BMIMI provides 115 million Euro for the research initiative „Transformation of Industry“ until 2026 Minister for Innovation Hanke: "Targeted research funding strengthens the location and advances the energy transition"

Strengthening innovation, securing the location – these are the two major goals of the research initiative “Transformation of Industry”. Federal Minister Peter Hanke presented the details today together with Economics Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, State Secretary Sepp Schellhorn and the Governor of Upper Austria, Thomas Stelzer.
“As the federal government, we face significant challenges. However, with the development of the Industry Strategy 2035 and targeted funding streams, we can do a lot in our own country to strengthen Austria's innovation and economic location and simultaneously advance the energy transition,” emphasised Innovation and Infrastructure Minister Peter Hanke.
The domestic industry plays a significant role here: If companies switch to renewable energies, introduce energy-efficient technologies, or launch more sustainable production processes, this makes a huge contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving climate targets. If the climate-neutral technologies needed for this are developed in Austria, it also strengthens the competitiveness and future viability of the Austrian industry.
“Research and innovation for climate-neutral technologies provide the foundation for this. That is why it was so important to me during the budget negotiations to maintain the funding for the research initiative Transformation of Industry at a high level. Overall, the BMIMI provides 115 million Euro through the Climate and Energy Fund for 2025 and 2026. This is good news: for the industry and for our environment,” notes Hanke.
“Efficient use of funding from BMIMI and sensible coordination with other departments is important to me. The research initiative ‘Transformation of Industry’ is a good example of how we can jointly bring new solutions to market more quickly through the combination of innovative research and demonstration projects and the subsequent funding for actual implementation,” says Hanke.
“Transformation of Industry” promotes flagship projects
The initiative “Transformation of Industry” was launched with the aim of advancing the energy transition by promoting cutting-edge technology and thus bringing about flagship projects for industrial transformation that serve large-scale scalability and strengthen Austria's position in the global market.
“In concrete terms, it is about promoting innovative flagship projects that demonstrate that the transformation of industry can succeed – and with a double dividend: the decarbonisation of industry and the securing of our location by increasing the competitiveness of the Austrian industry,” explains Hanke.