Research, technology development and innovation are of crucial importance for securing our economic well-being and for coping with major societal challenges. In this context, ensuring the emergence and advancement of research and innovation systems with their respective key organisations, institutions, funding instruments and framework conditions are among the core responsibilities of government policy.

Against this background, we are dealing with current and future requirements for research and innovation systems, as well as with the options available to research, technology and innovation policy (RTI policy). Our main clients are public institutions at the national and the European level, in particular Austrian ministries, agencies and advisory bodies, as well as the European Commission. Increasingly, we are also working for customers outside Europe, such as international organizations and some Asian countries.

Our work contributes to a better understanding and development of systemic RTI policies, based on a thorough knowledge of research and innovation strategies of firms and research organisations. We also address policy issues related to the potential consequences of new technological development and their interactions with socio-economic change. Another major work area concerns the development of innovative policy approaches at the interface between RTI- and infrastructure policy.

We have long-standing experience at the national and the international level with the analysis and evaluation of innovation systems and networks, based on latest theoretical and empirical knowledge. It is complemented by the use of advanced foresight methods using both participatory and modelling approaches. These methods enable us to anticipate inter-dependencies between new technological, economic and social developments, and to translate these into strategic options for action and new concepts for RTI policy.

Currently, about 20 scientists are working at the research, technology and innovation policy unit. Many of them have an economic or social science background, but often in combination with scientific-technical disciplines or with humanties. It is due to this disciplinary breadth that we can offer comprehensive and systemic  solutions to our customers' problems. The PhD- and Master-programme „Innovation Economics Vienna“ that is carried out jointly with the University of Economics and Business Vienna, and our regular presence at conferences and scientific bodies help ensure an excellent access to latest scientific insights and methods, to the benefit of our customers.