Which AI grants in Austria are still open at the end of 2026
Search for AI funding in Austria and you find plenty of pages about aws AI-Start, AI-Adoption and KMU.DIGITAL. Most of these programmes are closed by now. At the end of October 2026 we checked the funding bodies’ own pages to see what is still open for AI projects in companies.
Status 28 October 2026. Funding changes often, so always check the funding body’s page before you apply.
The short answer
Right now there is no open federal programme made specifically for introducing AI in a company. What is open are the Vienna Business Agency grants until 31 December 2026, the FFG General Programme for research and development and some state grants. For training, AMS and waff are worth a look.
Funding in Vienna
In Vienna two programmes of the Vienna Business Agency can fit an AI project. Neither mentions AI explicitly, both fund digital solutions and innovation in general.
Förderung Digitalisierung. For SMEs that have been operating in Vienna for at least one year. 50% of costs, at most €50,000 per project, minimum project size €10,000. Eligible are developing and introducing digital solutions, software and licences, external consulting and training by external providers. Internal staff costs, standard software and a website as a standalone measure are excluded. Go to Förderung Digitalisierung
Förderung Innovation. For SMEs and companies being founded. Up to 45% for small and 35% for medium-sized companies, at most €300,000, minimum project €30,000. External consulting and development costs are eligible. Go to Förderung Innovation
Both programmes end on 31 December 2026, and no successor has been announced. If you are planning an AI project in Vienna, prepare the application in the coming weeks. Whether development by an external provider counts under Förderung Digitalisierung is best clarified with the agency upfront.
The federal FFG General Programme
The FFG General Programme (Basisprogramm) is open on a rolling basis in 2026 and available to companies of any size, startups included. It funds research and development up to the prototype when the project carries real technical risk. The programme is open to any topic, so AI development fits. Startups get up to 70%, a project at most €3 million. It is not meant for introducing an off-the-shelf AI tool. It fits when you are building something new.
Federal states
Upper Austria, DIGITAL.PLUS. For Upper Austrian SMEs that are WKOÖ members. It funds the design and implementation of digitalisation projects, and the guideline applies for 2026. Funding rates and conditions are in the guideline. Go to DIGITAL.PLUS
Styria, SFG. No dedicated AI programme, but Spur!Wechsel for digitalisation and automation with up to €200,000 and Start!Klar for companies under five years old with up to €37,500. Current deadlines are listed at SFG. Go to SFG funding
Salzburg. The Digitalisierungsoffensive has been closed since the end of 2025. The state announces a restart without a date. Go to the Digitalisierungsoffensive
Funding for AI training
Since February 2025 the EU AI Act requires companies to make sure that staff using AI have sufficient AI literacy. We did not find a dedicated federal programme for it. Two existing grants still help.
AMS Qualifizierungsförderung für Beschäftigte. AMS pays 50% of course costs, at most €10,000 per person. The course must last at least 16 hours and take place on site or live online. Only certain groups qualify, such as employees aged 50 or over or with low formal qualifications, and the application has to be in one week before the course starts. Go to the AMS grant
waff Bildungskonto für Digitalisierung. In Vienna employees apply themselves for up to 50% of course costs, at most €5,000, if their net income is no more than €2,800. AI and machine learning courses are named explicitly, and the provider must be accredited by waff. Go to the Bildungskonto
What is not available right now
aws Digitalisierung, AI-Start and AI-Adoption. No call is open in any of the AI modules, and no new date has been announced. Go to aws AI-Start
KMU.DIGITAL. The budget is used up, and the programme will not continue from 2027. Go to KMU.DIGITAL
FFG Innovationsscheck. Submission for 2026 ended on 2 November 2026, and new rules are coming for 2027. Only research institutions count as service providers there. Go to the Innovationsscheck
FFG Impact Innovation and AI Ökosysteme. Both 2026 calls are closed. AI Ökosysteme funds research on core AI technology anyway, and does not cover introducing AI in a company.
How to go about it
First get clear on what you are planning. Introducing an existing tool, building your own solution and training your team are three different cases, and which programme fits depends on that. With most grants the application has to be submitted before the project starts, and you need a project description with costs.
A roadmap from AI consulting or an AI workshop is a good basis for that, because use cases, effort and benefit are already described. Whether your project fits a programme is decided by the funding body in the end.
Planning an AI project and want it described properly before you apply? We work out use cases, effort and benefit with you. Book a free discovery call →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there still AI funding in Austria in 2026?
At the end of October 2026 no federal programme dedicated to introducing AI is open. Open are the Vienna Business Agency grants for digitalisation and innovation until 31 December 2026, the FFG General Programme for research and development and state programmes such as DIGITAL.PLUS in Upper Austria.
What does the Vienna Business Agency fund for digitalisation?
Förderung Digitalisierung pays Vienna SMEs 50% of costs, at most €50,000 per project, with a minimum project size of €10,000. Eligible are digital solutions, software, external consulting and training. The last deadline is 31 December 2026.
Is aws AI-Start still open?
No. At the end of October 2026 no call is open in any AI module of aws Digitalisierung, and no new date has been announced. AI-Start last funded up to 50% and at most €15,000.
Will KMU.DIGITAL continue?
No. The KMU.DIGITAL 4.0 budget is used up and applications are no longer possible. According to the programme page it will not continue from 2027 because of federal budget consolidation.
Is there funding for AI training?
Yes, through existing training grants. AMS pays 50% of course costs up to €10,000 per person for certain groups of employees, and in Vienna the waff Bildungskonto für Digitalisierung covers up to 50% and at most €5,000. There is no dedicated programme for AI literacy under the EU AI Act.
Does the application have to be submitted before the project starts?
With most programmes, yes. Costs incurred before the application are usually not funded. The exact rules are in the guideline of each programme.
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