Funding Landscape 2025: These Programs Secure Your Innovation Financing
Economic uncertainty meets innovative strength
The year 2025 begins in a challenging environment:
- Only 0.6% economic growth in Austria (forecast)
- Political uncertainty due to upcoming coalition negotiations
- Unclear impact of U.S. policy on Europe
- Cautious investors and slow capital flow
In this climate, public funding becomes a crucial source of financing for many companies. To help you stay on top of things, we’ve compiled the most important programs for R&D, innovation, and market entry.
Part 1: Funding programs with upcoming deadlines
These programs will expire soon – quick action pays off.
Go Digital! Funding
📅 Deadline: February 10, 2025
💶 Funding: Up to €100,000 (100% of costs)
🎯 Target group: SMEs based in Austria
💡 Purpose: Development of market-ready software and apps in all thematic areas
🔗 Call for applications
Expedition Zukunft START – Business Edition
📅 Deadline: February 18, 2025
💶 Funding: Up to €80,000 (60–80% of costs)
🎯 Target group: SMEs, startups, individuals, associations
💡 Purpose: Early-stage projects with disruptive potential
🔗 Call for applications
AWS AI-Adoption & AI-Adoption: Green
📅 Deadline: February 28, 2025
💶 Funding: Up to €150,000 (max. 80%)
🎯 Target group: Companies of all sizes
💡 Purpose: AI projects focusing on regulation, standards, and climate protection
🔗 Call for applications
EENergy – 2nd Open Call
📅 Deadline: February 28, 2025
💶 Funding: Up to €10,000 (100%)
🎯 Target group: EU SMEs founded before 01.01.2024
💡 Purpose: Increase energy efficiency (min. 5% reduction)
🔗 Call for applications
Laura Bassi – 3rd Call
📅 Deadline: April 25, 2025
💶 Funding: €100,000–500,000 for consortia
🎯 Target group: At least 3 companies (2 of them SMEs)
💡 Purpose: Innovation networks with equal opportunities
🔗 Call for applications
Part 2: The most important funding programs 2025
These programs are available on an ongoing basis or are strategically relevant for 2025.
AMS Unternehmensgründungsprogramm
💶 Funding: Consulting, training, and financial support during company formation
🎯 Target group: Unemployed individuals with a concrete business idea
🔗 Learn more
FFG Impact Innovation
💶 Funding: Up to €75,000 (50%)
🎯 Target group: SMEs, startups, associations
💡 Purpose: Developing solutions through new approaches
🔗 Call for applications
FFG Basisprogramm
💶 Funding: Up to €3 million (grant + loan)
🎯 Target group: Companies of all sizes
💡 Purpose: Experimental development up to prototype stage
🔗 Learn more
Forschungsprämie
💶 Funding: 14% tax credit on R&D expenses
🎯 Target group: All research-performing companies
💡 Tip: Retroactively applicable for up to 4 years
🔗 Learn more
FFG Projekt.Start
💶 Funding: Project preparation for later R&D projects
🎯 Target group: SMEs, startups
💡 Purpose: Planning and potential evaluation
🔗 Call for applications
FFG Markt.Start
💶 Funding: Up to €250,000 (loan with 1.75% interest)
🎯 Target group: Companies up to 5 years old
💡 Purpose: Market launch of innovations
🔗 Call for applications
FFG Innovationsscheck mit Selbstbehalt
💶 Funding: Up to €10,000 for external research services
🎯 Target group: SMEs and associations
💡 Purpose: Initial studies or concepts
🔗 Call for applications
FFG Patent.Scheck
💶 Funding: Support for patent applications and IP rights
🎯 Target group: SMEs, startups
💡 Purpose: Patent protection and internationalization
🔗 Call for applications
AWS ERP Loan
💶 Funding: €10,000 to €30 million as a loan
🎯 Target group: Companies of all sizes
💡 Purpose: Growth, innovation, company formation
🔗 Learn more
AWS Preseed | Seedfinancing
💶 Funding: Up to €1 million, depending on phase and category
🎯 Target group: Innovative startups and deep-tech companies
💡 Purpose: Financing from idea to market launch
🔗 Learn more
KMU.DIGITAL & GREEN
💶 Funding:
- Analysis: 80% grant (max. €400)
- Consulting: 50% grant (max. €1,000)
- Implementation: 30% grant (max. €6,000)
🎯 Target group: SMEs with digitalization or sustainability projects
🔗 To the funding manager
Go-International Funding Programs
💶 Funding: Various vouchers for internationalization
🎯 Target group: Exporting or internationally active companies
💡 Modules: Digital marketing, project business, training, Ukraine aid, supply chain security
🔗 Overview
Conclusion: 2025 is not a year for standstill but for smart funding strategies
Despite uncertainty, Austria’s innovation landscape remains active and well supported. Whether digital transformation, energy efficiency, or AI – those who inform themselves early and apply on time will secure financial support for projects with future potential.