Technical Assistance to the Management and Implementation of the Austrian state grant scheme for circular economy projects

The project involves the programme management of the Austrian federal environmental grant scheme for public and private investment projects, as part of the measures to implement EU directives and the Austrian Circular Economy Strategy in the areas of resource efficiency and waste management. The aim is to support the transition towards a circular economy by promoting the sustainable use of materials, reducing environmental impacts, extending product life cycles, and fostering reuse, recycling, and the use of high-quality secondary raw materials. It forms part of the national strategy to implement the Austrian Circular Economy Strategy and the EU Circular Economy Action Plan, supporting the achievement of climate neutrality by 2040 (Austria) and 2050 (EU), in line with the objectives of the EU Green Deal.

Kommunalkredit Public Consulting provides comprehensive technical assistance for the enforcement of the national environmental legal framework and the implementation of EU directives in the field of circular economy. This includes the full management of the funding programme—delivering technical advice and capacity building to the client and to beneficiaries, appraising funding applications (including the evaluation of technical, economic, financial, and legal documentation), concluding funding agreements, and executing fiduciary management, including the disbursement of funds and monitoring compliance with grant conditions.

The final beneficiaries include municipalities, municipal associations, companies, and social economy enterprises throughout Austria. The eligible projects span a wide range of areas, including:

• Resource-efficient production processes and sustainable product design
• Reuse, repair, remanufacturing, and shared use of products
• High-quality recycling and the use of low-emission secondary raw materials
• Reduction of environmental impacts through improved logistics and material cycles
• Development, testing, and demonstration of innovative technologies and circular business models
• Public awareness-raising, training, and qualification initiatives for the circular economy
• Support for social economy enterprises involved in circular economy activities

A particular focus is placed on innovative approaches and demonstration projects that test and validate new circular technologies, including pilot facilities and eco-innovations, which serve as scalable business models for future implementation.

In addition, the contract includes the management of the Austrian Environmental and Water Management Fund, which serves as a key national funding instrument for implementing circular economy measures under the Austrian Environmental Support Act and relevant EU policies. 

Type of Services provided:

• Appraisal of grant applications
• Fiduciary management
• Preparation within the design phase for the development of the grant schemes
• Design of the grant schemes – conducting studies to identify the need to finance programs in the circular economy sector in line with the national legislation and EU directives (e.g waste, eco-design, product lifespan, secondary raw materials)
• Support with concept development, advisory services, training measures on circular economy principles
• Preparation of regular assessments of the grant applications and submitting them for approval to the Ministry
• Implementation of information campaigns and cross-sectoral stakeholder engagement to build value chains for circular materials
• Technical, economic and legal evaluation of support schemes  as well as advisory services on regulatory and technical compliance with circular economy principles (e.g. eco-design, substance substitution)
• Consultancy of the decision-making bodies
• Evaluation of environmental support schemes
• Evaluation and advisory support for the design of circular economy business models
• Provision of the technical advice to the Ministry and applicants in the area of circular economy (e.g. reuse, recycling, material efficiency, sustainable product design)
• Provision of support in the enforcement of the national environmental legal framework and implementation of the incorporated provisions of EU circular economy directives.

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