In the framework of numerous funding programmes, Vienna invites creative people, researchers, investors and entrepreneurs to submit proposals for innovative future-oriented projects. In parallel, the city invests in new jobs to stimulate the labour market.

To pull the economy out of the international crisis by investing – this recommendation has been made by the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (Wiener Institut für Internationale Wirtschaftsvergleiche) in its recently published summer forecast for the EU-27. Vienna has already been implementing this recommendation successfully for some years. The most important funding agencies of the City of Vienna, Vienna Business Agency (specialists of the IT cluster together with experts of the City of Vienna’s agency for the creative industries “departure“ and the Technology Promotion Agency) as well as the Vienna Employment Promotion Fund and their respective partners present an overview of attractive funding programmes for which project proposals may still be submitted in 2012. Applications may also be filed online via the “Cockpit“ portal: https://cockpit.wirtschaftsagentur.at/Cockpit/Cockpit.aspx. Funding area: information technology; main target group: Vienna-based IT enterprises.

Applications for subsidies are still being accepted under the following funding programmes of the City of Vienna in 2012:

Vienna Business Agency (Wirtschaftsagentur Wien)

Open calls for project proposals: “Koop Pro Vienna 2012“, “Internationalisation“, “Web x.0“
Contact: Simon Grillitsch, Vienna Business Agency

Koop Pro Wien 2012 - 2nd call for proposals
In the framework of this programme, Vienna Business Agency supports cooperation among companies. Participants: at least three, including one small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) from Vienna. Objective: promising cooperation of an innovative nature. Amount of subsidy: varying, in general up to 50,000 euros per project; for special types of cooperation (in the manufacturing sector, including ancillary services sectors) up to 100,000 euros. An additional women’s bonus of 2,000 euros is available.
Deadline for submissions: 10 September 2012
www.wirtschaftsagentur.at/foerderung/foerderprogramme/koop_pro_wien_2012/

Internationalisation: This funding programme of Vienna Business Agency supports small and medium-sized enterprises in opening up new international markets. Subsidies of a maximum of 20,000 euros annually are granted to companies.
Deadline for submissions: 31 December 2012
www.wirtschaftsagentur.at/foerderung/foerderprogramme/internationalisierung/

Web x.0-2012: The subsidy scheme Web x.0 promotes enterprises in Vienna planning to optimise their communication through (more) interactive exchanges via the open web platforms of “social media”. SMEs having their company seat in Vienna are eligible for support. Technologies: Web x.0 (i.e. Web 2.0, Web 3.0 or higher versions). The maximum amount granted for an individual project is 10,000 euros.
www.wirtschaftsagentur.at/foerderung/foerderprogramme/web_x0/

Creative industry agency “departure”
Current projects of the series “focus Cooperation“: departure focus, classic, pioneer, experts. Contact: Alex Diesenreiter, departure
Web portal: agency for creative industries of the City of Vienna www.departure.at




focus Cooperation: In the framework of this series of funding programmes, the City of Vienna spotlights a recent development of the creative industry once a year. Moreover, it supports excellent cooperation projects, which have to be innovative, creative and promising. Project duration: a maximum of three years. Maximum subsidy: 200,000 euros per project. Lower amounts are granted to “partners from traditional economic sectors”. Share of financing: 57/60 per cent.
For more details and submission deadlines see: www.departure.at/de/foerderungen/foerderprogramme

Technology Promotion Agency (Technologieagentur ZIT)
Current projects: “Innovation“, “Smart Vienna“, “Content Award“; contact: Isabella Frey. “WienWin“, contact: Angelika Sterrer.

Innovation: In the framework of this programme, ZIT GmbH provides financial assistance for the “strategic innovation” of SMEs, e.g. in the context of developing and improving products or procedures. According to the ZIT website, a bonus von 10,000 euros is granted if a “woman is demonstrably in charge of the scientific project management“. The ZIT experts are available for more detailed information, e.g. on subsidy amounts.
www.zit.co.at/foerderungen/laufende-foerderprogramme/innovation.html

Smart Vienna 2012: This programme is one of the absolute highlights of Vienna’s funding policy. “Smart City“ stands for a sustainable, environment- and nature-friendly, innovative and liveable city of the future. Vienna is proud that its pioneering role has been confirmed at global level. Based on international rankings, Vienna is not only the most liveable city in the world (Mercer Quality of Living Surveys of 2009, 2010 and 2011) but also the “smartest“ city (Top Smart Cities on the Planet by American climate strategist Boyd Cohen). Vienna is continuously and systematically increasing its competitive advantage as a global leader in crucial categories such as “quality of life” and “smart city”. In the framework of EU initiatives, Austria’s achievements have been recognised repeatedly, e.g. “Smart City Vienna“ (European Strategic Energy Technology Plan) or “Vienna Open Government Data“ (Europe-wide best practices in administration). The City of Vienna is continuing its activities to further develop different aspects of modern administration and to support Vienna-based enterprises capable of developing and marketing relevant products, notably those strengthening Vienna’s reputation as the most liveable and smartest city in the world. An amount of 2 million euros has been made available for this purpose. The deadline for submitting proposals ends on 19 September 2012. Subsidies are provided under the “Research” funding programme.
www.zit.co.at/foerderungen/calls/call-smart-vienna-2012.html




Content Award: This award strengthens the innovative power and competitiveness of media in Vienna. The aim is to consolidate Vienna’s position as a state-of-the-art media hub in Central Europe. “Today games, films, applications as well as almost all advertising spots and TV trailers without animation and special effects have become unthinkable”, stressed the competent politician in Vienna’s City Hall, vice mayor Renate Brauner. Proposals for the Vienna Content Award are accepted until 17 September 2012.
www.contentaward.at

WienWin: This innovation initiative offers a database of innovative products and services of Viennese entrepreneurs. It provides international users with an optimal overview of and detailed information on innovation activities in Vienna. This innovation pool has been designed as a network of future-oriented projects of the City of Vienna. A successful launch of innovative products and services is facilitated in markets all over the world.
www.wienwin.at

“waff“: current programmes: “HR services“, Qualification for IT Experts. Contact: Andrea Kadlik, waff.

The Vienna Employment Promotion Fund (Wiener ArbeitnehmerInnen Förderungsfonds/waff) pursues several major objectives in its current projects, i.e. to train qualified personnel, to create and safeguard quality jobs, to improve the opportunities for advancement of skilled workers and to ensure the competitiveness of Vienna-based enterprises in global markets.
www.waff.at/service-fuer-unternehmen/

Federal Austrian Economic Chamber (WKO)/ Austrian Foreign Trade Organisation (Aussenwirtschaft Austria)
Current projects: “go-international“, “Go Silicon Valley“, “Industry Focus IT“. Contact: Rafael Rasinger, WKO.
Infos: www.go-international.at/go-international/foerderprogramme/Export__Foerderung/Export__F_rderung/index.php

Austria Wirtschaftsservice GmbH (AWS)
Current projects: “Pre-seed“, “Seed Financing“, “Impulse XS“ and “Impulse XL“, “Start-up Subsidies”, “Pro Trans“. Contact: Soren Charareh, AWS.
Infos: www.awsg.at/Content.Node/foerderungen/gruender-hightech/46919_1.php

European Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (EFP)
Open calls for proposals: “ICT Call 10“, “Research for the benefit of SMEs“. Contact: Jürgen Rattenberger (EFP).
Overview: http://rp7.ffg.at/ikt_ausschreibungen