Values

The autonomy of the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) is protected by law, and its funding decisions are made independently. Researchers from all disciplines, regardless of their academic position, are given the time and freedom they need to gain new insights.

Research quality is key, and the global arena of ideas is highly competitive. The Austrian Science Fund (FWF) invests exclusively in those researchers whose projects prove to be excellent in an international context and whose proposals receive excellent reviews from international peers.

The Austrian Science Fund (FWF) is committed to distributing funds transparently and fairly. Its funding programs are designed to be inclusive and respond to researchers’ many different needs. The FWF rigorously avoids conflicts of interest, includes multiple cross-checks at all stages, and communicates its procedures and decision-making process clearly.

The FWF promotes equal opportunities for all genders in world-class research and is committed to gender mainstreaming in all areas. Its career development programs support researchers in their diverse career paths.

Finding facts and generating results are the key to successful research. International cooperation, open access to knowledge, and critical reflection are what make truly interdisciplinary research possible and establish trust in science. The Austrian Science Fund (FWF) is committed to facilitating and supporting research collaboration across national borders.

As a founding member of the Austrian Agency for Research Integrity, the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) promotes compliance with the rules of good research practice and internationally established ethical standards. Its own activities and funding effectiveness are also reviewed and evaluated by independent experts on a regular basis.

The Austrian Science Fund (FWF) sees itself as an equal partner in dialog and provides an open forum for the exchange of knowledge. It seeks to build bridges and facilitate communication between the scientific community, research institutions, business, politics, the media, and the public, and encourages critical discourse on the role of science in a future-oriented, enlightened society.

The Austrian Science Fund (FWF) prioritizes climate-friendly, ecological, and social sustainability in everything it does. The FWF also works hard to create the conditions researchers need to be able to conduct their projects in a sustainable and environmentally-conscious manner.