Austrian Council for Research and Technology Development

Austrian Council for Research and Technology Development
Name	Austrian Council for Research and Technology Development
Native name	Rat für Forschung und Technologieentwicklung
Formation	2000
Type	Advisory body
Headquarters	Vienna
Region served	Austria
Leader title	Chair
Parent organization	Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research

Austrian Council for Research and Technology Development

The Austrian Council for Research and Technology Development was an independent advisory body established to provide strategic guidance on science policy and technology policy in Austria. It advised the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research and interacted with institutions such as the Austrian Research Promotion Agency, the Austrian Science Fund, and universities including the University of Vienna and the Graz University of Technology. Its work connected stakeholders from the European Commission, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the OECD Secretariat, and regional bodies like the Tyrol State Government and the Vienna City Council.

History

The council was created at the turn of the millennium amid reforms involving the Austrian Academy of Sciences and initiatives like the Lisbon Strategy to boost competitiveness across the European Union. Early members included figures from institutions such as the Max Planck Society, the Fraunhofer Society, and the Austrian Institute of Technology. Over successive terms it engaged with personalities from the University of Innsbruck, the Johannes Kepler University Linz, and the Medical University of Vienna, and it responded to events such as enlargement of the European Union and EU research framework programmes like Horizon 2020 and FP7. The council’s history intersected with national reforms exemplified by laws like the University Act 2002 and cooperation with agencies such as the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber and the Austrian Trade Union Federation.

Mandate and Functions

The council’s mandate encompassed strategic advice to ministries, evaluation of research infrastructures, and recommendations on innovation policy in liaison with entities such as the European Research Council, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, and the World Intellectual Property Organization. It produced position papers influencing instruments used by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency and the Austrian Science Fund, and liaised with research performing organizations like the Austrian Institute of Technology and the Institute of Science and Technology Austria. The council evaluated topics ranging from digitalisation strategies aligned with European Commission priorities to cluster policies linked to regional authorities including the Salzburg Regional Government.

Organizational Structure

The council comprised a multidisciplinary body of appointed experts drawn from universities, industry associations, and research institutes such as the University of Graz, the Montanuniversität Leoben, and the Donau-Universität Krems. Its secretariat was located in Vienna and coordinated with ministerial units in the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs. Governance included a chair, vice-chairs, and working groups with affiliations to institutions like the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, the Austrian Science Fund, and international bodies such as the European University Association. External reviewers came from organisations like the King's College London, the University of Cambridge, and the ETH Zurich.

Key Activities and Programs

The council conducted foresight exercises, peer reviews, and strategic roadmaps, collaborating with partners including the Austrian Standards Institute, the European Patent Office, and the International Energy Agency. It organised conferences with participation from the European Commission, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and university consortia like the Austrian Council for Sustainable Development networks. Programmatic work addressed links between research and industry involving stakeholders such as the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, the Federation of Austrian Industries, and multinational firms present in Austria. The council also assessed national capacity for participation in programmes such as Horizon Europe and advised on research infrastructure projects like national laboratories and links to the CERN community.

Policy Influence and Advisories

The council issued recommendations cited by entities like the Austrian Parliament and ministries, informing debates about competitive funding mechanisms used by the Austrian Science Fund and structural reforms touching institutions such as the University of Vienna and the Medical University of Graz. Its advisories referenced benchmarking against countries including Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, and Finland and engaged with networks like the GLOBHEALTH initiatives and the European Research Area. The council’s policy influence extended to interactions with the European Court of Auditors reports and consultations held with the Austrian Chamber of Labour.

Funding and Budget

Funding for the council came from the federal budget administered through ministries including the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research and coordination with grant-making bodies such as the Austrian Research Promotion Agency and the Austrian Science Fund. Budgetary oversight related to national spending priorities debated in the Austrian Parliament and audited in processes akin to those overseen by the Austrian Court of Audit. Additional project funding derived from European programmes involving the European Commission and partnerships with international organisations like the OECD.

Notable Reports and Impact Studies

Notable outputs included strategic reports on national research priorities, impact assessments benchmarking Austria against research leaders such as Germany, United Kingdom, and Netherlands, and studies on technology transfer referencing casework from the Vienna BioCenter, the Austrian Institute of Technology, and the Ars Electronica. Impact studies addressed themes present in EU documents like the Lisbon Strategy and the Horizon 2020 evaluations, and influenced subsequent policymaking cited by the Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health and Consumer Protection and regional administrations in Styria and Lower Austria.

Category:Research policy in Austria