Data from Statistik Austria
The number of Austrian innovative companies is growing, as 62 per cent of companies are “innovation-active”, according to the latest data from Austria’s statistics office. The number of companies that come up with innovative products grew from 31 per cent in 2010 to 34 per cent in 2016. The number of "process innovators" grew from 33 to 36 per cent. Also, Austrian companies are spurring more organisational and marketing innovations.
Austria is holding the rotating presidency of the European Council throughout the second half of 2018 and is expected to play a major role in the upcoming negotiations in the Council and Parliament over the proposed budget increase for Horizon Europe, the EU’s next framework programme for research and innovation. Prime-minister Sebastian Kurz has already voiced his disagreement with a potential increase in the EU budget, which has left many wondering whether Austria would support a larger budget for research and innovation.
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