The evaluation of the FTI programme ‘Mobility of the Future’ (MdZ) has shown that Austrian mobility research has been able to focus much more strongly on social and environmental challenges. Almost all of the projects examined made contributions not only to the economy but also to society and the environment.

Between 2017 and 2021, a total of 288 RTI (Research, Technology and Innovation) projects were funded under the programme. The aim was to create a stable framework for the Austrian RTI community and to support the medium- to long-term direction of mobility research.

Significant results through targeted support

The impact analysis demonstrates a high degree of additionality for the programme: 63 % of the funded companies would not have implemented their projects without funding. In the FFG’s core programme, this figure stands at 15 %. Projects that combined vehicle and infrastructure technologies with social and organisational innovations were particularly successful.

The evaluation also shows that accompanying networking, knowledge transfer and information services significantly enhance the impact of the projects. Research institutions and companies that made use of these tools reported greater contributions to impact.

Shaping the future of mobility research

Based on these and other findings, we have drawn up recommendations for the future design of policy measures in the field of applied mobility research.

Austrian Institute for SME Research and nexus – Institute for Cooperation Management and Interdisciplinary Research – were commissioned by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) to carry out the evaluation. The FFG implemented the program initiated by the Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility, and Infrastructure together with AustriaTech and the Austrian Energy Agency as supporting organizations.