The Austrian federal government adopted the RTI Strategy 2030 at the end of 2020, setting out objectives and fields of activity for the country’s research, technology, and innovation policy over the coming decade. The strategy, coordinated by a cross-departmental RTI Task Force chaired by the Federal Chancellery, identified quantum technology as a key area for strengthening Austria’s position as an innovation leader.
According to the RTI Pact 2024-2026, which operationalizes the strategy, Austria committed to “advancing the development of a quantum technology eco-system in Austria focusing on cost-effective implementation and commercial exploitation.” Research infrastructures for both basic and applied research were to be maintained at the level of leading-edge research standards.
An RTI Pact, adopted every three years, defines cross-departmental research priorities and budgets. Alongside the strategy, the Research Financing Act adopted in 2020 placed federal research funding on its own legal basis, providing improved financial planning for institutions including the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), and the Austrian Academy of Sciences.