Austria
The significance and potential of digital twins for Earth system modeling are recognized in Austria’s space strategy. The plan includes establishing a “Digital Twin of Austria” as a key measure to advance green and digital innovation by 2030.
In Austria, activities related to Destination Earth are coordinated by the Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility, and Infrastructure (BMIMI). Implementation at the national level is supported by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) through the Austrian national space programme (ASAP).
In 2024, a dedicated ASAP call provided €1.5 million in funding for Austrian use cases related to Destination Earth, aiming to facilitate the active involvement of Austrian companies and research institutions in DestinE.
Funded projects are expected to leverage DestinE infrastructure to the greatest extent possible or, at minimum, detail potential integration pathways. Given ASAP’s focus on space, these projects should incorporate data and information products from the Copernicus programme or other satellite-based Earth observation sources. Model assimilation—including innovative approaches such as those utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) for data analysis—should be an integral component. Ideally, potential users are engaged from the outset, with operational application scenarios already addressed in the solution concept and jointly developed with users as the project progresses.
A second dedicated funding call is planned for Q4/2025.
National Activities from Austria
Assessment of Landslide Risk in Dynamic Environments
ALaDyn aims at assessing rainfall-induced landslides in dynamically changing environments.Austria
HectoRenew
Advancing the understanding of hectoscale forecasts for Renewable Energy Systems.Austria