Austria – FFG Frontrunner : Funding for internationally oriented R&D projects of companies focusing on sustainable and/or digital transformation of the economy

  • Action type: R&D project grants
  • Opening date: 1 January 2026
  • Closing time: 31 December 2026 00:00 (Europe/Brussels)
  • Budget per project: € 3 000 000
  • Official website

Scope

Suitable for more mature SMEs and scale-ups developing internationally oriented innovation. Relevant for advanced heritage-tech or tourism-tech companies.

Funding for internationally oriented R&D projects focusing on sustainable and/or digital transformation of the economy
Frontrunner companies are synonymous with technological and innovative leadership. Funding is provided for research and development projects that are embedded in a proactive business strategy and contribute to the sustainable and/or digital transformation of the economy (Transformative Frontrunners).

What can be funded?
– Funding is provided for R&D projects in the research category of experimental development (Technology Readiness Levels 5 to 8).
– Frontrunner projects usually bring exploitable products, processes or services – including digital products, processes or services – out.
– Companies define the research content and key technologies independently.

Who can be funded?
The Frontrunner programme is aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs, and in particular scaleups) on their way to becoming “Frontrunners”, as well as established “Frontrunner” companies. Small enterprises (companies with max. up to 9 employees) and companies in the startup phase are not the focus of this programme.

Frontrunner projects are typically “single firm” projects; therefore, no cooperation bonus is provided, as is the case, for example, with a General Programme project or a Small scale project.

Remarks

What is the amount of funding?
Funding for a Frontrunner project consists of a non-repayable grant of up to 45 % of eligible project costs.
Small enterprises (SE) 45 %
Medium-sized enterprises (MS) 35 %
Large enterprises (LE) 25 %

Eligible costs :
– Facility usage costs
– Material and supply costs
– Personnel costs
– Third-party costs
– Travel expenses

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