"UAS Research for Business" programme strengthens the competitiveness of Austria as a research location

The new call for proposals of the FFG programme line "COIN Aufbau" is an important and forward-looking step for research at Austrian universities of applied sciences. This also emphasises the great importance of universities of applied sciences. This is primarily due to the fact that, unlike other types of higher education institutions, universities of applied sciences carry out teaching and research at the interface to business, industry and society. Austria is a high-tech country. This means that companies are highly dependent on their internal processes being state-of-the-art and the resulting products and services being highly innovative. It is a great locational advantage for these companies if they can rely on universities to support them in meeting their research needs. In Austria, these partners are primarily the universities of applied sciences. Their research interests coincide with those of the companies with which they co-operate in the regions and with which they jointly develop innovations.

"With the new "UAS research for the economy" programme, Federal Minister Schramböck has demonstrated a high level of awareness for research at universities of applied sciences and its importance for the economy. Due to a continuing lack of basic research funding from federal funds, the universities of applied sciences are dependent on programme funding such as that in COIN Aufbau. With the help of the new call for proposals, the universities of applied sciences can further expand their clusters of excellence with domestic companies and their areas of strength in research. Especially in challenging times, it is important to look to the future with optimism and to act in an impact-orientated manner," said FHK President Raimund Ribitsch at today's launch of the call for proposals.

"Despite all the joy about this important and correct initiative by Economics Minister Schramböck, we would like to remind you once again that Science Minister Faßmann has not yet presented a roadmap for increasing the funding of study places at universities of applied sciences," said Ribitsch, referring to the corresponding commitment made by BM Faßmann before the National Council last week. "The Federal Minister of Science Faßmann must now also prove that he, as Minister of Science, fulfils his responsibility for research-led teaching at universities of applied sciences and ensures that they are fully funded," concluded the FHK President.