RTDS - VEREIN ZUR FORDERUNG DER KOMMUNIKATION UND VERMITTLUNG VON FORSCHUNG, TECHNOLOGIE UND INNOVATION (RTDS VEREIN, ENGL. RTDS ASSOCIATION)

Their core work

RTDS Association is a Vienna-based organization specializing in the communication, dissemination, and exploitation of results from EU-funded research and innovation projects. Their core work bridges the gap between scientific research and public or industry awareness — they manage project communications, organize outreach activities, and help translate complex research findings into accessible formats. While not a research lab themselves, they bring professional project management and dissemination expertise to large multi-partner consortia, particularly in sustainable agriculture, bio-based products, and food security. Their role is to ensure research results actually reach the people who can use them.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

RTDS began their H2020 journey (2016–2018) with a mixed portfolio spanning industrial energy efficiency (DryFiciency's heat pumps, PEAKapp's energy behavior) and early bio-economy work (TECH4EFFECT wood procurement, SUSFERT fertilizers). From 2019 onward, their focus shifted decisively toward sustainable agriculture and biocontrol — biopesticides, plant disease management (Xylella, tobamoviruses), antimicrobial alternatives in livestock, and stress-tolerant crops. This evolution shows a clear narrowing from broad R&D dissemination toward deep specialization in the agri-food sustainability space.

RTDS is consolidating around sustainable agriculture, particularly biological crop protection and antimicrobial reduction — expect them to seek more projects in integrated pest management and green farming transitions.

How they like to work

RTDS operates as both a consortium leader and a reliable dissemination partner, coordinating 5 out of 12 projects — an unusually high leadership rate for a non-research organization. With 168 unique partners across 28 countries, they function as a broad networking hub rather than working with a fixed set of collaborators. Their project sizes span the typical RIA/IA range (10–20+ partners), indicating comfort managing complex multi-country consortia where communication across diverse teams is essential.

RTDS has built an exceptionally wide network of 168 unique consortium partners spread across 28 countries, giving them pan-European reach from their Vienna base. This breadth reflects their role as a dissemination and coordination hub that connects research institutions, SMEs, and industry partners across sectors.

What sets them apart

RTDS is rare in that they are a small association that frequently coordinates EU projects rather than just participating — their name literally translates to "promotion of communication and dissemination of research, technology and innovation," and they deliver on it. For consortium builders, RTDS offers a dual value: professional dissemination and exploitation management combined with proven coordination capacity, especially in agri-food projects. Their 168-partner network across 28 countries makes them a valuable connector when assembling new consortia.

Highlights from their portfolio

• BIOVEXO
  Their largest-funded project (EUR 868K) where they coordinate biocontrol research against Xylella fastidiosa in olive trees — a high-profile plant health crisis in southern Europe.
• FNS-Cloud
  Coordinated a Food Nutrition Security Cloud platform (EUR 805K), showing their ability to lead digital infrastructure projects beyond traditional dissemination.
• SUSFERT
  Coordinated a sustainable fertilizer project (EUR 778K) combining bio-coatings, probiotics, and struvite recovery — demonstrating deep engagement with circular bio-economy topics.