Austria and Canada call on AI and high-tech

This is a bottom-up call, with a special focus on AI. Projects within all thematic fields may be submitted for funding, but an additional dedicated budget is provided in Austria for AI technologies to emphasize the need for R&D collaboration in this field. The mission of this call for projects is therefore to:

• Strengthen and establish bilateral cooperation with partners from Canada and Austria
• Promote advanced AI technologies, taking into account fair and inclusive innovation development and ethical considerations

Effects to be targeted include (but are not limited to):

• Improved technological leadership in Canada and Austria by expanding expertise and capacity on AI. Advanced value creation in areas of excellence within the field of AI. Develop key technologies to contribute to technological sovereignty and openness while strengthening international networking.
• Increased acceptance of AI. Enhanced flexible, cooperative, and creative ecosystems where diverse stakeholders collaborate to advance AI solutions in key technologies. Promote the adoption and use of AI in Canada and Austria.
• Amplified use of AI to address social challenges, fostering young talent and diversity, including gender equality. Ensure that the development and utilization of AI are fair and inclusive, considering ethical aspects and sustainability.

Relevant technologies include (but are not limited to):

• AI for Tech – Edge AI: Edge AI enables AI functionalities to be integrated directly at the data source, whether in mobile devices, sensors, or other networked systems. Digital technologies play a crucial role across the entire lifecycle of Edge AI — from design and development to implementation, testing, and continuous adaptation. Automated driving, decentralised data processing, mobile AI systems and medical applications are just some examples of applications in which the need for Edge AI systems typically arises. The main challenge lies in embedding robust AI systems into environments with limited resources, requiring innovative approaches to system integration. Digital technologies that can operate AI models offline, close to sensors, or in resource-constrained environments are essential. Simultaneously, robust security measures are needed to protect the integrity and confidentiality of Edge AI systems.
• AI for Tech – Hybrid AI: Symbolic AI uses logical, rule-based systems to link facts and events, creating knowledge that can be read and processed by machines. This approach is crucial for adding semantic understanding and enhancing decision-making processes. In contrast, subsymbolic (or non-symbolic) AI includes methods such as machine learning, deep learning and neural networks that use large amounts of training data to derive statistically sound conclusions and decisions. Hybrid AI is a structured, comprehensive and integrated application of both symbolic and subsymbolic AI. Hybrid approaches offer several potential benefits. They enable the use of prior and causal knowledge in modeling, making AI systems easier to explain, understand, and verify. These systems are often more reliable and secure, with easier paths to certification.
• AI for Green: Protecting the environment, climate and resources and preserving biodiversity are key sustainable development goals (SDGs). Far-reaching transformation in all areas of life will be necessary to safeguard a livable world for generations to come. This demands climate and environmental protection measures as well as adapting to the consequences of climate change. AI research can support technology and politics in mitigating climate change as a means of protecting the environment. Against this background, AI for Green is intended to promote interdisciplinary R&D projects that develop AI technologies for use in overcoming ecological challenges. Projects make a significant contribution to achieving the environment and climate goals, for example, through climate protection, adaptation to climate change, sustainable use and consumption of water or marine resources, transition to a circular economy, pollution prevention and control, or protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems.

Call for projects opens: 1 December 2024

Deadline: 30 May 2025, 23:59 CEST / 17:59 EDT

Countries and funding agencies make funding decisions: from August/September 2025

Projects start: from September/October 2025

Matchmaking Platform and Webinar, online

(https://eureka-call-austria-canada-2025.b2match.io)

Austria (FFG – Austrian Research Promotion Agency)

FFG has a dedicated budget of 2 million (EUR) for this call for projects – for projects in the field of AI. All areas of AI are equally welcomed.

Austrian participants can receive a grant of up to 1 million (EUR).

• Up to 80% of eligible project costs for startups and small companies
• Up to 70% of eligible project costs for medium sized companies
• Up to 55% of eligible project costs for large companies
• Up to 85% of eligible project costs for research organisations and universities

FFG has an open budget for this call for projects – for projects not in the field of AI.

Austrian participants can receive a grant of up to 3 million (EUR) p.a.

• Up to 60% of eligible project costs for startups and small companies
• Up to 50% of eligible project costs for medium sized companies
• Up to 45% of eligible project costs for large companies
• Research organisations and universities may be subcontracted

Canada (NRC – National Research Council of Canada)

NRC will fund projects from their general Eureka Network budget; the indicative budget for this call for projects is 1 million (CAD).

Canadian participants can receive a grant of up to $500,000 (CAD).

• Up to 50% of eligible project costs for SMEs

Each ministry or funding agency will fund organisations according to local laws, rules, procedures and available budget.

If your ministry or funding agency does not have funding for organisations like yours, you can still join a project. Contact your ministry or funding agency for information about other funding options or self-funding.

In addition, partners from other Eureka countries or countries outside of Eureka can also participate, provided their public funding or self-funding is secured within the call for projects deadlines.

Eureka has eligibility criteria for organisations participating in a Network project call:

• Your project idea must represent international cooperation in the form of a specific project.
• You must direct your project towards researching or developing an innovative product, process or service with the goal of commercialising your project results.
• Your project must have a civilian purpose.
• Your consortium must include at least two organisations based in at least two Eureka countries/regions.
• No single organisation or country can be responsible for more than 70% of the project budget.

Each participating national funding body may have additional eligibility criteria based on their national regulations. You are strongly advised, before submitting your application, to contact your national funding body to discuss your project idea and verify your and your project’s eligibility.

1. Contact your ministry or funding agency through Eureka’s website to discuss your project idea, finances, eligibility and procedures.
2. Create an account on our application portal (one per project) and select the funding opportunity you want to apply to.
3. Use the portal and complete one application form per consortium (in English). Invite other partners to fill out a partner form.
4. Submit a GANTT chart, a signed co-signature form (available to download on the portal) and any other required attachments.
5. We will check your application is complete and eligible before evaluating it. If successful, your project will receive a Eureka label.
6. We evaluate project applications to determine if your ministry or funding agency should grant funding. Your ministry or funding agency may conduct another evaluation performed by experts and based on national regulations.
7. The final step is to complete and sign a consortium agreement. We recommend that you seek legal advice when drafting your consortium agreement.

Project participants must also submit a national funding application, considering all relevant national procedures, deadlines and submission rules.

Austria (FFG – Austrian Research Promotion Agency)

In addition to the Eureka project application, Austrian participants have to submit a national project application via e-Call at the FFG webpage (https://ecall.ffg.at/). The national application must include the Eureka project proposal and a national project proposal.

Canada (NRC IRAP – National Research Council Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program)

The Canadian application process for this call for proposals has three phases:  Registration, Eureka Proposal, National funding proposal.  See Funding Conditions & Rules below for Canada.

We will review your R&D project application according to our evaluation criteria.

1. Impact

• Is the market properly addressed (i.e., size, access and risks)?
• Is the value creation properly addressed (i.e., employment opportunities and environmental and societal benefits)?
• What are the competitive advantages of your project (i.e., strategic importance, enhanced capabilities and visibility)?
• Are your commercialisation plans clear and realistic (i.e., return on investment, geographical and sectoral impact)?

2. Excellence

• What is the degree of innovation? (i.e., is the proposed product, process or service state-of-the-art? Is there sufficient technological maturity and risk)?
• How would new knowledge be used?
• Is your project scientifically and technically challenging for consortium partners?
• Is the technical achievability and risk properly addressed?

3. Quality and efficiency of implementation

• What is the quality of your consortium (i.e., balance of the partnership and technological, managerial and financial capabilities of each partner)?
• Is there added value through international cooperation?
• Is your project management and planning realistic and clearly defined (i.e., methodology, planning approach, milestones and deliverables)?
• Is your cost structure reasonable (i.e., costs and financial commitment for each consortium partner)?

4. Overall perception

Experts will list three positive and negative points about your application and state whether they recommend your project for public funding.

Your ministry or funding agency may carry out another evaluation according to national or regional rules before allocating funds to organisations.

Funding will only be provided to projects that receive a positive evaluation from all relevant national or regional ministries and funding agencies.

Call for projects text