RTI Initiative for Transforming Industry
Key Information
- Submission Period: 8 October 2025, 10:00 a.m. to 29 April 2026, 12:00 p.m.
- Status: Ongoing
- Target Group: Research institutions, manufacturing companies,
energy supply companies, technology providers, and component suppliers - Budget: € 60 million
The initiative of the Climate and Energy Fund, supported by the Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BMIMI), promotes the development and implementation of climate-neutral solutions and cutting-edge technologies that help industry make production more sustainable while enhancing competitiveness. The focus lies on topics such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, carbon capture, utilisation and storage, circular economy, and hydrogen technologies.
As an established network, we support companies throughout the application process and offer a broad network of industry, technology providers, and research institutions for hands-on collaboration. Together with you, we develop project ideas suitable for consortium submission and assist you in successfully positioning your innovation projects.
Contacts
The NEFI Innovation Cycle
To the Poster:
(in German)
Since 2018, NEFI – New Energy for Industry has been successfully developing innovation, R&D, and demonstration projects within the framework of the Model Region Energy and the RTI Initiative: Transformation of Industry.
However, our work goes far beyond traditional project development and support: NEFI designs transformation scenarios and outlines sector-specific pathways towards net zero by 2040. These scenarios are based on comprehensive analyses and the outcomes of numerous projects – making them scientifically sound, practice-oriented, and particularly robust.
From these insights, we derive concrete recommendations:
- For industrial companies: on no-regret measures and future-proof investments
- For policymakers and public authorities: on industrial, climate, location, funding, and infrastructure policy
In this way, NEFI makes a decisive contribution to supporting Austrian industry on its path towards climate neutrality – strategically, evidence-based, and application-oriented.
1. Successful Project Development
Within specialised networks – the NEFI Innovation Hubs – highly relevant research and innovation projects are initiated and successfully developed. NEFI provides support from the initial idea to submission, facilitates the formation of suitable consortia, and offers strategic sparring.
NEFI Services
- NEFI Technology Talks: A comprehensive range of networking and information events
- Project Development & Application Support: Assistance with concept development, consortium building, and proposal submission
- Incorporation of innovative impulses to increase funding success rates
2. Continuous Support and Maximisation of Project Outcomes
Throughout the entire project duration, NEFI ensures that projects are implemented effectively and their impact is measurable. Through targeted monitoring and access to state-of-the-art infrastructure, results can be optimally utilised and further exploited.
NEFI Services
- Access to cutting-edge laboratory infrastructure: Visualisation of results in the Virtual Industry Lab and testing of process integration in the Energy Systems Lab
- Effective exploitation and communication of results to relevant stakeholders
- Monitoring and potential analysis of developed solutions in terms of climate impact, macroeconomic effects, and resilience
3. Robust Transformation Scenarios
NEFI combines project results with national and international trends to develop robust, sector-specific transformation pathways. This enables the derivation of strategic investments and measures with a high degree of effectiveness.
NEFI Services
- Identification and assessment of relevant national and international developments
- Identification of investment strategies and no-regret measures: sector-specific recommendations for action
4. Scenario Impact Assessment and Policy Recommendations
The transformation pathways are evaluated holistically to derive targeted recommendations for policymakers, industry, and research. The focus is on effective strategies and measures with high potential for success.
A key aspect is the identification of research needs, which feeds back into the first step: the insights gained are directly incorporated into project development within the NEFI Innovation Hubs.
NEFI Services
- Policy Recommendations: Industrial, climate, and location policies, as well as necessary infrastructure investments
- RTI Strategies: Identification of research needs and recommendation of targeted innovation measures