The PROVISO project

After Austria’s accession to the EC in 1995, support for Austrian delegates in the ESPRIT and Brite-Euram programmes in the 4th EU Framework Programme had to be provided. This was the beginning of the current PROVISO project. From 1998 to 2003 PROVISO extended its support to most of the thematic programmes of the 5th EU Framework Programme. Since the beginning of the 6th EU Framework Programme, PROVISO has been supporting all Austrian Ministries responsible for research by consolidating data and offering a comprehensive information base.

PROVISO support activities include the following:

• Harmonisation and standardisation of the data from the European Commission to establish a compatible user-friendly data base and information infrastructure
• Visualisation of data and information 
• Continuous surveying and comprehensive monitoring of Austrian participation in the EU Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development

Added value is achieved by structuring the data and presenting them in reports. Therefore PROVISO offers different kinds of publications.

PROVISO publishes a biannual "Report – The performance of Austria in the 7th Framework Programme". This comprehensive report contains standard analyses illustrating Austria's positions with regard to participation in the EU Framework Programme in a national and an international context. In addition, the Report focuses on current issues and topics on demand.

PROVISO analyses are used as a basis to develop national positions concerning the current EU-Framework Programme, and in particular for the future 7th EU Framework Programme.

Additionally, PROVISO information is included in the Annual Reports of the Austrian Federal ministries, e.g. the “Austrian Research and Technology Report” 2008 PDF (2.5 MB), the "Universitätsbericht" 2008 PDF (3.6 MB), the "Statistisches Taschenbuch des bmwf" (Statistical Survey of the Federal Ministry of Science and Research) PDF (2.9 MB) as well as in the "Wirtschaftsbericht Österreich 2008" (Economic Report for Austria 2008).

Bilateral and multilateral cooperation of Austrian researchers with partners from other participating countries are also evaluated regularly (e.g. on the occasion of state visits).

For all FP7 research and technology actvities "PROVISO contact persons" with the appropriate expertise are available.

PROVISO team members present current results to expert audiences at public events. Summaries of PROVISO reports are also publicised in press releases of the ministries or at the PROVISO web site.