Entrepreneurship and Innovation

The report "SMEs in Focus" uses current data and facts to show the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises for the Austrian economy. A focus chapter is dedicated to the effects of the shortage of skilled labour on SMEs. Furthermore, the report offers an overview of recent SME support measures, which are oriented towards the three pillars of the new SME strategy of the European Commission. The report will be submitted by the BMDW to the National Council.

This project explores whether and under what conditions the implementation of democratic principles in companies can contribute to climate action. Together with the RCE - Centre for Sustainable Social Transformation, we are investigating democratically organised companies from different European regions and the favourable conditions that allow companies to align democratic principles with effective climate action.

Project duration: 2022/06 - 2023/05
Client: Klima- und Energiefonds, represented by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG)
Project partner: University Graz, Research Management und -service
Contact: Harald Wieser

LEADERSHIP4SMEs is an initiative aiming to support disruptive SMEs and start-ups to reinforce and leverage their IPR as an accelerator of growth on the EU single Market and beyond. The project seeks to raise the awareness and change the perception about the importance of IPR of the targeted groups of SMEs and Start-ups as well as financial intermediaries and investors.

The framework will allow to support step by step 15 SMEs and 15 Start-ups, selected through open calls, to exploit their IPR to raise capital, generate business opportunities and become “hypergrowth” role models.

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More Information about the project

Project duration: 2020/09 – 2022/08

Client: Europäische Kommission, Horizon 2020

Project partners: BWCON GMBH (DE), Iceberg Consulting SRL (RO), Innova SRL (IT), Bugnion SPA (IT), CNRS Innovation (FR), Aster Capital Partners (FR), Banca Comerciala Romana SA (RO).

Contact: Thomas Oberholzner

Industrial manufacturing processes are still linked with high energy and material demands. Although rental and service models for production facilities have been discussed for many years as promising solutions, such alternatives to the acquisition of facilities have not yet been able to establish themselves on a widespread basis. The PRO_Service project is investigating the areas in which rental and service models have particularly great potential and outlines paths for future research and development.

Project duration: 02/2022 - 09/2022
Client: BMK
Project partner: AEE-Intec (Institute for Sustainable Technologies)
Contact: Harald Wieser

New business ventures hold great potential for the transformation to a Circular Economy. Based on experiences from Vienna’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, the project “CircularHub” developed a policy guide on how to design support services for founders so that the companies of the future can operate in a circular and thus resource-saving way.

Download: Policy Insight
Funding agency: MA 7 – Stadt Wien Kultur
Contact: Harald Wieser

As in 2008 and 2014, the study comprehensively analyses the Austrian succession situation and estimates the transfer potential in the coming years. One focus of the study is on the concrete design of the transfer process as well as on the topics of innovation and digitalisation in the course of business transfers. The study is based on analyses of secondary data, a quantitative survey of transferors, successors and potential transferors as well as qualitative interviews with experts and entrepreneurs concerned.

Client: BMDW, WKO

Contact: Eva Heckl

To the Publication

The biennial report “The Missing Entrepreneurs” examines policies and programmes in the field of inclusive entrepreneurship (entrepreneurship of youth, women, seniors, unemployed, migrants and people with disabilities) in Europe. Furthermore, strategies and measures to support entrepreneurship in these underrepresented groups are identified. The Austrian Institute for SME Research is part of the network of national experts and responsible for the country report Austria.

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• German version
• English version

Client: OECD
Contact: Eva Heckl

The OECD research project analyses the types, methods, reasons/purposes/motivation, participants, decision and planning processes, benefits/effects as well as barriers in terms of training in enterprises. Data collection took place in the form of semi-structured interviews with 100 enterprises in five countries: Austria, Estonia, France, Ireland and Italy. The Austrian Institute for SME Research implemented interviews with 20 enterprises in Austria.

Publication

German Press Release

Client: OECD
Contact: Karin Petzlberger

Since 2007, KMU Forschung Austria has regularly analysed the situation and development of One-Person-Enterprises in Austria. In addition to updating relevant key figures on the characterisation and entrepreneurial activity of One-Person-Enterprises, the study also deals with hybrid One-Person-Enterprises (simultaneous self-employment and employment). In addition, the resilience of One-Person-Enterprises is examined and different types of One-Person-Enterprises are identified. The methodology is based on a quantitative survey of One-Person-Enterprises and a comprehensive literature review.

Project duration: 11/2021 - 04/2022
Client: Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO)
Contact: Eva Heckl

While the importance of sustainable water strategies is increasing in the industry, domestic SMEs mostly lack the necessary resources and know-how to increase their water efficiency. In cooperation with KMU Forschung Austria and V-Research, AEE-Intec addresses this problem within the ACR project iWaterCheck by developing a simple and efficient audit method that enables SMEs to reduce their water consumption. The survey of water demand and the identification of optimization potentials as well as water saving measures are central elements of the water audit.

Project duration: 07/2021 - 07/2023
Client: ACR (Austrian Cooperative Research)
Project partners: AEE-Intec (Institute for Sustainable Technologies), V-Research (Industrial Research and Development)
Contact: Jakob Kofler, Thomas Oberholzner

Manufacturing processes and transport of building materials are energy-intensive and cause high CO2 emissions. In addition, many building materials pose a health and disposal problem due to their content of disruptive and harmful substances. Regionally available clay can replace conventional materials if appropriately prepared and processed and helps to save both manufacturing processes and transport routes. This project establishes a service for the rapid and low-threshold testing of in-situ clay as well as a network of experts in planning, material and component testing and building physics for the use of clay.

Project duration: 05/2021 - 05/2023
Client: ACR (Austrian Cooperative Research)
Project partners: IBO, BTI, AEE Intec
Contact: Andrea Dorr

The study analyzes different types of technology transfer in manufacturing and manufacturing-related SMEs, where they are positioned in corresponding value networks and what role they play in them. This was examined not only on the basis of academic literature, but also using secondary statistics from various sources as well as case studies.

Furthermore, it was of interest which instruments of governmental support exist for different types of technology transfer or company types and where corresponding gaps exist in Austria.

Project partner: AIT, Joanneum Research
Client: Federal Ministry for Climate Action
Contact: Peter Kaufmann

The Austrian Institute for SME Research writes, in a consortium with five further partners, the yearly report of the Federal Government to the Parliament (National Council) under Section 8(2) of the Research Organisation Act, on the state and progress of federally subsidised research, technology and innovation in Austria. The report covers development trends and priority topics for the Austrian innovation system, and reflects on them in an international context. The report is written on a yearly basis until 2022.

The creative industries were affected to varying degrees by the lockdowns. Despite the Corona pandemic, it can be seen that creatives are important drivers of digital transformation.

The Creative Industries Report is available at the following link: https://www.kreativwirtschaft.at/neunter-kreativwirtschaftsbericht

The aim is to determine how the introduction of AI technologies affects different actors (management, employees, etc.) and whether this differs between countries depending on policy measures or institutional frameworks. The aim is to identify good practices as well as barriers to the introduction of innovative, work-enhancing and trustworthy AI in the workplace.

For this purpose, we are still looking for companies from the financial or manufacturing sector that are already using AI technologies and are available for interviews. If you are interested to support the project, please contact k.petzlberger@kmuforschung.ac.at.

Project duration: 06/2021 - 03/2022

Client: OECD (Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs)

Contact: Karin Petzlberger 

Further information on the project:https://www.oecd.org/future-of-work/reports-and-data/impactsofartificialintelligenceontheworkplace.htm

The "RTI Strategy for the Austrian Aviation Sector 2020 plus" was introduced by the Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology (BMK) in 2016, taking into account international strategies and guiding papers, and followed the RTI Aviation Strategy 2008. It is now necessary to update this in light of changed framework conditions, and at the same time also to incorporate the newly developed Austrian RTI Strategy with its strong focus on internationality, infrastructure, overcoming the climate crisis, human resources, excellence and output.

Project duration: 02/2021 – 02/2022

Client: Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft FFG; Bundesministerium für Klimaschutz, Umwelt, Energie, Mobilität, Innovation und Technologie

Partner: BRIMATECH Services GmbH

Contact: Peter Kaufmann

The climate neutrality of the mobility system is more urgent than ever. Therefore, it is also necessary to use suitable monitoring to show the progress of research projects up to their implementation in social practice and thus also to identify supporting and hindering influencing factors.
With this project, Austrian Institute for SME research, in cooperation with the BMK, AustriaTech, FFG and ongoing projects in the mission-oriented programme Mobility of the Future (MdZ), is developing proposals for impact monitoring, accompanying projects and the programme within the framework of an ‘ImpactLab’.
This will ensure a systematically organised learning process that meets the conceptual demands of modern mission orientation and identifies possible barriers to implementation. The proposals will be continuously tested and implemented as part of the implementation of the RTI Strategy Mobility 2040 from 2021.

The aim of the project is to ascertain the status quo of foreign activities, the main determining factors and opportunities, as well as the requirements of Austrian management consultants. This is done on the basis of an online survey and serves as a basis for the design or expansion of tailor-made support formats that make it easier or possible for management consultants to gain a foothold in foreign markets or further develop their foreign business.

The overall objective of this study was to gather evidence on the effectiveness of public support for innovation in Europe. A key finding of the study is that SMEs in the EU continue to face barriers to innovation; for micro-enterprises, these are primarily financial barriers; for small and medium-sized enterprises, access to skilled labor is the most significant barrier. On the other hand, with regard to the effectiveness of support services, different contextual conditions in the individual member states make it difficult to draw a blanket conclusion, but most SMEs see public support as crucial for carrying out their innovation activities.

Project partner: Centre for Strategy & Evaluation Services (CSES)

Client: Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME)

Study Download

The report "SMEs in Focus" uses current facts and figures to highlight the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises for the Austrian economy. One focus chapter is devoted to the effects of the Corona-related crisis on SMEs. Furthermore, the report provides an overview of recent SME support measures, which are based on the three pillars of the new SME strategy of the European Commission. Every year the report on small and medium sized enterprises is presented to the Austrian Parliament.

So far, the shift to a Circular Economy has hardly arrived in the everyday lives of many people. This study shows what companies and other organisations in the Circular Economy need to consider to make their offers attractive to all social groups. The conceptual building blocks developed in this study can support the design of a socially inclusive Circular Economy.

Project Report (in German, incl. English Abstract)

Project duration: 09/2020 - 12/2021

Client: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna

Contact: Harald Wieser

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) form the backbone of the Austrian economy. They therefore play a central role in the innovation and competitiveness of the country. The present study provides an overview of the innovation performance and innovation behaviour of SMEs as well as of the conditions and barriers to innovation in these enterprises. Particular attention is paid to digitization as a driver of innovation.

The study was commissioned by ACR - Austrian Cooperative Research and supported by the Federal Ministry of Digital and Economic Affairs (BMDW).

To the study (German only)

By analysing how to support the efficient implementation of digital innovation in SMEs, the project aims at the development of a suitable set of methods in order to support innovation agents providing evidence-based and efficient consultation. The respective results are, among others, based on the use of applied methods e.g. social network analysis.

The study is the fourth after 2008, 2013 and 2017 to focus on family businesses. The project includes the analysis of the economic importance of family businesses in Austria and their characteristics. In addition, the degree of digitization of Austrian family businesses is examined. The project also includes an evaluation of the Austrian Entrepreneurial Index (AEI) 2019 for family businesses.

German Factsheet

German Report

The report on small and medium sized enterprises provides recent facts and figures on SMEs, most important industries as well as a thematic focus on family businesses. The report also provides a list of support measures for SMEs in Austria based on the 10 principles of the European Small Business Act. Every year the report on small and medium sized enterprises is presented to the Austrian Parliament.

The Missing Entrepreneurs 2019 is the fifth edition of a series of publications that explore how to support job creation, economic growth and social inclusion at national, regional and local level by overcoming obstacles to business creation and self-employment by people from disadvantaged or under-represented groups of entrepreneurship. There is considerable potential to fight unemployment and increase labour force participation by facilitating the start-up of enterprises in population groups such as women, young people, the unemployed and migrants. However, the specific problems they face must be identified and addressed through effective and efficient policy measures. As in previous years, the Austrian Institute for SME Research was responsible for the country report Austria.

The study analyses the importance and development of one-person-enterprises in Austria. Central indicators, trends and developments are also considered over time. The study, on behalf of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, is based on a comprehensive primary survey of one-person companies in Austria as well as literature and secondary data analyses.

The accompanying impact analysis and evaluation of the Swiss "CTI Entrepreneurship" Training Programms assesses its conception, implementation and short to medium-term effects. The analysis, carried out by the Austrian Institute for SME Research in cooperation with B, S, S Volkswirtschaftliche Beratung AG in Basel, is based on theories of social psychology and their empirical implementation against the background of heterogeneous support infrastructures in the Swiss regions.

The aim of the project is to develop an informed knowledge basis with regard to digitisation for all ACR member institutes. Building on the knowledge acquired a low-threshold sector-specific service for SMEs will be developed and tested in order to advance the transformational capacities of the ACR as a whole.

The project results will be disseminated in an open innovation process that will enable the ACR member institutes to achieve a vanguard position with regard to digitisation in their respective sectors. In sum, this will provide the institutes with the knowledge and tools to improve the competitiveness of the SMEs in these sectors.

Project results (German only)

The study aims at providing players within the Austria RTI policy landscape with a decision basis for their future advancement of the portfolio of funding programmes. In particular, the study identifies players within the field of artificial intelligence (AI) in science, business and industry as well as in the public sector and surveys the role, significance and use of AI in various sectors and industries.

This project implements the accompanying research of a technical research project, which shows the economic and technical potential of the external component activation for the renovation of existing buildings with prefabricated façade elements and defines the respective conditions and develops new methods. Above all, the accompanying research includes analyses along the project-relevant value chain, such as analyses, of needs as well as potential impacts etc.

After the global recession, job creation is a political priority. While it is generally accepted that most jobs are created by small and medium-sized enterprises, not all SMEs are growing fast or even want to expand. With limited public budgets, business models with high employment potential are becoming very attractive.

The study deals with company start-ups or young companies that pursue a business model geared to the international market from the outset (so-called Born Globals). Case studies will focus on their integration into international value chains. Another focus of the study is on the funding instruments with which these companies can be supported.

The national framework conditions are of high importance to maintain and strengthen the competitiveness of enterprises in an increasingly globalised and digitised economy. Against this background the study analyses, if the current framework conditions in Austria promote or hinder competitiveness of Austrian enterprises - especially SMEs.

The Austrian Entrepreneurial Index (AEI) combines different aspects of self-employment and measures the satisfaction of entrepreneurs in an overall index consisting of 6 sub-indices with 35 sub-areas.

First surveyed in a large-scale company survey in 2015, the satisfaction of around 480 retailers can be measured over time for the first time on the basis of the new survey in 2017.

This study offers a comprehensive analysis of entrepreneurship of women in Austria. Socio-demographic characteristics of female entrepreneurs, the characteristics of companies run by women, working conditions and the entrepreneurial and private environment as well as the specific challenges of women entrepreneurs are in focus. Based on this, conclusions are derived on how women entrepreneurship can be promoted. A focus report is dedicated to women entrepreneurs in male-dominated industries.

Family businesses are very important for the Austrian economy. Therefore, the Austrian Institute for SME Research conducted a report in 2013 about the situation of family businesses, their characteristics and the developments. This new publication provides updates of the most important facts and figures concerning family businesses.

This study analyses existing barriers for young, innovative companies in Austria and develops recommendations for conducive framework conditions for founders. The main focus of the analysis is on the barriers to found a company in Austria, the financing and the role of the bank sector in this connection. Experiences from international good practice cases will be included in the report.

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between R&D activities, company growth and investment dynamics in the context of a quantitative analysis.

This report on small and medium sized enterprises is presented to the Austrian Parliament every second year. Besides recent information on the industries as well as a thematic focus on competitiveness, the report also provides a list of support measures for SMEs based on the 10 principles of the European Small Business Act.

Start-ups are a special form of enterprise foundation with potentially positive effects on the overall economy, e.g. innovation impulses, growth and employment effects. In Austria as well as at EU level start-ups are high on the policy agenda and receive considerable media attention. Beyond this background the Austrian Institute for SME Research carried out a study to formulate a definition of start-up enterprises and to make a first estimation of the number of start-ups in Austria. Main methodological principles were literature and data analyses.

The project consisted of two studies, conducted together with the cooperation partner Panteia B.V. The aims of this study were to collect and analyse the most recent comparable statistical data on women entrepreneurs in Europe (37 countries) in order to quantitatively capture female entrepreneuership. Furthermore, the study explores the feasibility and possible design, input and set-up of a European-wide e-platform for women entrepreneurs. It incorporates findings of a women entrepreneurs survey as well as interviews with stakeholders.