AplusB - Hightech Incubators in Austria

The Austrian incubators network AplusB (Academia plus Business) is the national and international representation of the eight AplusB centres linked to academic institutions and subsidised by the Federal Ministry for Traffic, Innovation and Technology (FMTIT) under the AplusB program.

The incubators support, accompany and accelerate the development of promising foundation projects by providing counselling, networks, funding and infrastructure supporting the implementation of a business. The founders have access to the entire know-how available through the incubators’ network as well as the networks of the nine incubators. The incubators’ network acts as a representative body for AplusB start-up companies and supports them in specific ways in the fields of growth, funding and internationalisation.

In the circles of partners and networks of AplusB centres, nearly all Austrian universities are represented, as well as universities of applied sciences, research institutions, funding agencies as well as private firms – adding up to over 150 partners.

Until April 2010, 352 foundation projects were accepted into the AplusB program. 289 of them became newly founded companies, 247 of them successfully completed the program. About 250 patents were used and over 1400 jobs were created with an academics rate of 72%. Especially the academic start-ups show above-average growth potential as well as a high intensity of input knowledge. In total more than 150 million Euros in capital were made available to the companies directly.