FAQ

Eligible applicants are located within a geographical area where an Innovation Express 2024 funding partner is present.   

The big benefit for you is, that you gain extra-regional know-how for your project which you might locally miss. In collaboration with partner(s) from abroad you enter new markets and networks. You can choose one from another region that might be specialized in your anticipated field and is placed closer – even across the border – than another regional one. 

There are two parts that must be handed in by the applicants:  
1) IEC24 Joint Application Summary – this should generally be written in English. Since only German speaking regions participate the IEC24 the joint application summary can be written in German.  
2) Separate Regional Application – this should be written in your regional language (e.g. German) 

The application process follows the process of your regional funding programme. You can get information about that from the coordination office or the contact of your regional funding programme.  

Proposed activities must include the participation of at least 2 partners from 2 different partner regions. (The participation of even more partners is strongly recommended.) The composition of the project consortia has to correspond to the regulations of the regional funding programme you apply.  

IEC24 supports collaborative projects with at least 2 different partners from 2 IEC24 partner regions.   A project with one single partner and without another partner from another region does not belong to the IEC24 supported projects (there is no need for IEC24 support). 

Not necessarily. As you each apply for different funding programmes, the programmes might have different regulations e.g. in case of funding rate and eligible expenses. For example, travel costs are included in the funding programme you are applying but they are not included in the programme of your collaborating partner organization.  

Proposed activities must include the participation of at least 2 partners from 2 different partner or participating regions. IEC24 is a joint call for proposals implemented by synchronizing existing regional funding schemes in the Alpine Space and beyond. Potential interested funding partners shall contact the IEC24 Coordination Office. 

If you are still looking for a collaboration partner you can join a matchmaking event, contact the IEC24 Coordination Office or take look at the section “Regions” at this website for cluster information and contacts as well as business support agencies in the IEC24 participating regions. 

It is recommended that you contact the coordination office as soon as you have an idea in mind or thinking about applying for the IEC24 in order to talk about your idea and see if it fits to the scope of the call. The coordination office can also support further development of your idea and arrange useful contacts e.g. for finding suitable partners.   

The IEC24 Coordination Office is “virtual” office. It is operated in co-operation between Business Upper Austria and WFG Heilbronn within the INNOVIOVC project. You can contact Iris Reingruber at Business Upper Austria via mail: iris.reingruber@biz-up.at or telephone: +43 732 79810 5095.