Excellence in research arises from a continuous comparison on an international level. This fundamental principle applies not only to researchers, but also to funding agencies. That is why the FWF was moving a step forward and established an international International Strategic Advisory Board to challenge its funding activities with state-of-the-art expertise from world-renowned researchers.

The International Strategic Advisory Board provides overall advice and expertise to the FWF, including pioneering and advancing future research funding strategies. Indeed, the overall goals are to continuously improve the already high quality of the funding decisions and governance structures; to revise, optimise and advance the funding portfolio; and to further improve the dialogue between science and society.

The International Strategic Advisory Board is comprised of eight members with high international reputations from five leading innovation nations. They represent various research fields and can draw on many years of research policy expertise and interests. They meet in person once a year with the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board of the FWF for an intense discussion to gain recommendations on the future development of groundbreaking basic research in Austria.