Spin-off Austria Initiative
The Spin-off Initiative invites you to discuss the status quo of the Austrian spin-off landscape. Each year, a different core theme is selected to serve as the focus of the discussions.
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The Spin-off Austria Initiative has been initiated by Hermann Hauser and Herbert Gartner – two renowned Austrian investors – and their respective companies Hermann Hauser Investment GmbH, I.E.C.T. – Hermann Hauser and eQventure GmbH. The long-term goal of the initiative is to raise the awareness that entrepreneurship must be a third mission of Austrian universities, universities of applied sciences and research institutions next to research and teaching. The direction of the Spin-off Austria Initiative is set by its committee which is composed of internationally successful entrepreneurs as well as university leaders and experts.
The number of students in the academic year 2021/2022 in Austria (reference date February 2022). In 2017, Austria invested 45% more per student from primary to tertiary education than the OECD average.
The volume that the Austrian government and Austrian companies have invested in research and development in 2022. This corresponds to 3.26 % of the GDP. Austria remains at the top of the European rankings, behind Sweden and Belgium.
Spin–Offs
According to the annual reports, this is the number of newly founded university spin-offs at public universities (without universities of applied sciences and non-university research institutions) in Austria in 2021. The output seems rather low when compared to the investment in students and R&D.
Mission
The Spin-off Austria Conference which builds the culmination of its activities in each calendar year by highlighting the developments in Austria and connecting the Austrian ecosystem with international best-practice.
The Spin-off Austria Dashboard which will create transparency about the yearly figures in the Austrian spin-off ecosystem by recording the efforts of the higher education institutions in a standardized manner.
A combination of training, networking and lobbying activities to ensure the embedment of the accurate incentive systems and procedures within the spin-off community in accordance with relevant stakeholders and institutions.
Vision
The Spin-off Austria Initiative wants to create a flourishing spin-off ecosystem with a significant number of additional university spin-offs and academic start-ups – at least 1.000 newly founded companies – by 2030. This goal shall be reflected by future performance agreements between the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research and individual higher education institutions. The Spin-off Austria Initiative and its supporters will facilitate the establishment of the third mission as a sparring partner with role models, know-how and international benchmarking.