IV-GS Neumayer: Austria back to 6th place in the innovation ranking – increase RTI efforts to catch up with the rapidly growing innovation leaders
Vienna (OTS) – “Austria was able to maintain its position in the European innovation rankings this year, but was unable to improve it. Compared to the rapidly growing innovation leaders Denmark, Sweden, Finland and the Netherlands, we still have a lot of catching up to do. The results of the European Innovation Scoreboard 2024 (EIS) show that we must act decisively and further strengthen Austria as an RTI location,” emphasizes Christoph Neumayer, Secretary General of the Association of Industrialists (IV).
Austria remains in 6th place in the EU-27 innovation ranking this year and is therefore in the group of “Strong Innovators”, as it has been for many years. Estonia, an Eastern European EU country, has also moved into this group. In the detailed evaluation, Austria ranks first in the EU-27 when it comes to intellectual property. “This shows that we must not weaken in our commitment to improving the RTI landscape and efforts in the area of research, technology and innovation and increase our focus on growth in innovation performance, as other countries are hot on our heels the innovation leaders are pulling us away,” says Neumayer.
RTI policy is location policy
Science, research and innovation are the central core of a comprehensive location policy. “As a small, open economy, Austria can only be successful on world markets if we manage to develop internationally competitive innovations and also commercialize them from within Austria,” said Neumayer. “To do this, we must rely on excellent research, strengthen applied research and the transfer of knowledge and technology and promote the talent of the future – especially in the MINT area,” emphasized the IV Secretary General.
Strengthen key technologies
The Future Austria Fund, which expires in 2025, currently needs to be extended and increased to 200 million euros per year. The technology offensive for applied research in future and key technologies (e.g. microelectronics) must also be further advanced. This requires a significant increase in the RTI budget from the basis to application by at least 10% per year, and central special financing such as the transformation offensive must be continued. Last but not least, the research bonus must be strengthened as an important USP for the location, as it helps to enable large R&D investments, especially in economically difficult times.
Push commercialization
The industry is particularly focusing on the commercialization of the key technologies of the future (such as artificial intelligence, space or quantum technologies). “To do this, we need to build and expand vibrant innovation ecosystems from research, industry, startups and investors, increase the number of spin-offs from universities and research institutions and massively improve the range of risk and growth capital available,” concludes Neumayer.
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Marlena Mayer
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