Austria active in the fight against coronavirus

The Austrian Federal Government is fighting the coronavirus and its effects with an extensive package of measures. And with additional research funds.

FFG: Corona Virus emergency call. Picture of a Woman looking into a microscope

 

As early as March, the Corona Emergency Call was launched via a fast-track procedure as an immediate measure for fighting the coronavirus. Now, two months later, the result of the Corona Emergency Call is available, and “We can be proud of the result! Because the quality of the project proposals, the research spirit, and most of all the ambitious pace all demonstrate the potential of Austria’s research community and its ability to respond well to challenges,” stressed Leonore Gewessler, the Minister of Climate Action who is responsible for innovation, together with Minister of the Economy, Margarete Schramböck, on announcing the funding decision.

The Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) Advisory Board recommended a total of 45 projects for funding under the General Programmes framework. Funding of around EUR 26 million is available to these promising projects. The FFG is now quickly finalising the funding agreements with the businesses so that the projects can start immediately. The projects are being undertaken by companies across the country: Vienna (19), Styria (7), Tyrol (5), Upper Austria (5), Vorarlberg (3), Lower Austria (2), Salzburg (2), Carinthia (1) and Burgenland (1).

The projects are allocated to the following topics: vaccines (2), diagnostics (18), prevention/infection control (4), prevention/protective materials (8), prevention/disinfection (3), prevention/safety (1), and therapeutics (9). 14 of the 45 projects deal with innovative production technologies.

The Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK) and the Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs (BMDW) provided funding of 26 million euros for the Corona Emergency Call. The Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) processed applications for these additional research funds in a fast-track procedure.

 

Contact