Partnership for Small and Medium-Sized Towns (Klein- und Mittelstädte)
Funds small and mid-size Austrian municipalities through climate transformation programs.
Partnerschaft für zukunftsfähige Klein- und Mittelstädte 2026 is a public-public cooperation (ÖÖK) grant program administered by the Klima- und Energiefonds in cooperation with the Bundesministerium für Innovation, Mobilität und Infrastruktur (BMIMI). It provides direct financial transfers to Austrian small and medium cities with populations between 10,000 and 50,000 inhabitants to accelerate integrated climate transformation in partnership with Klimafonds. The call window runs from April 16, 2026 (12:00) through September 15, 2026 (12:00). The total program budget is approximately €3 million for the 2026 call, with a maximum award of €500,000 per city.
Eligibility is strictly limited to Austrian municipalities (Gemeinden) falling within the 10,000–50,000 population band. For-profit companies, nonprofits, universities, and research organizations are not eligible. Financing is structured as a Direktübertragung (direct financial transfer), not a reimbursement model. The program covers an integrated range of climate-related activities including climate protection, adaptation, circular economy, mobility, biodiversity, green finance, and social transition. A sister call, Partnerschaft Großstädte 2026, serves cities with populations above 50,000 under a separate application at /foerderung/partnerschaft-grossstadt/.
Eligible municipalities should engage early with the program documentation and the Klimafonds program manager (Julia Bina) to confirm alignment with the partnership model before investing in a full application. The program funds joint strategic activity between the city and Klimafonds as a programmatic partner — this is not a standard subsidy call but a structured collaboration framework. All application materials and the process are in German only. Applying cities can use the award to fund consulting, planning, or implementation activities aligned to the integrated climate transformation scope.
Integrated climate transformation — covering climate protection, adaptation, circular economy, mobility, biodiversity, green finance, and social transition — for Austrian municipalities with 10,000 to 50,000 inhabitants.
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