ESF

The European Science Foundation (ESF) was founded in 1974 and serves as the umbrella organisation for 72 research funding agencies and scientific organisations from 30 European countries. The purpose of the ESF is to promote the coordination of activities in the field of basic research throughout Europe through specially designed programmes (e.g. network programmes, research funding programmes, workshops and conferences) and to strategically position basic research in the European context.

ESF instruments and programmes
The ESF's funding instruments and programmes are open to researchers from ESF member states and are carried out either by the ESF autonomously or in cooperation with its member organisations.

European Collaborative Research Programmes - EUROCORES
EUROCORES are subject-specific programmes which give researchers an opportunity to apply for transnational joint projects which include at least three partners from three different countries. The sub-projects within these joint projects are financed by the participating national funding agencies. Since 2011 there are no new EUROCORES programmes.

For more information, please visit
www.esf.org/eurocores
www.fwf.ac.at/en/international/funding-categories-eurocores.html

Research Networking Programmes
The ESF's Research Networking Programmes aim to create European networks and involve medium-term (four to five-year) activities related to specific topics. The programmes are funded by ESF member organisations (EUR 120,000 on average per year). Since 2011 there are no new Research Networking Programmes.

For more information, please visit
www.esf.org/programmes
www.fwf.ac.at/en/international/participation-esf.html

Research Conferences
In this programme, the ESF organizes and funds research conferences in cooperation with international partner organisations. This conference programme provides leading scientists as well as junior researchers with a forum to discuss current developments in their respective fields of research. The conferences last four to five days and are attended by as many as 150 participants. Funding applications can be submitted for the costs of participation (three to four months prior to the conference).

Exploratory Workshops
Exploratory Workshops enable researchers from Europe to exchange know-how and to intensify transnational and interdisciplinary cooperation in high-priority fields of research. These workshops last one to three days and are mainly designed to promote small groups of researchers (approximately 30 participants) in the process of developing new research projects and preparing joint project applications. The funding amounts to a maximum of 15.000 EUR per workshop. The last call for proposals was in spring 2012.

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