Best Austrian Government Business Support Agencies (2026)
Updated: July 16 2026| Found helpful by 8 others
Updated July 16 2026. The Austrian Business Agency (ABA) is the best federal contact point for foreign investors, offering free site selection, legal overviews, and relocation support. Wirtschaftsagentur Wien delivers free advisory and Vienna-specific funding, while Austria Wirtschaftsservice (aws) issues grants, guarantees, and soft loans. WKÖ AUSSENWIRTSCHAFT Austria supports exporters, invest.austria connects founders with Austrian capital, and FFG funds R&D. All services for founders and foreign investors are free. Most programs are available in English, though some regional agencies work primarily in German. See our freelance visa guide if you plan to relocate to Austria as a founder.
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1. Austrian Business Agency (ABA)
The federal agency promoting Austria to foreign companies and founders. ABA is the official first contact for foreign direct investment, relocation, and cross-border expansion into Austria, with English-first communication and coverage across all 9 federal states.
Why we recommend it: Fully free federal service with English-first communication, site selection across all 9 federal states, and coordination with visa and tax authorities.
Best for: Foreign founders, investors, and companies relocating to Austria
Pros
- Fully free federal service
- English-first communication
- Site selection across all 9 federal states
- Coordination with visa and tax authorities
Cons
- Less useful once you are already established in Austria
- Advisory is strategic rather than operational
- Does not issue permits or grants directly
2. Wirtschaftsagentur Wien
The Vienna Business Agency, funded by the City of Vienna. Offers free advisory, city-level grants, and the Vienna Welcome Center for foreign specialists and founders landing in Austria's capital.
Why we recommend it: Fully free one-on-one advisory in English and German with active grant calls specific to Vienna and the Vienna Welcome Center for foreign talent.
Best for: Founders and SMEs based in Vienna looking for local advisory and grants
Pros
- Fully free one-on-one advisory in English and German
- Active grant calls specific to Vienna
- Vienna Welcome Center for foreign talent
- Central Mariahilfer Strasse location
Cons
- Services limited to Vienna-based activity
- Some grant calls open only a few weeks per year
- Less relevant outside the capital
3. Austria Wirtschaftsservice (aws)
Austria's federal promotional bank. aws provides grants, guarantees, soft loans, and equity instruments to Austrian businesses across the full startup lifecycle, from PreSeed to scale-up.
Why we recommend it: Flagship aws PreSeed and Seedfinancing for startups with guarantees for bank loans up to EUR 25 million and full English-language documentation.
Best for: Austrian startups seeking non-dilutive federal funding and loan guarantees
Pros
- Flagship aws PreSeed and Seedfinancing for startups
- Guarantees for bank loans of up to EUR 25 million
- Strong portfolio management and alumni network
- Full English-language documentation
Cons
- Application cycles can take 3 to 6 months
- Austrian legal entity required
- Competitive selection, with measurable innovation bar
4. WKÖ AUSSENWIRTSCHAFT Austria
The export promotion arm of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ). Runs more than 100 foreign offices worldwide supporting Austrian exporters with market research, trade missions, and partner matching.
Why we recommend it: 100+ foreign offices worldwide with subsidized trade missions for Austrian SMEs and automatic WKÖ membership for Austrian businesses.
Best for: Austrian exporters, importers, and founders entering new international markets
Pros
- 100+ foreign offices worldwide
- Market research and local partner introductions
- Trade missions subsidized for Austrian SMEs
- WKÖ membership automatic for Austrian businesses
Cons
- Focused on established exporters more than pre-revenue startups
- Service quality varies by country office
- Requires Austrian trade license (Gewerbe) for some services
5. invest.austria
Austria's leading pre-IPO investor network with 350+ members. invest.austria was formed in 2023 by merging aaia (Austrian Angel Investors Association) and AVCO (Austrian Private Equity & Venture Capital Organisation), and represents business angels, VCs, and private equity across the financing chain (invest.austria, 2026).
Why we recommend it: Central membership body of Austria's pre-IPO capital market with 350+ members across angels, VCs, and private equity, plus policy advocacy, events, and investor matchmaking.
Best for: Founders and investors building relationships with Austrian capital markets
Pros
- 350+ members across angels, VCs, and private equity
- Formed in 2023 by merging aaia and AVCO
- Policy advocacy for the pre-IPO capital market
- Events, masterclasses, and investor matchmaking
Cons
- Membership association, not a hands-on service agency
- Less operational than aws or Wirtschaftsagentur Wien
- Primarily serves investors and members
6. FFG (Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft)
The Austrian Research Promotion Agency. FFG funds applied research, industrial R&D, and innovation projects across all sectors, with the Basisprogramm as its flagship instrument for companies.
Why we recommend it: Basisprogramm covers up to 70 percent of R&D costs with combined grants and soft loans plus strong support for EU Horizon Europe applications.
Best for: Research-driven startups and SMEs funding applied R&D and prototyping
Pros
- Basisprogramm covers up to 70 percent of R&D costs
- Combines grants and soft loans
- Strong support for EU Horizon Europe applications
- English-language application possible
Cons
- Heavy documentation and reporting requirements
- Longer decision timelines (up to 4 months)
- Best suited to teams with technical depth
7. Standortagentur Tirol
The location and innovation agency of the Tyrol region. Standortagentur Tirol supports companies relocating to or expanding in Tyrol, with specific strengths in tourism tech, life sciences, and mechatronics.
Why we recommend it: Strong Alpine ecosystem in life sciences and tourism with Innsbruck University coordination and warm introductions to Tyrolean corporates.
Best for: Founders and companies relocating to or scaling in Tyrol
Pros
- Strong Alpine ecosystem in life sciences and tourism
- Coordinates with Innsbruck University
- Warm introductions to Tyrolean corporates
- Location and site selection service
Cons
- Support limited to Tyrol region
- Smaller English-language capacity than Vienna
- Less direct grant money than federal agencies
Based on service depth, accessibility for foreign founders, funding scale, and English-language coverage, here are the top 7 Austrian business support agencies in 2026.
How Do Austrian Business Agencies Help Founders?
Austrian business agencies combine advisory, funding access, and connections to research and export networks. Services are typically free for founders. Here is what each layer covers:
- 1
Federal promotional bank (aws)
Non-dilutive grants, guarantees on bank loans, and equity co-investment. aws PreSeed and aws Seedfinancing are the core startup instruments.
- 2
R&D funding (FFG)
The Austrian Research Promotion Agency funds applied research, prototyping, and industrial R&D. Its Basisprogramm is the most used instrument among tech startups.
- 3
Regional agencies (Wirtschaftsagentur Wien, RIZ, Standortagentur Tirol)
Each Austrian state runs its own agency with grants, coworking, and one-on-one advisory. Vienna's Wirtschaftsagentur Wien is the most active, followed by Lower Austria's RIZ.
- 4
Foreign direct investment (ABA)
ABA is the federal agency promoting Austria to foreign companies and founders. It provides site search, legal overviews, and warm introductions.
- 5
Export promotion (WKÖ AUSSENWIRTSCHAFT)
The Chamber of Commerce runs 100+ foreign offices supporting Austrian exporters with market research, trade missions, and local partner matching.
Which Agency Should You Contact First?
The right agency depends on your stage, location, and goal. Here is a quick routing guide:
- Moving to Austria from abroad: Start with ABA for federal guidance, then Wirtschaftsagentur Wien if you are landing in Vienna.
- Pre-revenue startup in Vienna: Wirtschaftsagentur Wien for advice and local grants, aws for PreSeed funding.
- Research-heavy deep-tech: FFG Basisprogramm for R&D, plus aws for matching equity or loans.
- Planning to export: WKÖ AUSSENWIRTSCHAFT Austria for market entry support in 100+ countries.
- Based outside Vienna: Your state agency (for example Standortagentur Tirol or RIZ Niederösterreich) is usually the best first call.
Most agencies will route you for free
What Free Services Does Wirtschaftsagentur Wien Offer?
The Vienna Business Agency is the most active city-level agency in Austria. For founders based in Vienna, it bundles a wide range of free services:
- One-on-one founder advisory: Free 60 to 90 minute sessions covering legal form, taxes, funding, and location.
- Grant calls: Competitive calls for innovation, climate, digital, and creative projects, with typical funding of EUR 10,000 to 200,000.
- Vienna Welcome Center: Concierge for foreign specialists and founders on visas, registration, and housing orientation.
- Location search: Help finding office space, labs, or production facilities in Vienna's 23 districts.
- Investor matchmaking: Warm intros to Austrian VCs and business angels. For a deeper list, see our Austrian VC guide.
Service Hours and Booking
- Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 17:00: Standard advisory slots via the online booking form.
- English available: All core services are delivered in English and German.
- Location: Mariahilfer Strasse 20, 1070 Vienna (central 7th district, near U-Bahn Volkstheater).
Entity References
Full factual profiles for each brand covered on this page:
- Austrian Business Agency (ABA)
Austrian Government Business Agencies
- Wirtschaftsagentur Wien
Austrian Government Business Agencies
- Austria Wirtschaftsservice (aws)
Austrian Government Business Agencies
- WKÖ AUSSENWIRTSCHAFT Austria
Austrian Government Business Agencies
- invest.austria
Austrian Government Business Agencies
- Standortagentur Tirol
Austrian Government Business Agencies
Frequently Asked Questions
What is aws?
Austria Wirtschaftsservice (aws) is Austria's federal promotional bank, owned by the Republic of Austria. It provides grants, soft loans, guarantees, and equity instruments to Austrian businesses at all stages. Flagship programs include aws PreSeed (up to EUR 200,000 for pre-revenue startups) and aws Seedfinancing (up to EUR 800,000 for early-stage companies). aws is the first stop for non-dilutive startup funding in Austria.
Can foreign founders access aws grants?
Yes, aws grants are open to founders of any nationality, provided the company is registered in Austria and has its operations in the country. You typically need an Austrian GmbH, a bank account, and a tax number. Being on a Red-White-Red Card for Start-up Founders or holding an EU passport streamlines the process. Applications are assessed on innovation, scalability, and team capability.
What does Wirtschaftsagentur Wien offer?
Wirtschaftsagentur Wien (the Vienna Business Agency) offers free one-on-one advisory for founders in Vienna, including legal guidance, location search, and grant navigation. It runs city-funded grant calls under the Vienna Business Agency Funding Portal covering innovation, digital transformation, climate, and creative industries. It also operates the Vienna Welcome Center to help foreign founders and investors land in the city.
Is ABA free?
Yes, the Austrian Business Agency (ABA) is a fully free service funded by the federal government. It supports foreign companies and individuals considering investment, relocation, or expansion into Austria. Services include site selection, legal overviews, tax and subsidy guidance, and introductions to Austrian partners. ABA is the official first contact for foreign direct investment.
Do agencies help with visas?
Yes, indirectly. ABA and Wirtschaftsagentur Wien both guide foreign founders and specialists through the Red-White-Red Card process, including the Start-up Founders track. They do not issue permits themselves, but they coordinate with the relevant MA35 office in Vienna or regional authorities. See our visa guides for detailed step-by-step instructions.