The FIW Centre of Competence was established in 2006 by the Austrian Ministry of Economy as part of the Federal Government´s "Internationalisation Initiative".
The FIW develops a research program which assists external political decisions and activities concerning the European Union and other multinational organisations in a sustainable fashion; it provides access to relevant databases in an easy and transparent way; and it encourages and enhances the development of know-how with regard to foreign economic affairs in Austria.
The FIW-project is a collaboration of the Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO), the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (wiiw) and the Computing Centre for Economics and Social Sciences (WSR). In April 2012 the FIW project term was renewed for the fourth consecutive time for another 10 months. The FIW project comprises the following key elements:
FIW Website
The FIW Website is the centrepiece of the FIW including a presentation, communication and data platform. It offers free downloads of all publications prepared within the FIW framework. In addition, it provides information on numerous events. Also information on the current call for papers for the Studypool 2012 can be found here.
FIW Databases
The FIW website leads the user to the FIW Databases providing access to international databases as well as to the WIFO and wiiw databases relevant for external economic relations. The infrastructure thus created (“database retrieval tool”) offers researchers greatly improved working conditions.
FIW Statistics
The FIW Statistics section of the FIW website provides a rapid and clear overview (charts) of the most important ratios and indicators of external economic relations. The underlying series of data may be retrieved as excel files. Data are updated regularly.
FIW Lectures at the Ministry of Economy
FIW lectures is a new series of lectures featuring hands-on presentations and discussions of current research in international economics which is of relevance to policy-making. Attendance at FIW lectures is free of charge.
FIW Workshops and FIW Research Conferences
FIW workshops and FIW research conferences are organised on topics of relevance to external economic relations. International cooperation serves to expand the FIW’s circle of networking partners, such as the Institute for Economic Research in Ljubljana (IER), the Institute for East European Studies in Regensburg (OEI) or the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI). Top international economic experts are regularly invited to present papers at FIW workshops. This enables Austrian scientists to participate in major international research lines.
FIW Policy Briefs
The FIW publishes FIW policy briefs on current issues in external economic relations. Published about every two months at irregular intervals, the FIW policy briefs combine research findings with tangible recommendations for action addressed to political and economic decision-makers with a special focus on the situation in Austria.
FIW Notes
The FIW notes are quarterly publications providing a rapid overview of the most important developments in external economic relations. They address both the international framework and the specific situation of Austrian external trade.
FIW Special
The FIW specials present information designed to supplement the FIW notes in a new format. One issue focusses on Austria’s international merchandise trade, a second issue on its direct investment. The two other FIW specials discuss selected issues of international economic relations. Edition no 5 is based on the results of FIW workshop no. 15.
FIW Research Reports - Research Agenda
The Federal Ministry of Economy, Family and Youth (BMWFJ) organises regular calls for economic research papers within the FIW project. 41 FIW research reports have been published so far and are widely quoted by the international research community. Another five research reports are in preparation.
The research agenda for Studypool 2012 comprises three topics:
1. Trends and Impacts of Foreign Direct Investment;
2. Austria´s "Trade in Value Added";
3. Analysis of the Austrian Balance of Trade.
The deadline for submissions will expire on September 9th, 2012.
FIW Working Papers
The series of FIW Working Papers has become an important discussion and online publication platform in the field of external economic relations. Researchers are given the opportunity to make their most recent findings known to the Austrian research community. As at August 2012 the platform boasted 99 FIW working papers.
Yearbook on Austria's External Economic Relations
The yearbook series includes a detailed overview and analysis of Austria’s current external economic relations against the global economic background and international framework. This is complemented by articles by international and Austrian experts on a “special topic of the year”. An extra booklet provides English-language summaries of all contributions. The series was discontinued in 2011.
FIW Newsletter
Subscribers to the FIW Newsletter receive news and information on FIW events, publications, database additions, etc.
