Together, inspiring more young people to engage in STEM

28 October 2026 Together, inspiring more young people to engage in STEM With "Talents Regional", approximately 3 million Euros in funding are available to introduce children and young people to STEM topics at an early age

Enthusing young people about mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, and technology (STEM) at an early age and offering them tangible perspectives in research, technology, and industry: With the current call for "Talents Regional", the Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BMIMI), the Federal Ministry for Women, Science and Research (BMFWF), and the Federal Ministry for Education (BMB) are collectively focusing on encouraging young talent in the STEM field.

For the 2026 call, 2.98 million Euros are available. This will allow at least 23 initiatives to be supported across Austria. Up to 130,000 Euros in funding is possible per project. Submissions are possible from 9 September until 2 December 2026.

This year, the 28 already certified STEM regions are particularly addressed. With the new cooperation among the three departments, existing regional networks are to be purposefully used and further strengthened. This is precisely where schools and other educational institutions, research, and companies come together.

Innovation Minister Peter Hanke: "Anyone talking about the business and industrial location of tomorrow must start with young people today. With 'Talents Regional', we bring research and technology directly to children and young people and show them what exciting careers and opportunities lie behind them. The STEM regions are ideal partners for this because schools, research, and companies already work closely together there. Our goal is clear: discover talent, spark interest, and thereby enable tomorrow's innovations."

For Hanke, supporting young talent is also part of a broader innovation and industrial policy strategy. Austria is already among the European leaders in research and development; at the same time, there is still room for improvement with the proportion of women in research. Research and innovation are crucial to long-term security, productivity, high-quality jobs, and prosperity.

Eva-Maria Holzleitner, Federal Minister for Women, Science and Research, says: "It must not depend on where a young person grows up to determine what opportunities they have in life. Every girl must have the same opportunities to become an IT specialist, physicist, or researcher. Especially in mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, and technology, we must break old stereotypes and prevent girls from losing their curiosity and enthusiasm for these subjects. After all, they continue to encounter invisible barriers at school and in their environment. We must break down these barriers, empower girls, and show them that all paths are open to them."Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr: "Education must provide young people the opportunity to discover their talents and develop them. Mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, and technology offer exciting opportunities that many children and young people need to experience first. With 'Talents Regional,' we bring schools, research, and businesses together and make STEM tangibly accessible to young people. In doing so, we spark their curiosity, strengthen their skills, and open up new perspectives for their future."

STEM young talent as part of the industry strategy 2035

The funding is directly linked to the industry strategy Austria 2035. Research and innovation should be increasingly translated into economic value creation and employment. This requires not only investment in key technologies but above all people with the corresponding skills. In the BMIMI alone, around one billion Euros are planned for key technologies from 2026 to 2029.

"Talents Regional" therefore consciously sets an early start: children and young people should experience STEM not abstractly, but through concrete projects. At the same time, they learn about companies, research institutions, and career profiles in their own region. Thus, the program connects talent promotion, career orientation, and regional location policy.

The funding is managed by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency FFG.