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 Growth and Employment Vienna 2014-2020".

Moreover, 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 monies 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 lies in employing EU funding to promote strategically important projects situated within Vienna's municipal boundaries. These projects are 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. The benefits of the projects funded under this scheme accrue to Vienna's citizens and entrepreneurs.

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 2014-2020

"Investments in Growth and Employment" (IGE)

In the 2014-2020 period, this funding programme is to disburse EU monies to the tune of 24.75 million Euro to the Federal Province of Vienna for the benefit of projects designed to strengthen Vienna's competitiveness and improve the urban environment.

These funds are to support the Smart City Wien Framework Strategy and to advance the further development of Vienna into an innovative metropolis. In particular, the objective lies in boosting Vienna's position as a research location and in reducing the carbon dioxide emission volume.

Another focus is on improving the urban environment in disadvantaged neighbourhoods along the suburban Gürtel boulevard and to the west of this area.

The following thematic objectives are specifically supported:

  • research and development infrastructure (investment priority 1a)
  • R&I investments/synergies (investment priority 1b)
  • promotion of new enterprises and entrepreneurship (investment priority 3a)
  • promotion of low-carbon strategies (investment priority 4e)
  • promotion of disadvantaged neighbourhoods (investment priority 9b)

REACT_EU: Recovery assistance for European regions

The coronavirus pandemic has had serious consequences for European economy and society. In order to mitigate these consequences, the European Union will provide resources amounting to several billion Euro to support recovery. The IGJ/ERDF programme for 2014-2020 will be topped up by an additional 7 million Euro to stimulate important investments in Austria's economy.

Funding under the REACT_EU programme focuses on investments in the fields of research and development, innovation, digitalisation and climate protection and will be allocated to a new, separate priority axis "REACT_EU". Nearly half of the resources will be used to support investments by companies to improve their competitiveness, 25 percent will be used to expand research and innovation capacities and 20 percent will support climate protection measures. Activities in the field of sustainable urban development include the implementation of pilot projects to control visitor flows and to ensure that the minimum distance is respected.

Projects with funding approval

Research and development infrastructure (investment priority 1a)

  • DREAM RRMC VIENNA (hydraulic engineering lab): It is the aim of this project to build a research infrastructure in Vienna that consists of a modern hydraulic engineering lab (RRMC) with a discharge volume inside the lab of up to 10 cubic meters per second (without pumping), which will be unique in Europe.

R&I investments/synergies (investment priority 1b)

  1. Intersectoral and Cross-industry Platform for Technology Developers: The project aims to provide enterprises planning and implementing research and development projects in Vienna with personalised counselling to communicate information about grants and funding possibilities as well as about suitable development partners from business and science.
  2. Innovation by Co-Operation, Co-Creation und Community Building: In the context of the IC3 project, those information and networking offerings are promoted which aim to step up the RTI activities of Viennese enterprises, to initiate RTI co-operation ventures and to increase the interest of schoolchildren and students in RTI.

Promoting start-ups and the entrepreneurial spirit (investment priority 3a)

  1. Start-up Module: This project focuses on increasing the competitiveness of enterprises by stimulating, and safeguarding the survival of, start-ups with a potential for sustainability and longevity.
  2. Start-up and Grow: The project adapts and further develops "Start-up Module". While pursuing the same goal, it focuses specifically on digitalisation.

Promoting low-carbon strategies (investment priority 4e)

  • Monitoring the Smart City Wien Framework Strategy: This project aims above all to evaluate the level of attainment of the targets, interdependencies and interactions of the Smart City Wien Framework Strategy.
  • Small-scale hydropower plant "Wehr 1": In co-operation with Municipal Department 45 - Water Management, the city-owned energy provider Wien Energie constructed a small-scale hydropower plant on the right bank of the New Danube, at the level of weir Number 1. This small-scale hydropower plant will make use of a waterway - to be built by MA 45 for the purpose of improved flood control – to drive its turbines.
  • FPUH - Ecological Optimisation of Pile Foundations: The objective lies in the ecological optimisation of construction materials and techniques for the purpose of carbon dioxide reduction.
  • Track relocation - Johann-Nepomuk-Berger-Platz: Two tram lines (No. 2 and No. 44) were reorganised in the urban square Johann-Nepomuk-Berger-Platz by means of track repositioning. All public transport connections were preserved and additional ones created. The relocation reduces carbon dioxide emissions by at least 130 tonnes per year and requires infrastructure measures, in particular in Johann-Nepomuk-Berger-Platz.
  • Urban quarter management "Resource-saving industrial building area Floridsdorf": Quarter management services for five industrial areas in the 21st municipal district Floridsdorf are to provide a suitable framework for this location by offering assistance and counselling for local enterprises.

Promoting disadvantaged neighbourhoods (investment priority 9b)

All redesign measures mainly serve the purpose of providing the inhabitants of the defined target areas with improved open spaces.

  1. Redesign – Neulerchenfelder Strasse from Lerchenfelder Gürtel to Blumberggasse A redesign of Neulerchenfelder Strasse was urgently called for, as the results of a citizen participation procedure showed, and resulted in wider sidewalks, a new design for circulation areas and the installation of luminaires as well as landscaping measures.
  2. Redesign – Lerchenfelder Gürtel from Neulerchenfelder Strasse to Thaliastrasse: The ramp in front of ON. 43 (a former art project) was dismantled following a request by the Municipal District Office of Ottakring (16th municipal district). An attractive and wide forecourt with new plants, lighting and seats was created instead.
  3. Redesign - Thaliastrasse from Lerchenfelder Gürtel to Fesstgasse: The first priority was to increase the amenity value of Thaliastrasse and make it an attractive place to stroll along. Major emphasis was given to climate-effective measures, such as planting numerous trees, installing technical cooling systems, and increasing bicycle and pedestrian traffic. A larger number of pedestrians will enhance the attractiveness of Thaliastrasse as a location for trade and retail businesses and might also attract visitors of the lively nearby Brunnenmarkt area.
  4. Redesign - Johann-Nepomuk-Berger-Platz: To attain a high level of acceptance and personal identification of the population with this open-space project, a new design was developed together with local residents and future users as well as with the competent municipal departments through a citizen participation procedure and then implemented in accordance with both the available technical and financial possibilities and the requirements of traffic organisation.
  5. Redesign - Josef-Strauss-Park: The redesign now allows for the multifaceted, conflict-free and simultaneous use of this park by different user groups. Potentially anxiety-inducing spaces with poor visibility were eliminated to ensure safe use of the entire park.
  6. Redesign - Vienna Water World: In order to upgrade and visually enhance this popular but somewhat run-down leisure and relaxation area in the 15th municipal district, it proved essential to redesign the Vienna Water World.
  7. Redesign - Johann-Nepomuk-Vogl-Platz: The aim of the project was to increase the amenity value of the place. Redesign measures primarily focus on relocating the toilets and the recycling waste containers to the fringes of the square in order to gain more floor space as well as on action to revitalise the market, such as planting new trees and plants, renewing playground equipment, installing a water fountain to provide a cooling effect on hot days, putting up a public bookcase to offer exciting reading adventures and renewing the seating.

Funding under REACT_EU

  1. FFZ - Fit für die Zukunft (Fit for the Future): The project particularly supports the objectives of the City of Vienna's "Smart City Wien Framework Strategy 2019-2050" in the fields of economy and employment and science and research as well as the Strategy "Vienna 2030 - Economy & Innovation". The planned measures (such as consultations, networking events, workshops for children and young people and for multipliers from the education sector) are well suited to accomplish the project goals of "Enhancing research and innovation activities", "Initiating cooperative innovation activities" and "Encouraging young people to engage in research, technology and innovation".
  2. Redesign - Praterstern: Redesign measures aim at reviving and increasing the attractiveness of Praterstern as a large gathering and circulation space in the city. Against the background of the current coronavirus pandemic, major emphasis is placed on creating multi-use areas and more usable space. Another goal is to promote the use of the pedestrian underpasses to distribute visitor flows and avoid the creation of intimidating spaces in the long term.

EU funding period 2021-2027

"Investments in Growth and Employment" (IGE)

In contrast to the EU funding period 2014-2020 with its prime focus on growth and job creation, the main objectives of the current funding period will be research, innovation and an increase in productivity, with the programme reflecting a general orientation towards sustainable development and further decarbonisation.

In Vienna, the ERDF funding is used to contribute to the implementation of the Smart City Wien Framework Strategy. The overarching objective of the Smart City Wien Framework Strategy lies in a "high quality of life for all inhabitants of Vienna while minimising resource consumption, attained through comprehensive social and technological innovation".

For the new period, the City of Vienna has been allocated co-financing funds amounting to approximately 20 to 25 million Euro.

Taking account of the national discussion regarding the Austrian IGE/ERDF programme, the IGE/ERDF programme "Vienna 2021-2027" will support one specific goal within the context of two policy objectives:

  • Policy objective 1 "A smarter Europe through innovative and smart economic transformation" (in brief: "Smarter Europe"); specific goal: "Developing competences for smart specialisation, industrial change and entrepreneurship"
  • Policy objective 5 "A Europe closer to citizens through sustainable and integrated development of urban, rural and coastal areas and local initiatives"; specific goal: "Promoting integrated social, economic and ecological development, cultural heritage assets as well as safety and security in urban areas"

Completed EU funding programmes

2007-2013 Strengthening Regional Competitiveness and Integrative Urban Development in Vienna: In the 2007-2013 period, this funding programme disbursed EU funds to the tune of 25 million Euro for projects to strengthen Vienna's competitiveness and improve the urban quality of life. Regional competitiveness was to be boosted by assisting newly established companies and by networking universities and research facilities.

Another focus lay on the improvement of the urban tissue in selected target areas of the Urban Development Plan STEP05: "Gründerzeitviertel-Western Gürtel", "Aspern Airfield" and "St. Marx-Erdberger Mais".

In the field of economy, funding was provided for:

  • 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 2nd and 20th municipal districts (Objective 2 Vienna) as well as of the 3rd and 11th municipal districts (URBAN II Vienna).

1995-1999: URBAN Vienna-Gürtel plus

EU grants were employed to give a new lease on life to the median strip of the Gürtel boulevard (Stadtbahn arches) and the adjoining areas.

Further information

Contact for this page:
City of Vienna | European Affairs (Eva Gsteu-Kirschbaum)
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