Updated Application Guidelines Online

The updated application guidelines take effect on February 25 and will also apply to programs subject to submission deadlines (unless otherwise specified in the respective guidelines).

Change to the required extent of employment for principal investigators at the lead research institution or for consortium members at a lead or partner research institution

Under the updated guidelines, principal investigators are required to work at least 5 hours per week at the lead research institution for the entire duration of the project. In collaborative programs such as Specialized Research Groups or doc.funds, this will also apply to consortium members, who are required to have the same minimum extent of employment at the lead or partner research institution. The requirements set out in the application guidelines of individual programs may vary, and are generally stricter.

Researchers who plan to maintain a permanent institutional research focus (more than 50%) outside of Austria if the application is approved are no longer eligible to apply in programs categorized as individual funding, such as Principal Investigator Projects, Principal Investigator Projects International, Clinical Research, and Arts-Based Research. Applicants who intend to transfer their research focus to Austria once the project starts remain eligible to apply in any case.

For collaborative programs such as Specialized Research Groups or doc.funds, however, the following still applies: If the applicant intends to maintain their research focus abroad, proof of an extent of employment at the time of application of at least 25% in a position not funded by the FWF at the lead or partner research institution must be provided.

Page-number limit on responses to reviews for resubmissions

Under the updated guidelines, responses to reviews are limited to 3 pages per review (including figures, references, etc.). If applicants are responding to more than one review, the overall number of pages applies, i.e., a total of 6 pages for 2 reviews. The FWF will check to ensure compliance with this total number of pages.

For any applications received up to and on March 15, 2026, the previous Revision.pdf format still applies. After this deadline, only the new format will be accepted in programs with rolling submissions, as well as for the programs Principal Investigator Projects International and International – Multilateral Initiatives; for any other programs with submission deadlines that have already been announced, the respective guidelines apply.

In any case, please be sure to consult the requirements in the respective program’s application guidelines before submission.