This program supports the development and commercialisation of high-tech and DeepTech ventures in Austria at the pre-seed stage. It is designed for entrepreneurial projects based on applied research and development that aim to create an initial proof of concept or prototype and ultimately establish a scalable technology company. Projects are generally expected to be around Technology Readiness Level 3 (TRL 3) and must involve a substantial scientific or technological challenge rather than incremental innovation.
Eligible Applicants and Development Stage
• Eligible applicants: natural persons, sole proprietors, partnerships, and corporations outside the Austrian federal administration may apply.
• Pre-foundation projects: founders may apply before incorporating a company.
• Recently established companies: where a company is already registered, its first registration in the commercial register generally must not be more than six months before the application date.
• Austrian establishment: the planned company or future operating site must be located in Austria, and the majority of the project’s value creation must be planned in Austria.
• Founder commitment: applicants or key operating shareholders must have relevant qualifications or experience and be prepared to pursue the venture with full-time entrepreneurial commitment and an ambitious growth strategy.
DeepTech and Innovation Requirements
• DeepTech focus: projects must involve substantial technological and scientific challenges and represent a significant technological advance beyond incremental improvements.
• Proof of concept: funding is intended to support applied R&D leading to an initial proof of concept or prototype that can form the basis of commercial implementation.
• Technology readiness: supported Preseed – Deep Tech projects are typically at TRL 3.
• Scalability: ventures should demonstrate realistic, above-average market opportunities and the potential to develop highly scalable business models.
• Competitive advantage: the technology should be capable of creating a sustainable international competitive position, supported where appropriate by patents, licences, or other intellectual-property protection.
• Excluded projects: technologies that merely reflect the existing state of the art or provide only incremental improvements are not eligible.
Target Technology Areas
The program is broadly open across DeepTech fields. Supported areas include Life Sciences such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices and digital health; information and communication technologies; sensor technologies; robotics; process technologies; physical sciences; quantum technologies; and environmental or climate technologies. Green technology applications may include technologies supporting the energy transition, mobility transition, circular economy, production and climate-neutral cities.
Financing and Project Duration
• Non-repayable grant: aws may finance up to 80% of eligible project costs, with a maximum grant of €267,000.
• Founder contribution: at least 10% of total project costs must normally be provided from the financial resources of the current or future shareholders. Non-monetary contributions do not count toward this requirement.
• Gender bonus: where one or more women together hold, or will hold, more than 25% of the company shares at the time funding is awarded, funding may increase to 90% of eligible costs, up to a maximum of €300,000. Under the gender bonus, at least 5% of total costs must come from shareholder financial resources, subject to the program’s additional participation and management requirements.
• Eligible costs: funding can cover personnel, external services, tangible and intangible investments such as IP and licensing rights, prototype or demonstration development costs, materials and other costs directly required for the project.
• Project duration: supported projects generally run for one to two years, with a maximum duration of two years.
• Disbursement: grants are paid in instalments linked to predefined project milestones.
Application and Selection Process
• Application modality: applications can be submitted online on an ongoing basis through the aws Funding Manager.
• Required materials: applicants are generally required to provide an online application, planned project-cost breakdown, business plan and a personal presentation or pitch. aws also requests identification documents and CVs of the project team during the application process.
• Evaluation: complete applications are assessed against formal, technological, commercial and project-related criteria. Selected applicants may be invited to present their project to an external jury.
• Life Sciences projects: Life Sciences applications are reviewed by an Ethics Council before the relevant jury meeting.
• Decision schedule: assessment committees meet several times per year, generally quarterly. Applications are accepted continuously rather than through a single fixed application deadline.
Program Period and Deadline
The current Preseed|Seedfinancing 2024–2026 framework is valid from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2026. Applications may be submitted on an ongoing basis, while funding decisions under the current framework must be made by 31 December 2026. This date is therefore the end of the current program period and decision window rather than a conventional fixed application deadline.
This program provides non-repayable early-stage funding and specialist support to founders developing scientifically and technologically demanding DeepTech ventures in Austria. Applicants should be working toward a proof of concept or prototype, demonstrate strong technological novelty and scalable market potential, and plan to establish substantial business activity and value creation in Austria. Standard funding can reach €267,000, while qualifying projects receiving the gender bonus may receive up to €300,000.