INCOBRA - Increasing International Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation between Brazil and the European Union

The Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) is the national funding agency for industrial R&D, applied science and innovation in Austria. As a "one-stop shop" offering a diversified and targeted programme portfolio, the FFG gives Austrian businesses and research facilities quick and uncomplicated access to research funding. The Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) offers a tailor-made service package for preparing, submitting and implementing Austrian researchers’ projects in European and international research & technology programmes. FFG hosts all “National Contact Points” nominated for the specific programmes of the H2020, the EUREKA National Project Coordinator, the contact point for the Enterprise Europe Network, national contact point for COST Programme, thus making FFG the first port of call for European and international research and technology projects. At national level, the FFG operates in a network comprising regional consulting and service partners and universities. The services of the European and International Programmes Division are provided on the basis of a contract by five Austrian Federal Ministries as well as the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber under the coordination of the Ministry of Science and Research.

The FFG services support Austrian research teams by providing advice and coaching for drafting project proposals, offering legal and financial information, helping with project implementation, finding partners for cooperation and offering trainings (FFGAcademy) for interested parties and knowledge disseminators. This comprehensive service package is effective: analysis clearly demonstrates that proposals prepared with the support of the FFG have a significantly higher success rate in European competition for funding than those without it.

The FFG itself is a member of European networks and initiatives, thus combining theory and practice as well as providing a service-based gateway to other countries. FFG itself is further coordinating or involved in several NCP-projects, in INCO and BILAT projects (such as for the Danube region, USA, Russia, China etc.)as well as NCP support actions such as NCP Academy (which aims to create and implement a new and integrated training of Horizon 2020 advisors) in order to develop and implement efficient models for finding partners, to draw up thematic competence catalogues, and to organise platforms for cooperation with outstanding research partners from other countries.

FFG is member of TAFTIE – the European Network of Innovation Agencies, making major contribution to strengthening Europe’s economic performance by supporting product-, process- and services innovation through implementation of national and international Research, Development and Innovation programmes. FFG is also managing TAFTIE-Academy by offering tailored trainings and workshops for the staff of the European innovation agencies.