Sabine Seidler Joins the Board of the FWF's Non-Profit alpha+ Foundation
The aim of the alpha+ Foundation is to give philanthropically inclined individuals and organizations the opportunity to support excellent research projects at Austrian universities and research institutions. Sabine Seidler, a well-known expert on scientific excellence, is taking on the honorary role of Chair of the alpha+ Foundation. She will be available as a contact for all private individuals and organizations who wish to back research grants and collaborations in Austrian basic research through the FWF's quality-assured processes.
“With Sabine Seidler, the alpha+ Foundation has gained a top expert on the Austrian research system and a persuasive voice for the importance of free, knowledge-driven research. I am delighted that she is prepared to take on this important honorary role and I am convinced that she will provide valuable impulses for research philanthropy,” says FWF President Christof Gattringer.
Ursula Jakubek, Executive Vice-President of the FWF, is equally pleased about the upcoming cooperation: “Sabine Seidler brings not only scientific excellence, but also many years of management experience and a profound understanding of the importance of funding partnerships. This will greatly benefit the alpha+ Foundation and the entire research community. I would like to thank Georg Winckler today, also on behalf of the FWF, for his valuable development efforts. His work successfully laid the foundations for further successful years.”
“Charitable foundations contribute to the freedom and independence of basic research, supporting bold ideas where state funding often ends. I am really looking forward to taking on this task to allow Austria’s researchers to cooperate with partners from the business community, industry, and society on promising new research projects. The FWF and its alpha+ Foundation offer the best conditions for this. The alpha+ Foundation’s goal of establishing new research grants in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals addresses a wide range of different research directions, making it extremely attractive for outstanding researchers at Austria’s universities and non-university research institutions,” says Sabine Seidler about her new role on the alpha+ Foundation’s Board of Directors.
“Funding excellent basic research is not solely the government’s responsibility; it should also be strengthened by private funding. This is what the FWF’s alpha+ Foundation, established in 2019, aims to achieve. After a phase of development work and initial successes, the foundation will now be in the best hands with Sabine Seidler as she takes over its management,” says Georg Winckler, who was instrumental in setting up the foundation and under whose management its first fundraising successes, such as the Zero Emissions Award, have been realized.
With Sabine Seidler taking office, the alpha+ Foundation is opening its next chapter, based on the conviction that scientific curiosity and excellent research also require targeted support from the private sector. Together with committed sponsors, the foundation would like to continue to help strengthen basic research in Austria in the long term and facilitate forward-looking research results.
About the alpha+ charitable foundation
With the alpha+ Foundation, the FWF was the first publicly funded research funding agency in Europe to establish a nonprofit foundation to channel philanthropy as a means of opening up additional opportunities for Austria’s researchers in basic research. The objective of the FWF’s alpha+ Foundation is to create new research grants based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals and support the careers of highly talented young researchers. Currently, private donations allow the FWF to finance research projects worth €2.5 million each year, including the Zero Emissions Awards in the field of climate-relevant research and the WE&ME Award for basic research into ME/CFS. In addition to Sabine Seidler, financial expert Susanne Müller-Taborsky is also available as a contact on the honorary board.
Do you want to help open a new chapter in Austrian research history?
It’s not just the large donations – smaller contributions can also make a big difference. Get in touch with the alpha+ Foundation for an initial conversation. The board of the alpha+ Foundation looks forward to meeting you and introducing all of the available options.
