In Fall 2003 departure was established as Austria's first independent business development and service center for companies of the creative industries. departure is an initiative of the City of Vienna and a company of the Vienna Business Agency. Today it is considered a successful example of innovation funding on a competitive basis in Europe. Since the launch of the funding program 259 companies received funding in the amount of 16.7 million Euros. This funding triggers private investments of around 67 million Euros. In its function as business promoter departure is a subsidiary of the Vienna Business Agency and part of the department for economic affairs of the City of Vienna.

The activities focus on the integration of cultural output into the economic life of Vienna and Austria by increasing the number of sustainable company set-ups in the field of the creative industries (fashion, music, audiovision, multimedia, design, publishing, art market and architecture), and by promoting growth and expansion of small and medium-sized enterprises through targeted funding measures. Vienna’s creative enterprises are offered four different funding programs. With topic-specific calls such as "focus:design" or "focus: art" departure responds to up-to-date requirements and supports currents trends in the creative industries.