Please note that as of July 1, 2023, the application procedure for Clinical Research projects will be changed from ad personam funding to funding via research institutions (PROFI), i.e. from § 26 to § 27 of the Austrian Universities Act (UG). Starting July 1, researchers will submit their applications to the FWF via their research institution. This means that you will need to select your affiliated research institution and assign it to the application on the FWF application portal elane. Content and requirements of the Clinical Research program remain unchanged. The new Application Guidelines for PROFI mode will be available online under “Application documents” in early June. The application process for any Clinical Research proposals that researchers want to submit under the current conditions (ad personam, § 26) must be completed on elane by June 31.

Target group
All clinical scientists working in Austria who possess the appropriate qualifications, sufficient working capacity and the infrastructure necessary to carry out the project submitted.

Goals
Funding will be available for projects in the field of non-commercial clinical research that are thoroughly described in terms of objectives and methods. Commercial organisations may not have a direct commercial interest in the results. Projects must involve human patients or healthy subjects and the aim must be to generate new scientific knowledge and insights that improve clinical practice and patient treatment.

Requirements
Applicants must be able to show that they have conducted suitable preparatory work related to the proposed studies. Project proposals must be evaluated as representing top-notch clinical research by international standards and will undergo an international peer review. The applicant´s qualifications to carry out the work should be demonstrated by scientific publications in internationally recognised journals (the number of which should correspond to the stage the applicant has reached in his/her career). The FWF normally expects international and/or peer reviewed publications, that are internationally recognised outside the german speaking area countries because of the review is undertaken exclusively by international reviewers.

Approval from the ethics committee responsible must be provided at the time of submission.

Length
Maximum 48 months; projects may be extended 12 months provided that no additional costs are incurred.

Processing Time
4 to 6 months in general

Grant Amounts
Depending on the individual project project-specific costs (personnel and non-personnel costs) may be requested. The number of reviews required depends on the level of funding requested.

Applications
Via the FWF’s electronic application portal (elane)

• Accepted continuously, no application deadlines
• In English

Allocation
By the FWF Board based on an international review process

Downloads
Applications (expiring ad personam mode) 

Applications (PROFI mode starting July 1, 2023)

Electronic application portal
elane