FWF Der Wissenschaftsfonds

The FWF has supported Austrian COVID-19 basic research to the tune of €6 million so far. The urgent fast-track procedure initiated by the FWF still runs until the end of March 2021.

Learn more: New Corona Research on Ischgl and on the (In-)visibility of Women in the Public Debate

Research means exploring new horizons. It is often unconventional approaches that lead to groundbreaking innovations. Through the 1,000 Ideas Programme, the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) specifically supports high-risk research in Austria. The submission period for the second call starts on 16 November 2020.

Learn more: 1,000 Ideas Programme: Second Call for Unconventional Research Ideas

Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the FWF has been using a fast-track procedure to review and approve corona-related basic research in Austria. More than 100 researchers have submitted proposals so far, and twelve projects have been launched to the tune of €4.1 million in funding. Learn more about the recently approved research teams from Graz, Innsbruck, and Vienna.

Learn more: More Corona Research in Austria – the FWF Funds four Further Research Teams in Graz, Innsbruck and Vienna

An increase in the funding volume, longer project durations and rolling submissions—starting in April 2021, ESPRIT offers highly qualified postdocs an improved opportunity for advancing their academic careers. ESPRIT strives to support researchers as best as possible in their career development, to integrate them into Austrian cutting-edge research, and to further promote equal opportunities and diversity.

Learn more: Starting in 2021: Career Advancement with Esprit

The Austrian Science Fund (FWF) is one of the Austrian partners participating in an EU-funded twinning project with Georgia. The goal is to strengthen the exchange of knowledge and collaboration in the fields of science and research in Georgia.

Learn more: Twinning Project with Georgia Launched

The Austrian Science Fund FWF is among the supporters of the international Initiative for Open Abstracts (I4OA). A broad alliance of publishers, research organisations, and other interested parties such as Wikimedia or Wellcome Trust has committed itself to promoting the unrestricted availability of abstracts of scholarly publications, particularly journal articles and book chapters.

Learn more: Making Research Results Easier to Find

At the end of 2020, Klement Tockner will leave the Austrian Science Fund FWF and become the Director General of the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research. The Austrian Science Fund FWF will be advertising for his successor.

Learn more: Change at the Top of the Austrian Science Fund FWF – President Klement Tockner Switches to Senckenberg Society for Nature Research in Frankfurt

Doctoral students are being offered a new career path in Austria: the funding programme doc.funds.connect enables universities of applied sciences and universities to offer joint doctoral training. Initiated by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF), the programme is open to mixed teams from both institutions. In cooperation with the Christian Doppler Research Association, the Austrian Science Fund FWF is launching a first call on 21 September 2020.

Learn more: New Chapter in Doctoral Training: for the First Time, Universities of Applied Sciences and Universities Train Researchers Together

Logistical challenges during the pandemic crisis, the impact of face masks on speech comprehension, and the duration of immunity after exposure to SARS-CoV-2 are the focus of the latest urgent funding projects supported by the FWF. In addition, the urgent funding programme has been extended to the end of March 2021.

Learn more: FWF Urgent Funding: New Insights into the Research on SARS-CoV-2

How can we create the conditions for a prospering research ecosystem? In the breakout session ‘Return on Investment: Excellence & Relevance in Science’, organised by the Austrian Science Fund FWF and the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science, a high-level international panel discussed the needs of a future-oriented research environment at this year’s Forum Alpbach.

Learn more: Strategies for a Productive Balance Between Relevance and Excellence

Novel insights in science are like truffles: they are difficult to come by. Yet new calls for impact are growing louder. International experts will discuss the seeming contradictions between academic freedom and return on investment during this breakout session by BMBWF and FWF on 28 August. Join in virtually!

Learn more: Alpbach Technology Symposium: Return on Investment – Excellence and Relevance in Science

No topic has been researched as fast or as much as the coronavirus. The Austrian Science Fund (FWF) wishes to do its part in improving the available data and knowledge base by funding four new research projects to the tune of 1.5 million euros. These include, for instance, a novel test procedure, co-funded by the State of Tyrol, which could lead to the development of new drugs to treat COVID-19. Learn more about the researchers who won funding as part of the FWF’s latest urgent funding round.

Learn more: FourCorona Research Projects in Medicine and the Social Sciences Launched in Vienna and Innsbruck

The Austrian Science Fund FWF is a partner in the Pathways to Sustainability funding initiative of the Belmont Forum. With its first call for proposals, this international research funding initiative invites researchers in Austria to apply for one- or two-year funding in order to build international and transdisciplinary networks.

Learn more: FWF partners the new international funding initiative “Pathways to Sustainability”