In 2020, Austria initiated a significant investment to advance digital transformation within its higher education sector. The Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung, Wissenschaft und Forschung - BMBWF) launched the "Digital and Social Transformation in Higher Education" funding call, allocating €50 million to support collaborative projects aimed at enhancing data management and facilitating the transition from closed to open systems.
Digital and Social Transformation in Higher Education (Funding call for collaborative projects)
Abstract
Country | Austria |
Start date | 2020 |
Annual Budget | €50M |
Responsible organisation(s) | Ministry |
Target group(s) | Austrian public universities and other educational institutions |
Policy instrument type | Funding Call for collaborative projects |
This initiative is part of Austria’s broader efforts to support digital transformation and open science. The initiative received a robust response, with numerous project submissions. 35 projects were approved, with the University of Vienna participating in 14 of them. The selected projects focused on three main areas:
- Research Data Management and Open Access: Supporting researchers in planning, collecting, sharing, analyzing, and archiving data, while ensuring fair access.
- Digital Teaching Innovation: Developing new methodologies and tools to enhance digital learning experiences.
- E-Administration: Streamlining administrative processes through digital solutions.
To promote openness in science and enhance data management practices. The initiative aimed to increase innovation, capability, and efficiency within the higher education system, aligning with modern societal structures. By fostering structural change and encouraging cooperation among institutions, the program sought to enhance the quality and accessibility of education and research in Austria.
This work is published under the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the OECD. The opinions expressed and arguments employed herein do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Member countries of the OECD.
This document, as well as any data and map included herein, are without prejudice to the status of or sovereignty over any territory, to the delimitation of international frontiers and boundaries and to the name of any territory, city or area.
© OECD 2025
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
This work is made available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. By using this work, you accept to be bound by the terms of this licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Attribution – you must cite the work.
Translations – you must cite the original work, identify changes to the original and add the following text: In the event of any discrepancy between the original work and the translation, only the text of original work should be considered valid.
Adaptations – you must cite the original work and add the following text: This is an adaptation of an original work by the OECD. The opinions expressed and arguments employed in this adaptation should not be reported as representing the official views of the OECD or of its Member countries.
Third-party material – the licence does not apply to third-party material in the work. If using such material, you are responsible for obtaining permission from the third party and for any claims of infringement.
You must not use the OECD logo, visual identity or cover image without express permission or suggest the OECD endorses your use of the work.
Any dispute arising under this licence shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) Arbitration Rules 2012. The seat of arbitration shall be Paris (France). The number of arbitrators shall be one.
