1

2

Content

1. Point of departure......................................................................................................3

2. Focuses.....................................................................................................................7

Nature – culture – quality of life.....................................................................................7

Nutrition – medicine – health.........................................................................................9

Technology – productivity – prosperity........................................................................10

3. Topic areas..............................................................................................................12

Humanities, Social and Cultural Studies.....................................................................13

Collections, Lower Austria...........................................................................................16

Ecosystems and ecosystem services..........................................................................18

Water...........................................................................................................................20

Renewable raw materials and bio-energy...................................................................23

Food and feed safety...................................................................................................26

Sustainable land management and production optimisation.......................................29

Medical technology and medical biotechnology..........................................................31

Materials and surfaces................................................................................................33

Manufacturing technology and automation engineering..............................................36

Matrix: Fields of activity...............................................................................................38

4. Locations.................................................................................................................39

5. Cross-sectional subject matters...............................................................................41

Training and further training........................................................................................41

Awareness-raising.......................................................................................................44

6. Instruments..............................................................................................................47

7. Management............................................................................................................51

3

1. Point of departure

Research, technology and innovation (RTI) are definitely setting the future course for

the preservation of quality of life in socio-political, environmental and cultural terms.

They contribute significantly to prosperity and security, to maintaining economic

competitiveness and thus growth and employment. In order to account for this high

level of future relevance for the development of Lower Austria, a process was initiated

in 2012 under the aegis of the Science and Research Department and in close

coordination and collaboration with other relevant departments of the Office of the

Government of Lower Austria (in particular the Department of Industry, Tourism and

Technology) to draft a long-term and coherent strategy for the future formation of

policies with respect to science, research, technology and innovation. Under the

guiding principle of "Think together, work together, achieve success together", this RTI

strategy is an umbrella strategy for existing strategies and concepts, including those

for technology and innovation.

Basic RTI strategyAs an initial result of this process, the Federal State Government of Lower Austria

determined the first part of the research, technology and innovation strategy (RTI

strategy) for Lower Austria and subsequently published it in the early summer of 2013.

It covers the basic areas of the current and future RTI policy of Lower Austria. Based

on extensive research and analyses, 39 interviews with relevant players in the Lower

Austrian RTI system as well as three events with over 400 participants, which focused

on dialogue, this basic strategy describes the main objectives and principles of the

future RTI policy of Lower Austria, taking into account strategies of the EU ("Horizon

2020") as well as of the federal government.

Furthermore, the RTI strategy identifies potential areas of strength and makes basic

statements on the future development of science and research policies

4

in Lower Austria. Thus the RTI strategy provides the framework for the

development of future instruments, flagship projects and measures in the research

and innovation system of Lower Austria as well as for the present RTI program.

Starting from a careful consideration of the status quo and the identification of

strengths and weaknesses, eight fundamental objectives in the field of research,

technology and innovation in Lower Austria were defined: continuation of targeted

investments in RTI; setting thematic priorities; strategic build-out of R&D structures;

strengthening of RTI in companies; expediting education and training; thinking and

acting on a nationwide basis; creating a high profile; boosting of effectiveness. They

serve as a medium-term and long-term framework for a progressive RTI policy, on

whose basis implementation concepts and measures can be developed. The overall

target framework is flexibly designed so that new opportunities and challenges can be

addressed.

Process for the development of the RTI programFounded upon this basic strategy, a participatory process was set in motion in order to

develop further necessary elements of the strategic approach, e.g. priorities,

instruments, sub-strategies and measures for the implementation and operational

realisation of the RTI strategy by 2020. For this purpose, five research areas relevant to

the RTI program, namely "Agricultural Technology, Food & Veterinary Medicine",

"Society & Culture", "Health & Medicine", "Science and Technology" and "Environment,

Energy & Resources" were initially derived from the results of the basic strategy.

In order to stay focused in terms of content and in accordance with the "Smart

Specialisation" strategy to build on the existing strengths of Lower Austria in the field of

research and address major challenges, relevant special matters within these research

areas were identified, upon which the focus should be in the coming years and which

constitute the core content of the RTI program. In a first step, based on the findings of

the RTI basic strategy and numerous discussions for identifying themes with

representatives of relevant areas (research,

5

education, administration, companies), twelve topic areas were defined, which were

dealt with in the subsequent process.

Topic area workshops

The prerequisite for a theme to be defined as a topic area was that it involved both

research institutes and educational institutions and that it brings a clear benefit to

society, or industry, respectively. For the definition of the topic areas, a number of other

criteria were relevant, e.g. critical mass; number of people working in this topic area or

these institutions; potential level of innovation; as well as the potential benefits of the

topic area for Lower Austria. The development of the topic areas thus consciously

followed the location-based concept of the "Smart Specialisation" strategy.

In this way, between one and three topic areas in each field of research were defined

in 2013 and 2014. For each topic area, two workshops were held, attended by ten to

20 experts from research institutes, educational institutions and businesses as well as

representatives of socially relevant institutions.

Together, ideas and specific measures for the strategic implementation of the

respective topic area were developed. The main impetus for the development of the

program in this bottom-up process arose from the networking of the various

stakeholders with regard to specific, strategically-relevant topic areas.

Besides working on the topic areas, the comprehensive matters of training and

advanced training, awareness-raising, instruments and control were discussed in

several workshops based on the RTI basic strategy.

Overall, more than 250 experts worked in more than 30 workshops and numerous

discussion groups on the RTI program for Lower Austria during 2013 and 2014. The

results of the discussions were structured by a Steering Group established for this

purpose, checked for relevance and financial viability and prepared for submission to a

Management Committee.

6

Management Committee

A Management Committee was set up at the beginning of the process for the

evaluation, assessment and consideration of the procedure, of the measures in the RTI

program as well as for the assessment and consideration of the topic areas. A number

of professors from Vienna universities, group managers of the Office of the State

Government as well as representatives of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce and

the Industrialists Association made up the Management Committee.

The strategies of the topic areas, the project proposals that were developed and the

planned additional measures of the RTI program (such as awareness-raising,

measures concerning training and advanced training as well as future support and

monitoring instruments) were presented to the Management Committee by

representatives of the work groups for discussion and recommendation or else

rejection.

To evaluate the topic areas and the relevance of the proposed projects within the

topic areas, the Management Committee defined a number of quality criteria. These

criteria included the question as to how strong the topic area is – or has the potential

to be – in Lower Austria; the potential social and/or economic benefits of the theme for

Lower Austria; the level of innovation; the potential contribution to achieving an

international profile; the level of networking of different institutions; and the potential

for attracting third-party funds.

Of the original twelve topic areas proposed, the Management Committee

considered ten to be have priority for implementation. From the large number of

proposed projects in these ten topic areas, two to three each were defined as

priorities. These projects have top priority to be implemented in accordance with

existing resources.

7

2. Focuses

According to the principle of "Strengthening strengths", Lower Austria is pledged to

developing a clear profile in the field of science and research with the present RTI

program. By focusing on 10 defined topic areas, public funding for science and

research can be made use of even more purposefully. The aim is to achieve, or build

out, critical masses within the defined thematic focuses, heighten the international

profile and attain or strengthen academic excellence.

The measures and goals of the topic areas developed in a bottom-up process can be

summarised in three basic focuses, which represent the framework of the RTI program

in terms of content:

Nature – culture – quality of life

Understanding natural and

cultural environments. Using natural and cultural environments.

Preserving natural and cultural environments.

Lower Austria is an agrarian region. Lower Austria has the greatest biodiversity in

Austria. Lower Austria is the historic heartland of the Republic of Austria. This entails

the societal obligation to continue to explore our natural and cultural surroundings, to

use them sustainably and to preserve them on a long-term basis.

The RTI program contributes to securing and improving the quality of life in

Lower Austria. It aims at exploring both its own past and the current social

environment and better understand ecological relationships and natural

environments. Sustainable

8

agricultural land cultivation and the innovative use of natural resources aim at

preserving our biodiversity.

To achieve these goals, the following topic areas within the RTI program are

focused on:

Humanities, Social and Cultural Studies

Collections, Lower Austria

Ecosystems and ecosystem services

Water

Renewable raw materials and bio-energy

Food and feed safety

Sustainable land management and production optimisation

With this, the federal state of Lower Austria is continuing its road to

success in this field of research:

Lower Austria has invested in the setup of the Tulln University and Research Centre,

where the focus of the conducted research is on "renewable resources, biological

resources and bio-based technologies". At the Tulln technology park, researchers

focus on "Agricultural and Environmental Biotechnology"; at the Wieselburg

technology park, on "Biotechnology, Agriculture and Food Technology".

WasserCluster Lunz is an important centre of excellence in the field of limnology.

Excellent basic research in the natural sciences is done at the Institute of Science and

Technology Austria (IST Austria). Galerie Niederösterreich (Lower Austria Gallery)

and Museum Niederösterreich (Lower Austria Museum) display the cultural treasures

and the past of Lower Austria. The wide range of institutions for the arts and

humanities in Lower Austria do research in social issues.

9

Nutrition – medicine – health

Enabling a healthy life. Ensuring a healthy life.

Improving a healthy life.

Lower Austria invests in research for the benefit of humankind. Lower Austria

intends to ensure health as the greatest asset of human beings.

The RTI program helps to improve medical standards, develop new medical

technologies and guarantee food quality. It aims at enabling a long and healthy life;

ensuring food reliability, feed and clean water; and improving or developing methods

of medical treatment through new scientific findings.

In order to accomplish these goals, the following topic areas are an integral

part of the RTI program:

Ecosystems and ecosystem services

Water

Food and feed safety

Medical technology and medical biotechnology

That the focus has been on these themes in Lower Austria for quite some time is

reflected by decisions made in science policy in recent years. They include the

creation of Karl Landsteiner Private University for the Health Sciences; the setup of

the MedAustron Cancer Treatment and Research Centre; the "Health and Medicine"

centre at Donau Universität Krems; the educational focuses on health science and

medicine at the technical colleges; the Tulln University and Research Centre;

10

scientific research groups at IST Austria; the technology parks in Krems, Tulln,

Wieselburg and Wiener Neustadt; as well as the annual "Life Science Academic

Appointment".

Technology – productivity – prosperity

Exploring technologies for the future.

Designing technologies for the future.

Developing technologies for the future.

Lower Austria is an innovative region in Central Europe. Lower Austria invests in the

future "raw materials" of science and research. Through innovations, Lower Austria

ensures the competitiveness of local enterprises and sustainable jobs.

The RTI program contributes to ensuring that Lower Austria will remain a leading

technology base in the future. It aims at exploring innovative technologies today,

applying them tomorrow, developing from an "innovation follower" into a

"innovation leader" and thus shaping the future in a pioneering role. Research in this

area aims at increasing prosperity.

In order to accomplish these goals, the following topic areas are an integral

part of the RTI program:

Renewable raw materials and bio-energy

Sustainable land management and production optimisation

Medical technology and medical biotechnologies

Materials and surfaces

Manufacturing technology and automation engineering

Already today, innovative projects play a crucial role in achieving the goal of becoming

"Innovation Leader": Within the Lower Austrian technology park program, investments

are made in pioneering technology fields on a local basis, giving

11

corporate research a major boost. The technologies applied at MedAustron in Wiener

Neustadt are one of a kind in Europe. The IST Austria is a centre of excellence in

basic research.

12

3. Topic areas

Ultimately, ten topic areas were defined for implementation as part of the process for

the development of the RTI program.

The basic requirement for the consolidation of related themes and research ideas into a

topic area was that organisations and institutions from the three fields of research,

education and society, or business and commerce, are involved in it.

Together, these institutions and organisations developed detailed concepts and a

number of specific research and development projects. A total of over 100 projects and

ideas for action were developed. Subsequently, the RTI Management Committee

classified two to three projects per topic area as priorities. The detailed draft papers

submitted by the work groups of every topic area as well as all proposed ideas for

projects and measures can be found at: www.noe.gv.at/wissenschaft. The following

section briefly presents the ten topic areas, their objectives and contents as well as the

most important projects.

13

Humanities, Social and Cultural Studies

In the field of the Humanities, Social and Cultural Studies (HSC), the academic

landscape of Lower Austria is characterised by a wide range of research institutes.

Due to the small-scale structure, though, many Lower Austrian HSC institutes are

currently facing great difficulties, because the increasing competitiveness in

applications for research projects leads to significant problems in terms of scale and

sustainability for smaller research institutes: Many Lower Austrian HSC institutes

cannot or can hardly afford the massive inputs in terms of money and time that are

necessary for successful applications.

For this reason, it is necessary to boost the cooperation with the HSC research facilities in Lower Austria. Structural measures whose main focus is on the

establishment of a "Research Network Interdisciplinary Regional Studies" (FIRST) are

expected to contribute in manifold ways to networking the individual Lower Austrian

institutions, which nonetheless will maintain their research priorities. This way,

synergies can be exploited.

The general aim is that socially relevant issues get linked and elaborated upon by the Lower Austrian HSC research institutes on an interdisciplinary and high-quality basis. The research results thus obtained can serve private and public

stakeholders as a basis of decisions. A secure resource base and increased

cooperation among the HSC institutions in Lower Austria as well as the founding of a

research network and several research associations will all help to overcome the scale

and sustainability problem of smaller research institutes and create a critical mass at

the international level. This should result in an increase of the existing research

potential; better success in attracting national and international project funds; an

increased provision of factual and contextual knowledge; and a heightened

international profile for HSC research in Lower Austria.

14

Priority projects

Research Network Interdisciplinary Regional Studies (FIRST) – Network Management

The establishment of the FIRST Research Network allows smaller HSC institutions in

Lower Austria, doing research at an international level, to pool their resources in the

future. The FIRST Network Management housed at Donau Universität Krems

provides services for individual institutes and research associations and serves to

coordinate the FIRST activities, ongoing quality assurance, networking of institutes

and research associations, information management and the dissemination of

findings.

Specific goals are: the coordination of cross-institute (research)

activities of the individual institutes; boosting the research potential; attracting a

high rate of national and international project funding.

Lower Austria benefits because synergies are achieved by alleviating the individual

institutions of some of their work burden through shared central services. Thus the

efficient use of resources is increased.

Migration Research Network

The focus of the measure is on the creation of an innovative, interdisciplinary

network of social and cultural migration research in the field of

"Migration region Lower Austria".

The specific goal is an excellently networked research community with a

shared knowledge base for migration research that successfully attracts third-

party funds and establishes a functioning mediation instrument for the dialogue

between academic research and society.

Lower Austria benefits because suggestions addressing current challenges will be

provided, which contribute toward making the discussion on migration/integration more

objective.

15

Nutrition Research Network

The focus of the measure is on the creation of an innovative, interdisciplinary HSC

network of social and cultural foodstuffs science on the subject of "Eating on the

margins of society".

Specific goals are the establishment of an internationally high-profile research network

in the field of (agricultural) food studies; the network is successful in attracting project

funds, publishes research findings and provides public and private stakeholders with

strategies for issues of poverty and nutrition.

Lower Austria benefits from reflection upon how we deal with the question of food.

The research group can thus promote a new understanding for issues of nutrition and

contribute to environmental, economic and social sustainability.

16

Collections, Lower Austria

With the professionalising of museums and collections, our museology has

grown in recent decades into an independent scholarly and scientific field of activity.

The initial situation in Lower Austria with regard to museum collections and their

academic reappraisal and examination is characterised by a wide range of collections

operated by different agencies. Due to limited resources and the lack of external

scholarly institutes with museological expertise for the special work in museum

collections, though, the scholarly reappraisal of these collections is restricted at the

moment.

Given the trend prevailing at national and international museums to place the

collections in the centre of museum activities, there is a need for action in terms of

classifying the collections, i.e. to catalogue the collections in their entirety, to examine

them on a scholarly basis so as to increase quality, instead of quantity.

Several developments can be supported by the creation of museological scientific and scholarly expertise in Lower Austria: focusing on the museum collections;

professionalising the quality of work within and with the collections; the training of

qualified, scholarly personnel; and institutionalised research in the area of museology,

i.e. museology integrated at institutes. It is planned to catalogue the inventories of the

state collections of Lower Austria in their entirety by 2020; the inventories of the most

important regional and city museums are to be included on a summarised basis.

The aim is for Lower Austria to play a leading role in the study of museum collections. To this end, a strategic partnership between museum collections in

Lower Austria and university institutions as well as an endowed chair for the study of

museum collections will be set up. In addition, a centre for interdisciplinary academic

expertise is to be created. Other objectives include the training and development of

scholarly talent by establishing specific

17

educational offers; the best possible preservation of the state collections of Lower

Austria; as well as the establishment of a central contact point for scholarly,

museological questions in Lower Austria.

Priority projects

Establishment of an endowed chair for Museum Collection StudiesThe endowed chair for Museum Collection Studies, established at Donau Universität

Krems, will promote museological research in Lower Austria in the fields of collecting,

preserving and researching covering the entire range of classical museum-related

subjects.

Specific goals are: the establishment of museological basic research in Lower

Austria and the transfer of theoretical, methodological and empirical knowledge to

and from the state collections of Lower Austria.

Lower Austria benefits because all Lower Austrian collections and thus museum

operations can profit from the acquired skills in the field of basic museological research.

Setup of a Centre for Museum Collection StudiesThe Centre for Museum Collection Studies will develop and conduct research

projects in the area of examining and appraising the sources and inventories of the

state collections of Lower Austria. Furthermore, it will serve as a platform for

networking in museological research issues in Lower Austria and as a museological

contact point for regional and city museums. It will also assume the coordination of

research activities across collections as well as with other institutions.

Specific goals are: reappraisal and securing of the state collections in Lower Austria

and networking with all major regional and city museums. Lower Austria benefits

because our cultural heritage in the state collections of Lower Austria is ensured and

research themes in the cultural history of Lower Austria get promoted, from which the

Lower Austrian museums and galleries as well as the population will benefit.

18

Ecosystems and ecosystem services

The decline in natural habitats, species and ecosystems that are the essential foundations of our life and our prosperity continues throughout the world. According to the EU, the loss of ecosystems and their services, which are provided by

nature free of charge and can be used by mankind for their well-being, corresponds to

an annual monetary loss in the amount of EUR 450 billion. Ecosystem services are not

only an integral part of our daily life but are also an integral part of a future-oriented

development of Europe. To stop this loss of biodiversity at a European level and

restore its ecosystem services, the EU has created the "Biodiversity 2020 Strategy".

Austria is currently integrating the EU targets into its national biodiversity strategy; with

this, it is also implementing the international obligations fixed in the UN Convention on

Biological Diversity. In order to realise these tasks and necessary measures concerning

society as a whole in a tangible way in conjunction with the implementation of the EU

Biodiversity Strategy 2020, there is still a great need for international research,

development of methodologies and standardisation and for the development of a

sustainable use of ecosystems and their services.

The specific objective in the topic area of ecosystems and ecosystem services

provides for the establishment of a "Network Biodiversity" so as to optimise the

collaboration between existing agencies and institutions in accordance with applied

and environmentally-oriented research. The network will comprise representatives of

relevant institutions from the scientific and scholarly world, the field of research,

business, environmental education, administration as well as the public at large. Sub-

goals are: applied and interdisciplinary research on ecosystems and ecosystem

services as a basis for solving societal problems and tasks. The research findings of

the "Network Biodiversity" are to provide important feedback for environmental and

economic decision-making processes. In addition,

19

corresponding informational and educational programs will be organised to raise

awareness of the public for the theme of ecosystems and ecosystem services;

companies will be involved in research, development and implementation to the

greatest possible degree and benefit from it by optimising their own business

processes and availing themselves of new market opportunities.

Priority projects

Establishment of a coordination office for the "Network Biodiversity"The efficient and targeted (further) development of the "Network Biodiversity" requires

a central coordination office that keeps an eye on national and international

developments and aligns and advances the main research areas in Lower Austria

accordingly.

The specific goal is the installation of a central coordination office at an existing

institution in Lower Austria. The "Network Biodiversity" will include partners from the

scientific and scholarly sphere, education as well as business and commerce and

will be continuously developed and enhanced.

Lower Austria benefits because the coordination office will ensure that existing

institutions and centres of expertise are better networked and can be better and

more purposefully used.

Setup of a central data management (biodiversity database)By setting up a data management system (biodiversity database), the administration

and provision of research findings in Lower Austria is ensured. The spotlight will also

be on networking with relevant national and international systems and the sustainable

and efficient use by stakeholders.

Specific goals are the implementation and filling of a central data management

system. In addition, necessary staff resources should be established in the institution

and secured in the longer term.

Lower Austria benefits because research findings and their further use by

science, industry, government administration and environmental education

are secured over the longer term.

20

Water

Water is the most important natural resource in Lower Austria. Significant

proportions in the food production in all of Austria, aquaculture such as fish farming in

Waldviertel and the water supply of regions beyond the borders of the federal state are

just a few examples of what water bodies and water in Lower Austria actually achieve.

Developments in the past decades as well as the forecasts for global change and the

increased utilisation pressure induced by them give reasons to expect a massive

impact on water bodies and the resource of water in the future. Water bodies and

water resources are already today subject to a wide range of stressors. They are

being changed in multifarious ways and severely restricted in their development. In the

water cycle, these changes also affect the various types of use such as drinking water

supply, power generation, water for the production of raw materials and food. They

also touch on questions of how to secure the water supply and minimise risks in

extreme events, e.g. floods.

The focus of the vision for the research on water bodies and water in Lower

Austria is placed on the improved networking of research and educational institutions,

administrative units and industry by means of greater interdisciplinary and

transdisciplinary collaboration in research, education as well as on the development

of new practical solutions. The aim is to build up an excellence network in Lower

Austria that is internationally competitive and has a high profile, bringing forth new

findings in the field of water, at the same time connecting the different sectors in

research on water bodies and water. This is to enable cutting-edge research to be

done with a high international profile as well as to increase potentials for use in Lower

Austria.

Priority projects

Structural development of experimental facilities and pilot areas Experimental

facilities and pilot areas will be systematically built out and networked. International

attention and a high profile will be brought to Lower Austria as a location

21

for conducting research on vital components of the water cycle and their application.

Specific goal of the project: the setup, renewal and long-term protection of the

infrastructures and the necessary personnel to operate the facilities; as well as an

increase in the number of cooperative projects, procured research funds and

publications at the locations.

Lower Austria benefits from the establishment of an international leadership

position with a high profile in experimental environmental research and in

interdisciplinary research in pilot regions.

Modelling of the occurrence and behaviour of organic trace elements in the aquatic environment and in urban water management plantsThrough an exposure characterisation for primary substances of various types of

human use, the status quo is to be appraised with this measure, which can form

the basis for models and scenarios of efficient, resource-preserving management

measures in Lower Austria.

The specific goal is to develop a GIS (geo information system) map that shows the

occurrence of organic trace elements (primary substances of anthropogenic use) in

surface water bodies, ground water bodies as well as in the untreated water of water

supply systems and in urban water management.

Lower Austria benefits because better understanding of the impact of trace

elements helps to secure the provision of clean water on a sustainable basis.

Action plans for organic trace elements in the water supply and ecosystemsTaking into account the findings of the project described above, guidelines and policies

are to be created in this project for the creation of action plans in the field of water

supply and wastewater treatment.

Specific goals are: support for the application of the "Water Safety Plans" for organic

trace elements even in terms of small water utilities; appraisal based on the catchment

area, taking into account wastewater treatment; and the development of appropriate

guidelines for procedures; as well as the support of management and operators.

22

Lower Austria benefits due to the fact it will assume a pioneering role in the

development of solutions for ensuring the provision of clean water and because the

water supply can be optimised on a long-term basis.

23

Renewable raw materials and bio-energy

Renewable raw materials refers to all of the biomass formed on the basis of photosynthesis that is used for specific purposes as material or for energy

generation outside the area of food and feed. Questions of ecology – particularly the

reduction of greenhouse gases – and lessening the dependency on fossil fuels

constitute the main reasons that renewable raw materials and their use have

attracted far more attention in recent years.

Renewable raw materials are classified as agricultural and forestal renewable

resources. Compared to the currently predominant fossil fuels, they have

disadvantages in terms of transport and conversion; yet they offer great use potentials

due to their properties as a raw material (or basic material), their chemical composition

and diversity of ingredients. While timber, a traditional renewable raw material, is of

importance, new and resource-conserving ways of utilising biogenic raw materials are

to be researched, especially with a focus on Lower Austria. The knowledge-based

development of the material and energy value chains presents a great challenge for

the development of a bio-based economy. Lower Austria can play a pioneering role

within Austria in this context: As a typical agrarian and forest region, Lower Austria has

a regionally- available raw material base and an existing infrastructure for the

processing of biogenic raw materials.

Based on the supply of renewable raw materials, it is necessary to develop foundations for eco-efficient and economically-viable process chains of the utilisation of materials, building materials, basic chemicals and fine chemicals by 2020 and link them optimally with their energy use via cascading utilisation.

24

Priority projects

Building with timber in multi-story constructionThe focus of the project is on the advancement of technologies and products in

competitive timber construction for multi-story residential and commercial buildings at

the Stetten research site of Holzforschung Austria.

Specific goals are the establishment of a research network with companies in a "K

project" from the federal COMET program. It is intended to prove the feasibility by way

of a multi-story residential building constructed of timber with innovative solutions in

Vienna or Lower Austria.

Lower Austria benefits because the proportion in the total of new buildings of newly

built multi-story timber houses in urban areas and in high-density districts constructed

by Lower Austrian companies will be significantly increased. This will have a positive

impact on value creation, jobs in Lower Austria and "affordable housing".

Sustainable bio-heat technologies in Lower AustriaThis project focuses on the systematic development of bio-energy research in Lower

Austria together with local companies at the Wieselburg technology park; on reducing

the cost of heat in residential houses and boosting efficiency by 20 percent through

newly developed bio-heat technologies from Lower Austria; as well as on the

integration of bio-heat technologies with other HVACR systems.

The specific goal is to continue the existing COMET K1 Centre Bioenergy2020+ on a

successful basis and build out the strong cooperative ties between science and

industry.

Lower Austria benefits because the K1 Centre has a high profile in Europe and

beyond in terms of the research and development of sustainable systems for

heating with fuels from renewable raw materials.

Innovative hardwood technologies and productsThe focus of the project is on new breakdown technologies developed at the

COMET K1 Centre Wood K Plus at the Tulln site. The project will create a basis

for entirely new technologies and products for hardwood.

25

The specific goals are the development and use of new hardwood processing

technologies in a COMET K1 Centre or K project; an initial spark for increasing

hardwood processing through attractive and market-based hardwood products; and

the development of a new supply chain management for efficient processing

chains.

Lower Austria benefits because incentives for innovation are generated for the wood

processing industry and the hardwood trade in Lower Austria. Furthermore, the

bottleneck in the availability of softwood will be overcome.

26

Food and feed safety

In "Horizon 2020", the new EU framework program for research and innovation,

social challenges will receive funding on a selective basis. A total of six themes were

defined. "Food safety, sustainable agriculture, marine and maritime research and bio-

economy" is one of these six challenges integrated in terms of content in the topic

area of food and feed safety.

Strategic objectives in the topic area of food and feed safety in Lower Austria

are: bundling and advancement of skills; an even keener networking of research

institutes and companies; as well as the linking of basic research and applied

research. Other goals are: promoting the transfer of results; a response to the needs

of companies; utilisation of training capacities and an expansion of the focal points.

In concrete terms, a centre of excellence in the field of Feed & Food Safety, Quality

and Innovation (FFOQSI) will be implemented, so that a generally-accessible

research infrastructure will be made available that would otherwise not be affordable

for individual institutions. In the context of the centre of excellence, new problem-

solving approaches will be explored and applied along the entire production chain.

In the field of food and feed safety, three topics were defined, which are already anchored in Lower Austria and complement each other to some extent. Individual

aspects of these three topics are to be elaborated in the coming years. The centre of

excellence will be the parent institution. Besides the establishment of an excellence

network, the following goals take centre stage: pooling of potentials and resources in

joint research projects; development and expansion of cooperative projects; national

and international networking of excellence partners; and the structural improvement of

Austria as an innovation region through collaboration with specialised companies.

27

Priority projects

COMET K1 Centre Feed and Food Safety, Quality and Innovation "FFOQSI"

Building on the collaboration at CD laboratories for "Molecular Food Analytics", for

"Immuno-analytical detection of allergens" as well as the K projects of

"Preventive Veterinary Medicine" and "Advanced Dairying in Austria", the various

analytical approaches will be harmonised and established as a mainstay of the

COMET K1 Centre.

Specific goals are new, innovative solutions and research approaches for

sustainable food and feed safety as well as marketable products.

Lower Austria benefits because the consumer awareness of sustainable production

and quality will be heightened and the knowledge that industry-oriented R&D takes

place will be disseminated.

High-throughput analysis of metabolitesThe focus of this project is on high-throughput screening in order to find and

characterise comprehensively and quickly new health-related, bio-active substances,

in particular from microorganisms. In tandem with this, a generally accessible

research infrastructure, which would not be affordable for individual institutions, can

be achieved, funded from university infrastructure funds and funds from the federal

state of Lower Austria.

Specific goals are the build-out of the equipment park and the operation of

large-equipment infrastructure.

Lower Austria benefits because Lower Austrian companies gain access to cutting-

edge research infrastructure that can be jointly used and financed and because

international, world-class research is made possible for Lower Austrian research

institutes. Sustainable personnel financing guarantees consistent quality, and top-

quality jobs are created in Lower Austria.

Metabolism, decontamination and current risk assessment of mycotoxins In the

focus of the project is the study of the metabolism of mycotoxins in human beings and

animals, the identification of relevant biomarkers in urine and serum as well as the

28

gaining of a holistic understanding of crop/fungal interactions as the basis for the

reduction of mycotoxins.

Specific goals are: new insights into the metabolism of mycotoxins and new findings

in terms of the toxicity of this substance class for improving risk assessment.

Furthermore, new and relevant biomarkers for mycotoxins are to be identified and

purified and used for exposure studies on an individual basis.

Lower Austria benefits from the reassessment of the risk potential of mycotoxins and

other secondary metabolites of plants and fungi in Lower Austria against the backdrop

of global warming as well as from the conducting of exposure studies on an individual

basis. The current international pioneering role in this field will be further strengthened

and built out.

29

Sustainable land management and production optimisation

In light of the growing global population and increasing demands on the quality of life,

ensuring food supply and the production of renewable raw materials and energy sources is a priority in the field of agriculture at the global and regional

level. Concurrently, it is necessary to manage natural resources such as climate and

soil, which in many cases are already at risk, so that output is boosted and the

negative environmental impact and further loss of resources are minimised or

avoided. This is why scientific expertise is required in the following areas: sustainable

methods of land use and minimisation of negative environmental impact, high-tech for

production optimisation and sustainable intensification as well as an optimised use of resources for the provision of food, feed, fibre and fuel (F4).

Also in Lower Austria, land resources are under pressure due to various anthropogenic influences. Priority problems include increasing soil sealing – in

particular fertile soil – in the vicinity of metropolitan areas and settlements; increasing

competition for land between food production and renewable raw materials/energy

sources; as well as soil erosion and soil compaction.

The primary goal is to make Lower Austria fit for the transformation from an input-driven toward a sustainable, resource-efficient and environmentally-sound land management. The aim is to deploy Austrian state-of-the-art technologies in Lower

Austrian farming, so that Lower Austria will become a model for other federal states as

well as for neighbouring countries. Specific objectives are: increasing value creation in

agriculture with concurrent long-term land and resource protection; development and

application of new methods and technologies for optimised production and efficient use

of resources; and the optimisation of efficient resource utilisation (energy, raw

materials, labour, capital).

30

Priority projects

Top soil management and regional bio-fertiliser productionThis project is to optimise the management of top soil and organic waste in order to

conserve the resource of fertile soil. The focus is on the development of strategies for

recovery optimisation and the development of a software-based tool for top soil

balancing.

The specific goal is to develop new products for the optimal use of organic waste

and bio-fertilisers as well as the development of a package of measures for the

sustainable conservation of top soil and soil quality.

Lower Austria benefits because the top soil balancing will be anchored by means of

a software-based tool for the sustainable optimisation of farm management.

Production of commodities for the processing industryThe project is concerned with agricultural yield protection and yield increase through

the optimisation of productivity and breeding. It includes the examination of varieties,

research on disease resistance, needs-based segmentation of the production of wheat

qualities and population rye breeding for unfavourable locations.

The specific goals are: to reduce dependency on imports, the definition of new goals

in the breeding of wheat varieties as well as the protection of rye production in

unfavourable locations. Lower Austria benefits because the production of raw

materials for the Lower Austrian mill industry will be ensured, value creation in Lower

Austria enhanced and domestic agriculture strengthened.

31

Medical technology and medical biotechnology

Strategic goals in the topic area of medical technology and medical biotechnology with the potential priorities of diagnostics and personalised medicine,

regenerative medicine as well as mobility and rehabilitation are: the creation of a

strong network of expertise related to the defined themes; international networking and

high profile of Lower Austria as a research site; as well as scholarly and scientific

publications in leading "peer review" journals. In addition, a boost in the number of

patents, of financial returns on licenses as well as the successful attraction of national

and international third-party funding are all goals. An increase in the attractiveness of

the location for business relocations is another focal point. The creation of additional

highly qualified jobs in Lower Austria and an increased number of spin-off companies

in Lower Austria as a research site are envisioned to follow.

As part of the development of themes, academic institutions, research institutes, hospitals and companies will be networked on a long-term and interdisciplinary basis. The interaction with commerce and industry will result in an increase of highly

skilled jobs in research and development. A further significant boost in quality in

hospitals will benefit the population of Lower Austria. Based on an improved range of

offers, it will also attract patients from other federal states. Universities and technical

colleges will boost their academic reputation through research achievements.

Improving the quality of education will keep young scientists/scholars and

professionals at the location.

Priority projects

Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Therapies in Sepsis The

focus of the project is on new supportive therapies for improving existing

aphaeresis procedures and the development of new bio-materials for

aphaeresis.

32

Specific goals are publications, patents and their utilisation in clinical

applications.

Lower Austria benefits from the creation of highly-qualified training positions

and jobs.

COMET-K Project OptiBioMatThe focus of the project is the development and characterisation of biodegradable,

metallic materials (magnesium alloys) for implants, which dissolve on their own after

their task in the body has been fulfilled.

The specific goal is to replace the permanent implants currently used, so that high-

risk, stressful and expensive explantations can be dispensed with.

Lower Austria benefits from the creation of highly skilled jobs through

cooperative and innovation projects with Lower Austrian companies.

COMET K1 Centre "Surgical Technologies"The focus of the project is the continuation of the successful path of the COMET K1

Centre ACMIT (Austrian Centre for Medical Innovation and Technology) toward

becoming one of Europe's leading research centres for medical technology in the

field of minimally-invasive surgical interventions.

The specific goal is to establish the ACMIT even more steadfastly as one of the

leading European R&D centres and recognised partner of the industry for minimally-

invasive surgical interventions in mechatronic technologies. The ACMIT is to be 50%

funded through income from royalties and profits from industrial projects.

Lower Austria benefits from the creation of highly skilled jobs within the

framework of the COMET-K Centre. The Lower Austrian medical

technology industry will benefit from new developments and licensing

agreements.

33

Materials and surfaces

Materials and surfaces are a key issue in industry, training, further training and science, for instance with respect to products and processes as well as

manufacturing processes and tribological effects such as friction, wear and

lubrication. "Materials and surfaces" refers to materials such as ceramic, metal,

lightweight materials and lubricants and their surfaces. This includes the behaviour of

materials and their surfaces, in particular tribological effects, as well as

manufacturing/processing methods of materials and surfaces. The individual

characteristic of a surface in terms of its physical, chemical, optical and haptic

properties and its resistance constitute essential properties and quality criteria of

products.

Depending on how the components: base material, surfaces and materials between

the surfaces – such as lubricants – are combined, overall systems can be optimised.

There is a great potential for the saving of material and energy. This way, product and

manufacturing costs can be lowered and the useful life of a product extended. For

materials and surfaces as well as their production, international trends in science and

industry are going more in the direction of: increasingly individual, multifunctional,

smarter, more cost-effective, more durable and environmentally friendly. Following

these trends, the targeted priorities have been set and appropriate measures

developed.

The topic area of materials and surfaces is already today one of the strongest aspects

of the scientific and research landscape of Lower Austria, with a great number of

scientists working in various fields. The explicit goal is to heighten the profile further and increase the number of researchers in this topic area. The range of

offers for academic training and further training options should cover the needs of

academia as well as commerce and industry. Commerce and industry in Lower Austria

should be provided with an ideal environment for the development of new materials

and surfaces and profit from the achievements in research. Another goal is to make

substantial contributions to securing and expanding the

34

competitiveness of the Lower Austrian economy, to secure existing jobs

and create new ones.

Priority projects

"Materials and surfaces" Excellence MapIn order to map out existing skills, specific skills, associated resources and examples

of application in the topic area of materials and surfaces in science, commerce and

industry as well as education, an Excellence Map will be created.

The specific goal is the detailed presentation of the expertise, resources and

capabilities of relevant Lower Austrian companies and all theme-related R&D

institutions in Lower Austria. The Excellence Map will be available online and offline to

initiate cooperative projects.

Lower Austria benefits because the institutions involved will be empowered,

access to R&D made far easier for commerce and industry and the business

location of Lower Austria will be strengthened.

Continuation COMET K2 Centre for TribologyThis project is the continuation of the "Austrian Centre of Excellence for Tribology"

from the second COMET funding period (2015 to 2020) in the established research

areas of "Lubricants and Surface Interactions", "Wear Processes", "Integrated

Tribodiagnostics and Design" and "Multiscale Computational Tribology".

The specific goal is the successful development of the COMET K2

Centre of Excellence for Tribology in the current funding period until

2020.

Lower Austria benefits from up to 150 high-quality jobs in Lower Austria (in the

COMET and non-COMET area) and at the TFZ (Technology and Research Centre)

in Wiener Neustadt. With the COMET K Centre, Lower Austria has a research centre

that is acclaimed worldwide.

35

Continuation of the COMET K1 Centre for ElectrochemistryThis project focuses on the continuation of the work for science and industry, the

development of additional skills and the expansion of the network of cooperative

projects with industry. On account of the interdisciplinary approach of the CEST Centre

of Excellence for Electrochemistry and the need to use modified materials in a variety

of applications, or different areas of technology, a wide range of benefits are to be

expected from a scientific and economic point of view.

Specific goals are: successful continuation of the COMET and non-COMET

activities in the current funding period as well as the development of skills and jobs

in Lower Austria.

Lower Austria benefits from 50 high-quality jobs in Lower Austria. With the CEST,

Lower Austria has a research centre that is acclaimed worldwide. Regional, Austrian

and international companies are offered the opportunity to engage in cooperative

projects in the COMET and non-COMET area.

36

Manufacturing technology and automation engineering

The core of commercial and industrial businesses in Lower Austria, which deal

with the subject of "Manufacturing technology and automation engineering", comprises

around 1,500 companies, nearly 60,000 employees and a value creation of about EUR

5 billion – about 12 percent of the total gross value creation in Lower Austria. The many

plant manufacturers and machine manufacturers, which report an above-average

export rate in their specialised fields, play a major role in this respect. The federal state

of Lower Austria already today provides instruments that allow small and medium-sized

enterprises access to external research achievements. Nonetheless, facilities are still

needed that do research in the core areas of manufacturing technology and automation

engineering and facilitate the transfer of knowledge to the companies.

The focus in the topic area of "Manufacturing technology and automation engineering" is on the themes of "High Performance Technologies" and "Intelligent

Manufacturing Systems". The clear-cut strategic objective is to establish Lower Austria

as one of the leading regions for manufacturing technology and automation

engineering. The global network already established should be used for the expansion

of the region's own knowledge base. Strategic goals until 2020 are: development of

manufacturing technologies for large-scale application and transition of scientific and

technological methods. The specific objective is to make new scientific discoveries

accessible and applicable arising from physicochemical fundamentals and findings

from applied and/or collaborative research for industrial production conducted at the

COMET Centres. Manufacturing technologies of the future will thus be available to local

manufacturing operations quickly, easily and inexpensively at an early development

stage.

37

Priority projects

Additive Manufacturing (3-D printing)The focus of the project is on setting up a research infrastructure in order to

strengthen the in-house research at FOTEC (Forschungs- und Technologietransfer

GmbH) and provide a contact point for businesses that want to know about the 3-D

printing of metals.

The specific goal is to expand the existing infrastructure of FOTEC/FH Wiener

Neustadt for the 3-D printing of metals by the research expertise needed by

companies in order to use these new technologies purposefully in their production.

Lower Austria benefits from the creation of an ideal environment for manufacturing

companies domiciled in Lower Austria and thus from the protection and creation of

high-quality jobs in Lower Austria.

High performance machiningThe project focuses on research collaboration between research institutes and

Lower Austrian companies concerning the manufacture of complex work pieces,

taking into account new materials; quality assurance and measurement technology;

energy efficiency; use of cooling lubricants; grinding; robust processes; surface

treatment; machine tools; handling technology and robotics; technology integration in

hybrid systems; as well as "smart" machine components.

The specific goal is to provide companies with a permanent and simplified access to

know-how and proven technologies.

Lower Austria benefits from the development of need-oriented and economically

efficient solutions for and with companies in order to enable them to react to today's

challenges in manufacturing.

38

Matrix: Fields of activity

Topic areasFocus of activity

Priority projects Nature/Culture/QUALITY OF LIFE Nutrition/Medical/HEALTH Technology/Productivity/PROSPERITY

Humanities, Social Studies and Cultural Studies

Research Network Interdisciplinary Regional Studies – Network ManagementMigration Research NetworkNutrition Research Network

Collections, Lower AustriaEndowed chair for Museum Collection StudiesCentre for Museum Collection Studies

Ecosystems and ecosystem services Coordination office for the "Network Biodiversity"Setup of a central data management system (biodiversity database)

WaterStructural development of the experimental facilities and pilot areasModelling of the occurrence and behaviour of organic trace elementsAction plans for organic trace elements

Renewable raw materials and bio-energy

Building with timber in multi-story constructionSustainable bio-heat technologies in Lower AustriaInnovative hardwood technologies and products

Food and feed safetyCOMET K1 Centre Feed and Food Safety, Quality and Innovation "FFOQSI"High-throughput analysis of metabolitesMetabolism, decontamination and current risk assessment of mycotoxins

Sustainable land management and production optimisation

Top soil management and regional bio-fertiliser productionRaw material production for the processing industry

Medical technology and medical biotechnology

Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Therapy Approaches in SepsisCOMET K Project OptiBioMatCOMET K1 Centre "Surgical Technologies"

Materials and surfaces"Materials and surfaces" Excellence MapCOMET K2 Centre for TribologyCOMET K1 Centre for Electrochemistry

Manufacturing technology and automation engineering

Additive Manufacturing (3-D printing)High-performance machining

39

4. Locations

In recent years, the federal state of Lower Austria has invested heavily in the

development and expansion of science and research sites. The goal was and is to

achieve a critical mass in strategically important branches of science so as to

strengthen applied research and development as well as basic research and expand

tertiary education programs in the state. Although strategically important decentralised

facilities are also supported and upgraded, the investments of Lower Austria focus

primarily on six locations: Klosterneuburg, Krems, Tulln, St. Pölten, Wiener Neustadt,

Wieselburg.

The scientific questions and issues as well as areas of innovation worked on at these

sites had a significant influence on the topic areas defined in this program. Hence the

topic areas reflect existing priorities of the science and research landscape in Lower

Austria, e.g. the research focuses of the Krems, Tulln, Wiener Neustadt and

Wieselburg technology parks, which have been built up and built out step-by-step

since 2004.

The science and research infrastructure projects initiated by the government of Lower

Austria over the last few years are closely interlinked with the topic areas defined in

this program:

The MedAustron Cancer Treatment and Research Centre in Wiener Neustadt, for

example, will contribute significantly to strengthening the topic area of medical

technology and biotechnology; yet it will also profit from other research projects carried

out in this topic area. Similarly interlinked are the Tulln University and Research Centre

with the topic areas of "Food and feed safety" and "Renewable raw materials & bio-

energy" as well as the Karl Landsteiner Private University for the Health Sciences in

Krems with the topic areas of "Medical technology & medical bio-technology" and

"Water". The construction of "Galerie Niederösterreich" in Krems, in turn, will

strengthen the topic area of "Collections";

40

conversely, the research in this field will benefit the quality of the scholarly

reappraisal at the gallery.

Finally, the scientific and mathematical basic research conducted at the Institute of

Science and Technology (IST) Austria in Klosterneuburg will provide important stimuli

for all scientific and technical topic areas.

41

5. Cross-sectional subject matters

In addition to concentration in terms of content and profiling, the RTI program is

designed to create new momentum in the area of "education and training" as well as

awareness-raising. Since a holistic approach, fundamental initiatives and strategic

frameworks are needed for this, these themes were dealt with not exclusively in the

topic areas but also in specially conducted workshops for cross-section subject

matters.

Training and further training

Educational decisions are theoretically based on individual freedom of choice, which in

actual practice places great responsibility on the individual. From this perspective, it is

necessary to spread knowledge of the wide range of possibilities and opportunities and

to provide the population with comprehensive information and thus orientation for well-

informed educational decisions.

Identifying, developing and utilising individual strengths, talents and skills should be

encouraged at all levels of education. Educators as multipliers should provide parents

and children with guidance and perspectives for education and career professions and

thus highlight the special opportunities entailed in the areas of research, technology

and innovation. At the same time, the transition to a suitable professional occupation

should be facilitated by a multifaceted networking of education, business and

commerce as well as scientific and research institutes. Numerous measures are closely

linked to the strategic concepts in the area of awareness-raising.

Facilitating and promotion of early interventionGiven the vital importance of the fact that the development/promotion of themes and

individual talents should begin as early and as comprehensively as possible in an

educational biography, the existing range of offers and possibilities for information are

coordinated and presented in a clear and comprehensible form. Measures for

awareness-raising and further training

42

of educators take centre stage (since they act as multipliers).

Talent promotionThe promotion of talent and potential is often made difficult by transitions in the

education system and, as a result, thresholds and gaps in individual educational

biographies. An enhanced, area-wide use of a strength portfolio across all levels of

education facilitates and improves the interface work for educational institutions in

Lower Austria up to the secondary level. In the tertiary sector, the promotion of existing

talent (see below) will be advanced.

Thematic priorities and regional networking of education, science and industryRegional priorities and profile development with respect to RTI-related issues are

made possible by means of a coordinated network of initiatives from education,

business and commerce as well as science; regional cooperation will be intensified.

Educators will find an incentive to retrain in the STEM or RTI area. Regional

development goals in research, technology and innovation as well as relevant

education programs will be systematically coordinated and matched.

Developing the research and university region and making it more attractive

Coordinated growth and development strategies (framework plan for technical

colleges in Lower Austria) in higher education; R&D initiatives (research programs,

academic appointments, visiting professors and endowed chairs, young talent) at

research institutes; and the development of RTI-relevant cross-departmental fields of

study are geared to existing areas of strength and needs.

Measures for strengthening the leverage in the acquisition of third-party research

funds (national/international) for universities will also indirectly effect business and

commerce as well as industry. The development of individual career perspectives

and career models for young scientists and scholars counteracts brain drain.

State-wide coordination of stakeholders from science and education as part of a

"Lower Austria Location Forum".

43

Planned measures:Objective Target group(s) Measure

Information and guidance on existing target group-specific offerings in education

Students, parents, educators Expansion of the "land4talent" platform for the target group of 2½-year-olds to 19 year-olds and setup of a multidisciplinary "land4talent" Steering Group

Establishment of Lower Austria as an educational and research site

Public and prospective students Awareness-enhancing measures to raise the profile of Lower Austria as an educational and university region

Increasing interest and curiosity; encouraging and facilitating the exchange of RTI-relevant content

Kindergarten teachers, teachers for the primary and secondary level

Consistent education and training concept on the subject of "Learning through exploration and discovery" and joint training of kindergarten workers and teachers

Schools, teachers Coordinated development, assignment and evaluation of compact instruction packages for the interdisciplinary conveyance of contents from the RTI sector for educators ("RTI methods pool")

Talent promotion, individual guidance, interface optimisation

Teacher of 4-year-olds to 18-year-olds

Coordination and promotion of the widespread use of a strength portfolio in Lower Austria, from kindergarten to the secondary level 2

Individual promotion of talent and young scientists

Pupils, students, young scientists Support for gifted students, fellowships and doctoral programs, particularly with a focus on RTI-related topics (e.g. STEM)

Incentive system for the consistent processing and communicating of RTI-relevant

Schools, teachers, students RTI seal for schools; RTI diploma supplement for students; RTI summer schools for teachers and pupils

Identification of regional training needs and coordination of corresponding offers

Businesses, educational institutions

Regional educational and information hubs bundle, identify and address regional educational needs and ranges of offers

Think tank and "creative engine" for medium-term initiatives and projects in the area of education and training

Stakeholders from industry as well as business and commerce, education/science and

Net workshop for educational and qualification needs in Lower Austria institutionalises the exchange between industry, science, education providers and administrative bodies

Demand-driven development of the range of offers in tertiary education

Lower Austrian universities, research institutes, businesses

Development of advanced fields of study and research priorities as well as alternative skills profiles and study models through networking initiatives and coordination platforms

Increasing the quantity and quality of research at Lower Austrian universities and technical colleges

Young academics, universities Priority-specific use of competitive tenders for projects; measures to increase third-party funding from federal agencies or the EU; RTI-specific tender for research positions and endowed chairs; as well as support in facilitating positions for visiting professors in special subjects.

44

Awareness-raising

Over the last few years, the federal state of Lower Austria has initiated a variety of

measures for the presentation of science and research to attract public attention.

Firstly, these measures aim to increase the value and appreciation of science in

society. Secondly, they aim at bringing young people as early as possible into contact

with the scientific community in order to promote interest in and enjoyment of a

scientific/technological training and career; or, in a further step, to strengthen skills

and individual talents. What is still in great demand, however, are tangible visions and

measures with respect to science communications in the federal state of Lower

Austria:

The goal is a common understanding and commitment as well as jointly-organised events of all stakeholders. To this end, a "Science Communication in Lower

Austria" Forum will be established and a target group-specific package of measures

developed that comprises the existing and new initiatives. This is deemed necessary

since the existing overabundance often overwhelms multipliers and organisations as

well as the public. Benefits, impact and success (such as the increased interest of

society in science and research) of each activity are measured by monitoring and

evaluations.

It also seems important to awaken scientific interest early in childhood and to convey

a scientific worldview. What's especially needed, though, is continuous support and

complementary structures across the entire path of education, a kind of music school for science. Various measures in classrooms and at day-care centres (see School of Science, Science goes School and Science Fair) are implemented to identify talent

in children at an early time. Subsequently, such talented students will be addressed

as best as possible by means of continuous scientific supervision at school and during

afternoon childcare. The measures

45

will be directly based on one another. High-quality, targeted and consistent

extracurricular support programs (e.g.: Junge Uni Niederösterreich, University for the Young in Lower Austria) also should contribute to further advance

identified talented students.

Testimonials of students who took advantage of the successive measures and

thus were able to develop their talents will demonstrate the importance of developing

talent as one of the foundations for excellence.

Although the majority of the measures are aimed at young people, some of them

should also work across generations. For the presentation of research results

achieved by teenagers and young adults at the Lower Austria Science Fair, for

example, seniors are invited. Thus a dialogue between the generations comes into

being. Measures such as the Lower Austria Research Festival or the Lower Austria

Science Talk aim at kindling interest in and enthusiasm for science and research in

people of all ages.

46

Planned measures:

Objective Target group(s) MeasureIt is planned to establish a "University for the Young" at all locations of technical colleges (Wiener Neustadt, Krems, Tulln, St. Pölten and Wieselburg).

Young talent – children and teenagers

Creating an umbrella brand entitled "University for the Young in Lower Austria" and expansion of the idea of a university for young people during the holidays at all university sites in Lower Austria

Every student in Lower Austria – including children from educationally alienated backgrounds – should come into direct contact with science and research at least once in his/her school life. Scientific programs that were already completed will be taken into account in follow-up programs.

Young talent – children and teenagers, or the public

"Lower Austria Science Fair" Development of research projects in the context of teaching and presentation of the projects as part of a new series of events called the Science Fair.

Young talent – children and teenagers

Expansion of the "Science goes School" program by way of extension to the afternoon events and visiting scientific institutes.

Young talent – children and teenagers

The School of Sciences (extracurricular education in accordance with the curriculum in cooperation with schools and day-care centres) allows students high-quality access to science and research.

Young talent – children and teenagers (talent promotion)

Talents of children will be recognised by the various measures in the classroom and at day-care centres and promoted further in extracurricular support programs.

Bundled information on range of course offers.Demand-driven development of the range of offers in tertiary education

Young talent – students, graduates

Better information on the "Studying in Lower Austria" profile (booklet with all courses, online information platform, top jobs for Lower Austrian graduates and young scientists, improved career guidance)

Sustainable and inclusive strengthening and networking of proactive measures for awareness-raising and demand in future fields.

Young talent – students, graduates

Master Plan for Research, Technology and Innovation. Awareness-raising program to increase the number of graduates in departments teaching RTI subjects in the tertiary sector

The population is to be informed by means of targeted and bundled measures of what the fields are in which research is conducted in Lower Austria.

All population groupsLower Austria Science Talk. By bundling the individual series of lectures within a consistent brand and presentation, the public is informed of the individual events in a more targeted way.

All population groupsEvery 2 years, the nationwide event of the "Long Night of Research" is held. In order to be able to offer an event of similar size and effectiveness, the "Lower Austria Research Festival" is to be established.

47

6. Instruments

The goal of Lower Austria is to support by means of various instruments the entire

spectrum of science in Lower Austria, from education to basic research to applied

research. The term instruments refers to both funding and support instruments and

services. By providing such instruments along the entire innovation chain, strategically

important special subjects in particular will be strengthened in the long term.

In order to use the available funds in as targeted a way as possible, both existing

instruments and those to be newly established will undergo an enhanced coordination

process. For one, federal support programs need to be coordinated in order to prevent

the duplication of existing instruments at the federal level. For another, greater

coordination is required for the instruments provided by various government

departments of Lower Austria so as to avoid duplication.

Services

The wide range of services of the Lower Austrian government in the area of RTI

supports the networking of the various players and thus reinforces the

effectiveness of funds spent.

The services are needs-based and target group-appropriate. They are organised

as programs that are geared to one another and will be constantly revised:

services to promote talent by identifying and supporting talented students in

science and research and aiding young people with educational choices.

48

services to strengthen transfer of knowledge, publication and utilisation of

research findings.

services to build critical mass and an international high profile by means of

networking existing institutions, project generation and promotion of

cooperative projects with potential users.

Financing

Along the entire innovation chain, the federal state of Lower Austria offers funding

instruments in the area of RTI. In addition to funding in the form of subsidies, this

offer includes other financial instruments, such as

assumption of liabilities, investments or venture capital. All these instruments are seen

as measures to supplement programs of the federal government and the European

Union.

To increase the efficiency of the allocation of funds, with all these instruments greater

attention will be paid in the future to the sustainability effects of the funding and the

best possible use of existing resources. Another emphasis when granting funding will

be put on supporting cooperation and the networking of various players in the Lower

Austrian RTI system.

Project funding

In order to strengthen the defined RTI topic areas, the available financial resources

for project funding in the field of science and research will be focused on these areas.

In addition, the federal state of Lower Austria is committed to a greater use of

competitive procurement procedures for project funding so as to increase the scientific

quality of scientific projects funded by the government of Lower Austria.

Taking this into account, the government of Lower Austria will in the future tender

another academic appointment every year in the areas of applied research and

basic research.

49

Endowed Chairs

To strengthen individual topic areas in a targeted way, increase their research

potential and expedite the scientific teaching in relevant areas, endowed

professorships are selectively awarded.

Scholarship systems

A wide range of scholarships will contribute to the promotion and support of

young scientists in Lower Austria.

Promoting dissemination activities

In order to heighten the national and international profile of the research work

performed in Lower Austria, targeted dissemination activities (e.g. scientific

publications and conferences) of scientists and research institutions located in

Lower Austria are supported.

Promotion of innovation in companies

Since innovation in companies is the engine for growth and employment, the federal

state of Lower Austria – in accordance with the Economic Strategy 2020 – offers

several financing instruments to support research and development, with a focus on

market implementation.

Infrastructure

Infrastructure policy plays a crucial role in the area of RTI. The federal state of Lower

Austria is therefore committed to the provision of infrastructure as a tool for location

development.

In the area of building infrastructure, the federal state of Lower Austria supports

selected projects for the settlement and further expansion of research facilities.

This support comes in the form of provisioning (technology parks, IST Austria,

MedAustron, etc.) or operating the building infrastructure (Krems Campus,

Klosterneuburg Campus, Tulln Campus).

50

To strengthen the scientific institutions in Lower Austria, the government of Lower

Austria will invest selectively in the equipment and technology infrastructure in the

future, since it is a prerequisite for high-quality science and research, especially in the

area of the natural sciences and technology. The concept will be implemented in close

coordination with the Ministry of Science as part of the infrastructure plan.

51

7. Management

Further development

This program document explores the planned objectives, themes and activities for the

period up to 2020. At the same time, it constitutes the starting point of a rolling further

development process. This process includes the continuous adaptation to new

framework conditions, opportunities and challenges in the coming years. The program

will be continuously adapted and further developed.

The Department of Science and Research at the Office of the Lower Austrian

government manages the planned continuous development process and provides

for regular meetings of advisory and developing committees and work groups.

They include:

RTI Steering Group

A Steering Group comprised of the "Science and Research" Department, the

"Economy, Tourism and Technology" Department, the Lower Austrian "Forschungs-

und Bildungsges.m.b.H." (NFB) and "ecoplus. Niederösterreichs Wirtschaftsagentur

GmbH" will be formed for the integration of relevant topics, review of ideas, ongoing

monitoring of the implementation process for the RTI program, topic areas and priority

projects

. The Steering Group also serves to support and prepare the Management

Committee, whose meetings it will coordinate and prepare in terms of content.

RTI Management Committee

The RTI process will be managed by a Management Committee, which convenes twice

a year. Beside section heads from the Office of the Lower Austrian government and the

head of the Department of Science and Research,

52

external experts will be part of the Management Committee. In addition,

representatives of the Location Forum and the RTI Steering Committee will be invited

to meetings of the Management Committee to contribute ideas and suggestions from

these two consultative bodies to the Management Committee.

The tasks of the Management Committee are:

making recommendations to the government of Lower Austria for the specific

strategic development and adaptation of the RTI program (including the

possible introduction of a new topic area or the scrapping of a topic area

provided in this document)

making recommendations to the government of Lower Austria

on the allocation of RTI funds

definition of the annual themes of the academic appointments in the

areas of basic research and applied research

evaluation of the RTI program

The Lower Austrian RTI landscape should gain further momentum from two

advisory boards as well as the continuation of the topic area groups:

RTI Location Forum

A so-called Location Forum will be established, in which the main research institutes

and educational institutions in Lower Austria are represented. The Forum has the task

of coordinating the advancement of the science and research location of Lower Austria

between the relevant players and stakeholders, of improving the networking between

the institutions and hence of providing more opportunities for cooperative projects. This

Forum will meet twice a year and have an advisory role for the continuous adaptation

of the RTI program of Lower Austria.

The Department of Science and Research at the Office of Government of Lower

Austria is responsible for the organisation of the RTI Location Forum.

53

RTI Steering Committee

While the Location Forum will be established as a platform for research institutes and

educational institutions, the RTI Steering Committee will be an advisory body for

industry and business. It acts as an industry advisory council for research, technology

and innovation. Its composition follows the structure of industrial sectors in Lower

Austria. Its task is to pick up ideas from the business sphere and integrate them in the

RTI strategy process of Lower Austria. Like the Location Forum, it will convene twice

a year. The Department of Economy, Tourism and Technology at the Office of

Government of Lower Austria is responsible for the organisation of the RTI Steering

Committee.

Topic area groups

In order to generate dynamism with respect to contents, it is envisaged that workshops,

or discussion groups, for each of the ten defined topic areas be held at regular intervals

(at least once a year). Experts from the fields of research, education, business and

society who have experience in the relevant topic area will make up these workshops.

In addition to further networking the various players, the workshops are intended jointly

to develop new measures, projects or priorities within the topic area. The results of

these work processes are in turn integrated in the rolling development process (see

Steering Group).

External evaluation

In addition to the adaptations set up in the process structure, the RTI program,

including sub-programs, is to be evaluated by external experts at a certain point in

time in order to ensure evidence-based review.