EU Funding - Urbanism

Contact (German)

Activity range

The Section for Urbanism of MA 27 is tasked with administering and managing an EU funding programme aimed at improving the quality of life in Vienna and strengthening the city's standing as a research and business location. The funding programme is entitled "Investments in Jobs and Growth Austria 2021-2027 - ERDF & JTF".

In addition, the City of Vienna and the EU Funding - Urbanism Section are represented in the URBACT programme and in the German-Austrian URBAN network.

Background

During the 2021-2027 funding period, the European Union provides EU ressources from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Vienna uses these grants for numerous projects of relevance for integrated and sustainable urban development, measures enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs and action on climate resilience.

Objective

The goal is to use EU funding to promote strategically important projects situated within Vienna's municipal boundaries. These projects are designed to improve the local economy and quality of life and to support Smart City initiatives.

Target group

Depending on the measure in question, the beneficiaries of these funds mainly include municipal departments of the City of Vienna, universities as well as - if this is permissible under competition law - enterprises handling Smart City projects. These projects directly benefit Vienna's residents and businesses by enhancing quality of life, boosting the local economy, and fostering innovation.

Importance for Vienna

The importance for Vienna lies in the support granted to the business community, with positive effects for the labour market as well as for Vienna as a research location. A key role is assigned to improving the quality of life.

EU funding period 2021-2027: Investments in Growth and Employment (IGE)

EU Funds for a Smarter and Greener Vienna

In the current EU funding period (2021-2027), Vienna continues to benefit from European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) support - around 26 million Euro - focusing on research, innovation, and productivity. The funding aligns with the Smart City Wien Framework Strategy, which aims to secure high quality of life for all residents while minimizing resource use through innovation.

Unlike the 2014-2020 focus on growth and jobs, this programme promotes sustainable development and deeper decarbonisation. Vienna's IGE/ERDF programme supports two key EU policy objectives:

• Policy Objective 1: A Smarter Europe: Supporting skills development, innovation, and entrepreneurship - especially in smart specialisation and industrial transformation
• Policy Objective 5: A Europe Closer to Citizens: Promoting integrated social, economic, and ecological urban development, cultural heritage, safety, and quality of life in cities

Measures Funded

1. Research Capacity Building: Enhancing infrastructure and collaboration between research institutions and businesses
2. Economic and Location Development: Strengthening innovation-oriented businesses and Vienna's appeal as a business hub
3. Climate Adaptation: Transforming urban green spaces to be more climate-resilient
4. Energy Efficiency: Promoting low-carbon technologies to reduce emissions.
5. Resource Conservation: Lowering material and CO₂ use through smart technologies

More details on the measures funded (German)

Example Projects

• Technologiezentrum Seestadt - Bauteil 3: Expansion of a key innovation hub in Aspern Seestadt, boosting Vienna's position in research and development
• Smart Founders: Supporting sustainable business start-ups that align with the Smart City Wien vision
• Supergrätzl Favoriten: A green, low-traffic neighborhood project with new public spaces and climate adaptation features

All projects (German)

Interested in Submitting a Project?

Contact the City of Vienna's Municipal Department for European Affairs (MA 27) for guidance on project submissions:

• E-Mail: post@ma27.wien.gv.at
• Phone: +43 1 4000 27050
• Project Support Page (German)

Completed EU funding programmes

2014-2020: Investments in Growth and Employment (IGE)

During the 2014-2020 EU funding period, Vienna received 24.75 million Euro from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to support the Smart City Wien Framework Strategy and strengthen Vienna's competitiveness as an innovative, sustainable metropolis. Key goals included reducing CO₂ emissions, enhancing R&D, supporting startups, and improving quality of life in disadvantaged urban neighbourhoods.

Funding priorities included:

• Research & Innovation (R&I): Upgrading R&D infrastructure and supporting collaborative innovation. A flagship project was the Wasserbaulabor (Hydraulic Engineering Lab), which created a unique European research facility for hydraulic flow simulations.
• Entrepreneurship: Strengthening the startup ecosystem through tailored support for young, sustainable businesses
• Low-Carbon Strategies: Supporting Smart City monitoring, ecological construction practices, and clean energy infrastructure such as small-scale hydropower
• Urban Environment: Revitalizing public spaces in underserved districts (e.g. Neulerchenfelder Straße, Thaliastraße, Josef-Strauss-Park) through participatory redesign.

REACT_EU: COVID-19 Recovery

An additional 7 million Euro was mobilized under REACT_EU to aid economic recovery. Funds supported research, digital transformation, and climate action. Projects included:

• FFZ - Fit für die Zukunft: Fostering innovation, especially among youth
• Redesign of Praterstern: Improving multifunctional public space with pandemic resilience in mind

More information and full list of projects (German)

2007-2013

Strengthening Regional Competitiveness and Integrative Urban Development in Vienna: During the 2007-2013 funding period, 25 million Euro in EU funds were allocated to strengthen Vienna's competitiveness and improve urban quality of life. Key objectives included supporting newly established businesses, fostering collaboration between universities and research facilities, and revitalizing urban areas identified in the Urban Development Plan STEP 05. Target areas for improvement included the "Gründerzeitviertel-Western Gürtel", "Aspern Airfield", and "St. Marx-Erdberger Mais". These efforts aimed to enhance regional competitiveness and promote sustainable urban development.

In the economic sector, funding was directed towards:

• demand- and innovation-oriented company infrastructure (setting-up of impulse centres and incubators)
• innovation-oriented services offering free advice and support services for companies
• thematic networks and clusters in Vienna

In the field of urban development, funding was provided for:

• investment measures for the development of selected STEP target areas
• measures for the improvement of resource efficiency and resource conservation (on-site environmental protection measures for companies)
• support of local and regional governance systems
• innovative, safe and environmentally friendly mobility

Implemented projects (non-exhaustive list)

1. aspern Lakeside Park: The Lakeside Park is the central park of the aspern Urban Lakeside urban expansion project. Linking the lake and housing developments, the Lakeside Park extends over 4.8 hectares of green space and offers residents manifold leisure options.
2. WienWin: The objective of WienWin lies in ensuring that innovative products and services offered by Viennese enterprises will be used by the Vienna City Administration and by enterprises of the City of Vienna.
3. Technologiezentrum Aspern (Aspern Technology Centre): Planning and construction of this 6,600-square-metre energy-plus building took account of the very highest ecological standards. The Technologiezentrum Aspern generates more energy than it actually consumes. No radiators are needed. Enterprises can make use of offices, labs and production surfaces.

2000-2006: Objective 2 Vienna, URBAN II Vienna

EU grants were used to improve the quality of life in parts of the 2^nd and 20^th municipal districts (Objective 2 Vienna) as well as of the 3^rd and 11^th municipal districts (URBAN II Vienna).

1995-1999: URBAN Vienna-Gürtel plus

EU grants were used to revitalize the median strip of the Gürtel boulevard (Stadtbahn arches) and the surrounding areas.