1. EDF’ Added Value for Europe and the Member States Perspective – the case of AUSTRIA The European Defense Fund – Driving Factor for Defense Research and Innovation
High Level Conference / Vienna 2 October 2018
Wolfgang POLT
JOANNEUM RESEARCH - POLICIES

2. Policy Developments on the EU level
Interim Evaluation of H Lamy Group Report stressed the need for an impact-focused mission-oriented approach for FP9 …hence FP9/Horizon Europe will see the start for a greater ‚mission-orientation‘ of RTI policy
…and the developments that led to establishment of an explicit European Defence R&D policy
FP7 Security Research Theme – Defence Package
EDAP / H2020 Pilot Projects / PADR
EDF /EDA
These developments aim at increasing the impact by better articulating research capabilites, innovation policies with societal challenges and the demand side of innovation – hence they (should) aim at better linking the whole chain of innovation (from fundamental research to innovation)

3. Some Policy Processes of ‚Alignment‘
Already in , AT looked systematically into the question of the needs and possibilities of ‚alignment‘ between national and EU RTI policies – defined sensible approaches for the alignment of policies, instruments and institutions
In 2017, the ‚Austrian Think Tank on FP9‘ re-iterated the need to
Identify priority areas for mission-oriented policies on the European level
To look for complementarities between national and EU level in terms of topics, instruments and also
stressed the need for ‚institutional alignment‘
Currently, there is a process underway in AT to identify priority areas, actors and appropriate instruments for a ‚mission-oriented‘ approach both at the EU as well as on the national level
The EU level will certainly figure prominently in the new Austrian RTI strategy (to replace the current one stretching till 2020)

4. Interministerial Working Group
AT approach to Alignment of National Policy to the European Defence Fund
Strategy Development
High-level Conference „EDF “
Austrian EU Presidency 2018
Analysis of Economic Potential
Resolution Council of Ministers
Oct/2018
March/2017
AT Strategy on EU Defence Research
Dec/2017
Sept/2017
Award of Contract
Pilot Study AIES
Interministerial Coordination
Decision
April/2018
August/2018
June/2017
Kick off
Development of national Defence Research Strategy/Programme
Natl. Defence Research Programme FORTE
Interministerial Working Group

5. FORTE – the new defence research Programme for Austria
First programme solely devoted to defence R&D !
Ready to takeoff: first call October 2018 !
Main goals:
increase AT capacities in areas deemed essential for national security
Strengthen industrial and research institutions capacities to participate in related EU research
Main topical areas:
Cyber Defence
C4I(STAR) systems
ABC defence
Counter IED
Protection of critical infrastructure
Robotics and autonomous systems

6. Outlook and next steps for defence research in AT
Currently, there is a process underway in AT to identify priority areas, actors and appropriate instruments for a ‚mission-oriented‘ approach both at the EU as well as on the national level  defence RTI would lend itself very much to a MOP!
The EU level will certainly figure prominently in the new Austrian RTI strategy (to replace the current one stretching till 2020)  need for integration of defence research into the new strategy!
Secure (co)funding also for the development and implementation phase to be able to participate also in the respective European ‚window‘
…develop a fully fledged Austrian Defence Research and Innovation Strategy‘…

7. References
Austrian Report on Research and Technology 2018 (see:
Bundesministerium für Landesverteidigung: Österreichische Strategie zur EU Verteidigungsforschung
JIIP (Joanneum Research/Tecnalia/TNO/VTT & DTI / VVA) (2018):
Mission-Oriented Research and Innovation. Inventory and characteristics of initiatives. Project Report for the European Commission. Brussels March 2018
Mission-Oriented Research and Innovation. Assessing the Impact of a mission-oriented research and innovation approach. Project Report for the European Commission. Brussels March 2018
(see innovation-framework-programme_en)
KARAMPEKIOS, N. et al. (Eds.): The Emergence of EU Defense Research Policy. Springer Publishers 2018
KUITTINEN, H., POLT, W., WEBER, K.M. (2018): Mission Europe? A revival of mission-oriented policy in the European Union: In: RFTE – Council for Research and Technology Development (Ed.): RE:THINKING EUROPE. Positions on Shaping an Idea. Vienna, September 2018
POLT et al. (2016): Entwicklung einer österreichischen Position zu Alignment – Grundlagenpapier für die Entwicklung einer österreichischen Position zu Alignment; Studie im Auftrag des Bundesministeriums für Verkehr, Innovation und Technologie

8. Thank you for your attention!
Wolfgang Polt
JOANNEUM RESEARCH – POLICIES 8