Post by : Bianca
Haleem
Austria plans to allocate approximately €17.6 billion for research and development (R&D) in 2026, as per estimates from Statistik Austria. This investment will represent 3.34% of the nation's nominal gross domestic product (GDP), reflecting a slight decrease from 3.39% in 2025 while still ensuring a commendable standing.
Manuela Lenk, Director of Statistics at Statistik Austria, remarked that such investment levels help Austria remain among Europe’s leading countries. This upcoming figure is anticipated to secure Austria's position as third within the EU for research intensity.
A significant portion of the funding for R&D is expected to arise from local businesses, which are likely to contribute around €8.9 billion—this forms approximately 50% of the total outlay. These contributions are enhanced by various tax incentives designed to support research.
The public sector will also significantly contribute, injecting nearly €5.8 billion, equating to 33% of overall funding. Within this, around €4.8 billion will come from the federal government, alongside an additional €770 million from Austria’s federal states.
Moreover, about €2.9 billion, or 16% of the total R&D budget, is anticipated to be sourced from international investments. This funding will largely involve multinational corporations operating across different regions.
Austria's research investment strategies continue to display a strong European performance. Preliminary data for 2024 indicates that Sweden holds the lead in the EU with a research intensity of 3.56%, followed by Belgium at 3.36%. Austria follows closely with its 3.34%.
Other significant EU economies trail with Germany at 3.13%, France at 2.18%, and Italy at 1.38%, all of which fall behind the EU-27 average of 2.24%.
Austria’s steadfast focus on funding R&D emphasizes its commitment to innovation, research, and economic advancement within Europe.
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