SYNYO GmbH

Their core work

SYNYO is a Vienna-based research and innovation SME that specializes in applied social science research, security technologies, and digital platform development within EU-funded projects. They design and coordinate projects at the intersection of technology and society — from crisis management and migration integration tools to misinformation analysis and peacebuilding methodologies. Their core contribution is bridging social research with digital solutions: building dashboards, analyzing narratives, and developing frameworks that translate complex societal challenges into actionable tools for policymakers and practitioners. They also run innovation procurement processes, notably for emergency medical services triage systems.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In 2015-2018, SYNYO focused on urban safety technologies (City.Risks), cyber situational awareness (PROTECTIVE), STEM engagement (SciChallenge), and organized crime research (TAKEDOWN) — largely security-oriented with a technology flavor. From 2019 onward, their work shifted decisively toward societal challenges: migration narratives (PERCEPTIONS), pandemic response (COVINFORM), ageing research (DEXSAGE), and innovation procurement for emergency medical services (iProcureSecurity PCP). The evolution shows a clear move from technology-centric security projects toward interdisciplinary social research where digital tools serve societal analysis, with growing emphasis on health emergencies and pre-commercial procurement.

SYNYO is moving toward applied social science combined with procurement innovation, making them a strong partner for projects addressing societal resilience, health emergencies, and migration — especially those needing both research depth and practical tool development.

How they like to work

SYNYO operates as both a project leader and an active partner, coordinating 12 of their 28 projects (43%) — a notably high coordination rate for an SME. With 311 unique consortium partners across 38 countries, they are a well-connected hub rather than a loyal-cluster organization. This breadth means they bring a wide European network to any consortium and have proven experience managing diverse, multi-country partnerships, making them a reliable coordination partner for complex cross-disciplinary proposals.

With 311 unique consortium partners across 38 countries, SYNYO has one of the broadest collaboration networks among Austrian SMEs in H2020. Their partnerships span nearly all EU member states and extend well beyond Europe, reflecting their work on globally relevant topics like migration, security, and crisis management.

What sets them apart

SYNYO occupies a rare niche as a private SME that can both coordinate complex EU research projects and deliver applied social science research — a role typically filled by universities or large research organizations. Their ability to combine security and migration expertise with digital platform development makes them a versatile consortium partner who can bridge the gap between social research analysis and technology deliverables. Few organizations of their size have coordinated 12 H2020 projects, demonstrating strong project management capacity and EU funding fluency.

Highlights from their portfolio

• iProcureSecurity PCP
  Their largest project (EUR 754K) and a rare pre-commercial procurement action, coordinating the development of innovative triage management systems for emergency medical services across Europe.
• PERCEPTIONS
  A EUR 726K coordination role investigating how migration narratives on social media shape perceptions of Europe — combining social science, digital analysis, and policy impact in a single project.
• COVINFORM
  Coordinated a EUR 532K pandemic response project spanning epidemiology, misinformation analysis, and intersectionality — demonstrating SYNYO's ability to rapidly mobilize interdisciplinary research during a crisis.