Advancing sustainability: Funding opportunities for climate-friendly technologies
Transformation of the Industry
The Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK) recently launched the second call for tenders for the Climate and Transformation Initiative to support the programme “Transformation of the Industry”. This funding programme is intended to support Austrian industrial companies in adopting climate-friendly technologies in their production processes. A total of EUR 2.975b in investment funding is available for this purpose up to 2030 as part of the Austrian Environmental Funding Act (“UFG”). In addition, the Austrian Climate and Energy Fund is providing a further EUR 320m in R&D funding until 2027 as part of the “RTI Initiative for the Transformation of the Industry”. Here are the most important points of the two tenders:
Investment funding: Transformation of the Industry
EUR 85m will be available for industrial plants and pilot/trial plants in 2024 as part of the second call for tenders. This tender supports industrial companies in replacing their fossil-fuelled production processes with climate-friendly alternatives and reducing their greenhouse gas emissions in Austria as much as possible.
What is funded?
Funding is generally available for investments (i) for the efficient use of energy, (ii) for the conversion and/or efficient use of renewable energy sources, including their storage for later use, in stationary plants, and (iii) for other prevention or reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
What is the target group for the funding?
In general, all companies pursuant to Annex I of the UFG with operating site or plant located in Austria are eligible to apply. This also includes those plants that are subject to EU emission trading.
How much funding is available?
Funding can amount up to 80% of the eligible investment costs (but no more than EUR 30m for industrial plants or EUR 10m for pilot and trial plants per submission).
When is the submission deadline?
The submission period ends on 19 September 2024.
R&D funding: RTI Initiative for the Transformation of the Industry
In 2024, EUR 25m will be available for companies that develop technological solutions for the manufacturing industry that replace greenhouse gas-emitting technologies and plants. Showcase projects will be used to prove that climate-neutral industrial production with innovations “Made in Austria” is technically and economically viable.
What is the target group for the funding?
The target group of this funding initiative are companies in the manufacturing industry, energy supply companies, technology providers along the value chain as well as research institutions and universities.
What is funded?
The following complementary modules are funded in five tendering priorities:
- Module I: R&D projects
- Module II: Highly innovative R&D project consortia for the development and testing of pilot and trial plants
- Module III: R&D projects of individual entrepreneurs supporting the large-scale realisation of pilot and trial plants in combination with the Transformation of the Industry according to UFG
- Module IV: Qualification of people in research, technology and innovation (RTI)
- Module V: Preparing an R&D infrastructure
How much funding is available?
The amount of the funding depends on the type of organisation and instrument, between EUR 100,000 and EUR 2m.
When is the submission deadline?
The submission period for the modules I, II, IV and V ends on 31 October 2024 and for module III on 28 March 2025.
Do you need help in submitting your funding application or do you have further questions in connection with this funding initiative?
Our specialised and experienced funding team will be happy to assist you at any time.
Authors: Daniela Stastny, Margarete Kinz, Cornelia Kalina
