ERA in Austria

From the very beginning of the European Research Area, Austria has been ambitiously contributing to its development and working on the implementation of the ERA at national level. Following the establishment of the new ERA governance at EU level in 2021, Austria developed a new national ERA governance in 2022.

The main body of the Austrian ERA Governance is the ERA Stakeholder Forum, where all relevant organisations of the Austrian RTI System are represented. The ERA Stakeholder Forum is co-chaired by three Directors-General: Barbara Weitgruber (DG for Scientific Research and International Affairs), Elmar Pichl (DG for Higher Education Institutions), both at the Federal Ministry of Women, Science and Research and Henriette Spyra (DG for Innovation and Technology) at the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure. Barbara Weitgruber and Henriette Spyra also represent Austria in ERAC, thus ensuring a very close connection between the European and the national level.

For the implementation of the ERA Policy Agenda at national level, Austria decided to develop a National Action Plan (ERA-NAP). The first ERA-NAP (2022-2025) was adopted by the Austrian Council of Ministers on 21 December 2022. Since 2023, an annual ERA Symposium is organised in Vienna to promote the ERA and to discuss its enhancement and implementation with the scientific community. The ERA Symposium 2025 took place on 17 November 2025 in Vienna.

After the adoption of the ERA Policy Agenda 2025-2027 in June 2025, Austria designed a new national ERA Action Plan for the years 2026-2028. It was adopted by Minister for Women, Science and Research, Eva Maria Holzleitner and Minister for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure, Peter Hanke in early March 2026. The Action Plan will also be submitted to the Austrian Council of Ministers for approval in due course. In the meantime, the implementation of the 15 Initiatives of the ERA-NAP 2026-2028 has already started.

The structure of the ERA-NAP 2026-2028 (in German; an English version will be published at a later stage. English summary descriptions of the individual areas of intervention can be found in the sub-directories to the National ERA Action Plan directory):

Nationaler Aktionsplan für den Europäischen Forschungsraum (ERA-NAP) 2026–2028

Für die Freiheit von Wissenschaft und Forschung, Exzellenz und Fortschritt in einem geeinten, demokratischen Europa.

Handlungsfeld 1: Rahmen- und Arbeitsbedingungen für Forschende stärken

1.1. Inklusive Gleichstellung der Geschlechter

1.2. Attraktive Rahmenbedingungen für Karrieren in Wissenschaft und Forschung setzen

1.3. Research Assessment reformieren

1.4. Professionalisierung des Forschungsmanagements

Handlungsfeld 2: Offenheit, Infrastrukturen und Schlüsseltechnologien im FTI System fördern

2.1. Chancengleichheit in der Offene Wissenschaft

2.2. Forschungs- & Technologieinfrastrukturen

2.3. KI in der Wissenschaft

2.4. Strategic Energy Technology Plan

Handlungsfeld 3: Internationale Zusammenarbeit & Forschungssicherheit stärken

3.1. Internationale Kooperation in Wissenschaft, Forschung und Innovation

3.2. Stärkung der Forschungssicherheit

Handlungsfeld 4: Wissenstransfer in Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft ermöglichen

4.1. Knowledge Valorisation

4.2. Science for Policy Ökosystem

Handlungsfeld 5: Für eine wertebasierte Forschungspolitik

5.1. Integrität und Ethik in der Forschung

5.2. Vertrauen in die Wissenschaft

5.3. New Approach Methodologies