K1 COMET CENTER
K1 COMET Program
The K1 COMET-Programm (Competence Centers for Excellent Technologies) is an Austrian flagship initiative designed to promote outstanding, application-oriented research and development in key technology areas. It supports the establishment and operation of competence centers that act as hubs for collaboration between science and industry, driving innovation and strengthening Austria’s position in global technology leadership.
Key Features of the K1 COMET Program
Focus on Excellence and Application
K1 COMET centers combine cutting-edge scientific research with practical industrial applications, ensuring that innovations are both groundbreaking and market-relevant.
Strong Public-Private Partnerships
The program fosters collaboration between universities, research organizations, and industry partners, creating a dynamic ecosystem where knowledge and technology transfer thrive.
Long-term Funding and Stability
K1 COMET centers receive multi-year funding, providing stability and enabling them to pursue ambitious research agendas and develop sustainable partnerships.
Interdisciplinary and Cross-sectoral Research
The centres integrate expertise from diverse scientific and engineering disciplines, promoting synergistic approaches to solve complex technological challenges.
Economic and Societal Impact:
By supporting innovative technologies and processes, K1 COMET centers contribute to economic growth, competitiveness, and societal well-being.
COMET-Netzwerk
COMET builds bridges between science and industry for a sustainable future. It is Austria’s red-white-red flagship program of business and science for the promotion of cutting-edge research. The program supports the establishment of competence centers for excellent technologies – the COMET Centers.
These centers work together with companies and research partners to develop solutions for key future challenges such as climate protection, digitalization, mobility, and health. This strengthens Austria’s position as a hub for innovation and business, secures its place among the global leaders in research, and creates highly qualified jobs.
Factsheet RCPE
You can find concise information about the center’s structure, research focus areas, and partners in the current factsheet.
Funding Agencies
The COMET competence centers are funded by the federal government, specifically by the BMIMI and the BMWET, as well as by the federal provinces. The Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) has been responsible for the professional program management for more than 20 years.
Success Stories
Our success stories from the past two years demonstrate how scientific excellence and industrial collaboration lead to practical, real-world solutions. They illustrate the impact of joint research – from technological innovations to tangible economic and societal benefits.
Hybrid Modeling for Protein Precipitation
2025 | Twin4Pharma shows how hybrid modeling improves plasma protein precipitation in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. By digitally analyzing tank and stirrer design, mixing behavior, and feeding strategies, RCPE enables shorter mixing times, more homogeneous precipitation, and reliable preservation of protein quality.
Sustainable pharmaceutical industry
2024 | With a clear focus on sustainability and innovation, RCPE plays a key role in the PHARMECO initiative, which aims to align pharmaceutical production with Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) principles and promote forward-looking approaches for advancing the industry.
Twin4Pharma
2024 | Twin4Pharma drives the digital and sustainable transformation of pharmaceutical development. By combining AI-driven modeling, predictive analytics, and strong cross-sector partnerships, the initiative enables more efficient development processes, lower costs, and a more resilient pharmaceutical production landscape in Europe.
Ensuring medicines work as intended
2023 | Aspirin, ibuprofen, or metformin, most people think of the active ingredient when they think of medicine. Yet up to 90% of a drug consists of inactive additives and excipients. And just as often, it’s these excipients that ensure the active molecule reaches its intended destination in the body.
Contact
Dr. Caroline Schober