up project
- Proposals can be submitted until 31.3.2024, the second submission deadline this year is 30.9.2024.
Additional information on the program is available here: https://viennabusinessagency.at/current-funding/startup-grant/
Other funding opportunities relevant to the life sciences sector
- Business Location funding program
Are you planning to relocate your company to Vienna? Will your business base its production operations in Vienna going forward? Are you founding a company in Vienna to produce locally? If so, you could apply for funding from the Vienna Business Agency. This funding program supports the construction or expansion of production sites and assists companies in setting up headquarters in the city. You can also get advice on this funding line if you render services to manufacturing companies or contribute to research and development projects that facilitate production in Vienna and contribute to climate protection and employment.
- Up to €500,000 per project
- Submission deadlines this year: 31.3.2024 | 30.6.2024 | 30.9.2024 | 31.12.2024
For details see https://viennabusinessagency.at/current-funding/business-location-funding/
- Innovation funding program
Are you looking to develop a new product in your company? Perhaps you’re planning to roll out a new technology? The Vienna Business Agency’s Innovation funding program supports SMEs from all sectors in the development of new products, technologies and services. Funding is available to help cover personnel costs incurred in the development and implementation of innovative solutions, consultancy and development costs, patent costs, investments in required machinery and equipment, and the costs of securing IPR and licenses. Structural modifications and materials for prototype construction are also eligible for funding.
- Up to €300,000 per project
- Women's bonus: €10,000
- Start-up bonus: €5,000
- Submission deadlines this year: 31.3.2024 | 30.6.2024 | 30.9.2024 | 31.12.2024
For details see https://viennabusinessagency.at/current-funding/innovation-funding/
- Production funding program
Renowned biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device companies value Vienna and the surrounding region as a production location. Are you looking to manufacture competitive products in Vienna? Maybe you’re planning to establish an energy-efficient production facility in Vienna? The Vienna Business Agency supports companies in these endeavors through its Production funding program, which makes it easier to acquire new plant and machinery and realize suitable structural investments. In addition, material costs, qualification and training measures and other internal personnel costs are all eligible for funding.
- Up to €200,000 per project
- Women's bonus: €10,000
- Start-up bonus: €5,000
- Submission deadlines this year: 31.3.2024 | 30.6.2024 | 30.9.2024 | 31.12.2024
For details see https://viennabusinessagency.at/current-funding/production-funding/
- Vienna Planet Fund
It’s more important than ever that we make our cities climate-neutral. Do you have a business idea to reduce greenhouse gases? Have you considered putting it into practice in Vienna? You could be working on a development proposal for more efficient resource and energy use, planning to construct environmentally friendly machinery, drawing up a plan to launch a product compatible with the circular economy, or devising projects to preserve biodiversity. The Vienna Planet Fund can help you make this a reality: it supports companies – whether local or international – and founders from all business sectors in developing climate-friendly products, technologies or services.
- Up to €250,000 per project
- Women's bonus: €10,000
- Start-up bonus: €5,000
- Submission deadlines this year: 31.5.2024 | 31.8.2024 | 30.11.2024
For details see https://viennabusinessagency.at/current-funding/vienna-planet-fund/
- Vienna Quality of Life funding program
As a metropolis of health, Vienna has made maintaining and improving its outstanding quality of life a key priority. Do you have an unconventional solution for the environmental and social changes currently taking place? This funding program helps SMEs and founders to implement new ideas for a more sustainable world. It places particular emphasis on development proposals in the fields of health, education, employment, climate action, the environment, diversity, social cooperation and integration.
- Up to €150,000 per project
- Women's bonus: €5,000
- Start-up bonus: €5,000
- Submission deadlines this year: 30.4.2024 | 31.8.2024 | 31.12.2024
For details see https://viennabusinessagency.at/current-funding/vienna-quality-of-life-funding/
- Digitalization funding program
Are you looking to digitalize tasks, create digital workflows or digitalize customer support in your company? Perhaps you’re hoping to implement new methods in your company? The Vienna Business Agency supports SMEs across all sectors, promoting the development of digital solutions, providing training and professional development, and covering the costs of consultancy and investments in hardware, software, devices, equipment and licenses.
- Up to €50,000 per project
- Submission deadlines this year: 3.4.2024 | 30.6.2024 | 30.9.2024 | 31.12.2024
For details see https://viennabusinessagency.at/current-funding/foerderung-digitalisierung/
- Understanding Science funding program
Do you want to make your scientific work accessible to a wider audience? If you’re looking to explain STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) topics in simple terms by organizing an event, presenting the results in a media format (such as a video or newsletter) or on social media, this is the right funding program for you. It provides support with payroll costs, costs for services – including fees for speakers or knowledge procurement – as well as travel expenses for speakers, hosts or lecturers, the purchase of machines or licenses, and the acquisition of intellectual property rights.
- Up to €60,000 per project
- Women's bonus: €5,000
- Submission deadlines this year: 15.5.2024 | 15.8.2024 | 15.12.2024
For details see https://viennabusinessagency.at/current-funding/foerderung-wissenschaft-verstehen/
- International Market Entry funding program
Looking to expand your business? Hoping to tap into new foreign markets? The Vienna Business Agency provides funding to SMEs that are seeking to establish themselves in the international arena. Eligible costs for funding include staffing and travel costs, fees for licenses and permits for operating abroad, alongside a number of other service costs.
- Up to €50,000 per project
- Women's bonus: €5,000
- Submission deadlines this year: 15.4.2024 | 31.7.2024 | 15.11.2024
For details see https://viennabusinessagency.at/current-funding/international-market-entry/
Tip: Get advice from the Vienna Business Agency team before you start working on your application documents! You can find the contact details for the specialists responsible for each funding program on the dedicated program webpages.
In addition to the funding programs listed here, the Vienna Business Agency’s new portfolio features an array of other opportunities. You can find an overview of all programs here: https://viennabusinessagency.at/current-funding/