Sustainable Innovation across Key Sectors and Societal Challenge 5: insights from and for Austria

The European Union (EU) targets growth based on smart, sustainable and inclusive economies, which can be promoted through profound changes in the European economic sectors largely spurred by the increasing importance and penetration of ICT throughout the European societies. Opportunities for industrial sectors to renew themselves are largely provided by sustainable innovations. This policy brief looks at the sectoral relevance of the SI initiatives collected in the CASIPEDIA against the challenges of climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials. The policy brief discusses how key policy developments at the national level are related to SI and connects the sectoral analysis on SC5 with policy developments at the national level. In Austria, sustainable growth remains a priority while sustainable innovation, in particular, becomes strongly prominent in bioeconomy - an emerging field supporting wealth and improving quality of life. Although no coherent strategy is yet in place, the Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology (BMVIT) and the National Fund for Climate and Energy Research (KLIEN) are currently developing one in connection with an RTI strategy targeting ’Energy 2050’. The target of decarbonization is set to establish 95% carbon free processes in industrial sectors, agriculture, housing and transport.