Organizer Information
Content Vienna is a digital innovation and creative industries funding initiative based in Vienna, operated in cooperation with the Vienna Business Agency. The program supports experimental and emerging projects at the intersection of design, technology, and interactive media, with a focus on strengthening Vienna’s position as a hub for digital creativity in Europe.
The competition is designed to encourage forward-thinking digital production across industries such as gaming, XR, AI, and interactive storytelling, while also fostering applied innovation in sectors like healthcare and data visualization.
Title & Description
Content Vienna – Digital Design Competition & Production Grants 2026
Content Vienna is a competitive funding program supporting the development of innovative Digital Design and interactive media projects in early or mid-production stages. The initiative provides financial support to creators working with experimental digital formats and emerging technologies.
Selected applicants receive production grants to develop prototypes, demos, or near-finished concepts across a wide range of digital disciplines, including immersive technologies, AI-driven systems, and interactive storytelling.
A special focus is placed on “Digital Design for Health,” encouraging creative digital solutions that address healthcare-related challenges through design and technology.
The program also offers international visibility through participation opportunities such as South by Southwest (SXSW), positioning selected projects within a global creative and technology ecosystem.
Categories
- Digital
- Games
- Animation
- Multimedia
- New Media
- AI
- Technology
- Video/Film
- Interactive Media
- Design
- AR/VR/XR
- Web-Based Projects
- Mobile Applications
- Wearable Technology
- Data Visualization
- Health Design Systems
Eligibility
Applicants may include:
- Individuals
- Studios
- Startups
- Companies
- Associations
Eligibility conditions:
- Applicants must have residence, business, or company registration in Vienna
- The project must be significantly developed or implemented in Vienna
- The project must have a strong thematic or creative link to Vienna
- Only one submission per applicant is allowed
- Projects must be in development (not fully completed works)
Program Benefits & Awards
- 5 × €10,000 production grants
- 1 × €10,000 special prize for “Digital Design for Health”
- €1,000 bonus for women-led awarded projects
- Potential participation in South by Southwest (SXSW) in cooperation with WKO Creative Industries
- International visibility and industry networking opportunities
- Jury-selected recognition for up to five additional projects
Funding supports prototype development, digital experimentation, and production scaling of innovative media projects.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Project concept, prototype, or demo (in development stage)
- Technical and creative project description
- Team or applicant CV/profile
- Implementation plan and timeline
- Budget overview (if applicable)
- Proof of eligibility (Vienna-based residence or registration)
- Documentation of previous work (if available)
Additional optional materials:
- Visual prototypes
- Interactive demos
- Technical architecture or design documentation
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 8 September 2026
- Finalist Notification: October 2026
- Jury Presentations: October 2026
- Award Announcement: October 2026 (after presentations)
Location
Vienna, Austria
Additional Details
- Maximum one submission per applicant
- Evaluation is conducted by an independent jury of internal and external experts
- Selection criteria include innovation, technical quality, team expertise, implementation strategy, and projected impact
- Finalists must present their projects to the jury
- Legal framework follows EU de-minimis state aid regulations
- Strong emphasis on digital innovation, applied technology, and cross-sector impact