The strengthening of environmentally friendly and safe modes of transport, such as waterway transport, is one of the objectives of Austrian and European transport policy, which is reflected in a number of funding programmes available in this field.

Whether you are interested in modernising your fleet, purchasing new transhipment equipment or integrating the mode of inland navigation into transport chains, via donau advises and supports navigation companies, ports, logistics service providers and the manufacturing industry in obtaining financial support for their waterway transport projects.

The major programmes at a glance:

• The EU’s Marco Polo II programme supports the shift of transport from road to more sustainable modes of transport (rail, inland waterway transport, short sea shipping).
• The Innovation Programme Combined Transport of Goods supports transport equipment and systems for combined transport.
• The Danube Pilot Programme supports the development of intermodal transport on the Danube.
• The Terminal Promotion Programme supports the construction of transhipment facilities in intermodal road-rail-waterway transport.
• klima:aktiv supports measures to reduce transport-induced pollutants.

An overview of available funding schemes for inland waterway transport is provided in the European Online Database, which is managed by via donau. Suitable funding schemes for research and innovation projects are available in the Förderkompass research support database.