Looking Back on a Year of Research
What are the recent developments in application and approval rates? How many people are working on FWF projects? Which are the most successful university and non-university research institutions? For the answers to these and many other questions, have a look at the FWF’s latest Annual Report.
The most important funding statistics at a glance
Last year, the FWF funded 749 new research projects with €340 million. Over 5,300 people are working on FWF-funded research projects in Austria. Their subjects range from Byzantine studies and musicology to medical technology and nanotechnology, electrical engineering, and materials technology. There would still be potential for more innovative research, as the number of excellent projects once again exceeded the available budgetary resources by far.
Recommended reading: Philosopher Tim Crane on the future of knowledge
Tim Crane, philosopher and Director of Research at the Cluster of Excellence “Knowledge in Crisis,” explores the future of knowledge in a guest commentary. The article explains why Wikipedia can currently be considered a relatively reliable repository of knowledge, while AI chatbots cannot. Learn why, in light of the boom in large language models (LLMs), transparent fact-checking methods have become indispensable.
A look back at the 2025 year of research
In addition to the funding statistics, the Annual Report also contains a selection of special moments from science in 2025. These moments are representative of the impressive progress currently being made in all fields, from the humanities and social sciences to biology, medicine, the natural sciences, and technology. You can also enjoy a selection of science magazine scilog’s “greatest hits,” including podcasts, event highlights, and video profiles of researchers. Read the Annual Report to discover more about FWF-funded researchers and their projects.
