A Status Analysis of Research Activities at Austrian Universities and Non-University Research Institutions (September 2020)
In 2020, the Climate Change Centre Austria (CCCA) was commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF) to conduct a survey on the current state of climate and environmental research, as outlined in the government program. The central focus of the report is to present ongoing research activities at Austrian public universities and non-university research institutions, as well as to identify development perspectives to ensure the necessary steps for strategic advancement.
To incorporate as many perspectives as possible into the report, a variety of data was collected, and interviews were conducted with a diverse range of stakeholders and experts from various disciplines. These interviews provided insights into the structures and mechanisms within the research field. We extend our gratitude to all interviewees who shared their work environments and provided the foundational information for this report.
Due to the scope of the data and the limitations of the survey project, this report cannot be considered a comprehensive census. Instead, it aims to provide an informative overview of Austrian climate and environmental research, starting with the "tip of the iceberg." However, many noteworthy perspectives and data remain unaddressed. The structure of the report attempts to trace the pathway from research input to output and ultimately to societal impact.
Context of the Survey: Spring and Early Summer 2020
The survey for this report was conducted in the spring and early summer of 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Amid this crisis, the topic of "resilience" gained significant public attention and was widely discussed. Societies, as well as economic and healthcare systems, were tested for their crisis resilience, prompting rapid shifts in thinking. This also influenced research activities and outcomes in the fields of climate, environment, and sustainability.
Given the circumstances in spring 2020 and the weeks-long lockdown of nearly all public and some private sectors, this survey gained relevance for the economic recovery and associated stimulus packages. Climate and environmental research, in the context of strategic and political actions necessary for societal transformation post-COVID-19, has the potential to shape our future sustainably. The existing expertise in basic and applied research can support the government in key areas such as adaptation, mitigation, and societal transformation. This expertise can help develop cross-sectoral measures to rebuild the economy while simultaneously creating a resilient, climate- and environmentally-friendly economic system.