In 1952, the “Institut für Gewerbeforschung” (Institute for Craft Research), a non-profit association was founded in Vienna. It was an initiative established by the “Institut für Klein- und Mittelbetriebe” (Institute for small and medium-sized enterprises) located at that time within the former “Hochschule für Welthandel” (Higher Education Institution for World Trade), the Economic Chamber and the Ministry for Economic Affairs. Its aims were to provide data and information as a basis for decision-making in craft policy and promotion, and to inform the public of the economic importance of craft enterprises. In the early years, there were 2 to 3 employees involved mainly in conducting industry analyses.

Since the 1970s, its activities have continued to expand in content and thematic contexts. In 1991 it was renamed to “Institut für Gewerbe- und Handwerksforschung”. Shortly afterwards, the institute became member of the European Network for Social and Economic Research (ENSR), which influenced the intensification of the institute’s internationalisation strategies. In 1999, the institute started conducting regular research and surveys for the trade sector, and its name was again changed to the “Österreichisches Institut für Gewerbe- und Handelsforschung”.

During the last years, competence in other SME-dominated economic sectors has been enhanced. Research results and databases are now not only available on the craft and trade sector, but also on the sectors of tourism, transport, manufacturing and business services.

Since 2003 the official name of the institute has been “KMU FORSCHUNG AUSTRIA” (Austrian Institute for SME Research), and it is the largest Austrian research institute in the field of applied SME-oriented economic and social research.