← Back to overview

FWF

FWF – Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung
Federal
Visit website
Austria's central institution for funding basic research. The FWF funds approximately 2,600 projects annually with around €350 million. All scientific disciplines, including psychology, are supported.

Grants

9
1000 Ideas Programme New
High
Seed funding for completely new, high-risk, or particularly original research ideas with high transformative potential. Anonymized submission, double-blind jury review. All disciplines, duration up to 2 years.
Funding amount: 50.000 – 175.000 €
Target group: Researchers holding a doctorate/PhD (all career stages)
Deadline: Periodic calls
Grundlagenforschung Hochrisikoforschung Innovation
Go to grant
Data last updated: 2026-07-09
FWF ASTRA Awards New
High
see website
Funding amount: 500.000 – 1.000.000 €
Target group: Postdocs (2–9 years post-PhD) at Austrian research institutions
Deadline: Annual call (submission July 1 – September 10)
Nachwuchsförderung Exzellenz Arbeitsgruppe
Go to grant
Data last updated: 2026-07-09
Principal Investigator Projects
High
Funding for independent research projects by individual scientists. All disciplines. International peer review. Maximum duration 48 months.
Funding amount: keine formale Obergrenze (projektspezifische Personal- und Sachmittel; ab 450.000 € zusätzliche Gutachten)
Target group: Researchers of all disciplines at Austrian research institutions; no specific academic degree required, scientific qualification to lead the project needed
Deadline: Continuous submission
Grundlagenforschung Postdoc Einzelprojekt
Go to grant
Data last updated: 2026-07-09
Emerging Fields (excellent=austria) New
Medium
Part of the excellent=austria excellence initiative. Funds consortia of 3–7 outstanding researchers pursuing high-risk ideas with the potential to trigger a paradigm shift in their field. 5-year duration, all disciplines.
Funding amount: see website
Target group: Consortia of 3–7 researchers at Austrian research institutions
Deadline: Periodic calls
Exzellenz Konsortium Interdisziplinär
Go to grant
Data last updated: 2026-07-09
ESPRIT Programme
High
Career development program for postdocs. Supports independent research under mentoring by an experienced scientist.
Funding amount: Gehalt (Senior Postdoc, 36 Monate) + 45.000 – 75.000 € Projektkosten
Target group: Postdocs (max. 5 years post-PhD)
Deadline: Continuous submission
Nachwuchsförderung Postdoc Mentoring
Go to grant
Data last updated: 2026-07-09
Erwin Schrödinger Fellowship
High
International research stay (10–24 months) for highly qualified young researchers at leading foreign institutions. With optional return phase (up to 12 months).
Funding amount: 45.900–63.400 €/Jahr (je nach Zielland) + Reisekosten; Rückkehrphase: Senior-Postdoc-Gehalt + bis zu 15.000 €/Jahr
Target group: Postdocs in the early stages of their research career (completed doctorate)
Deadline: Continuous submission (5 award dates per year)
Mobilität Postdoc Auslandsaufenthalt
Go to grant
Data last updated: 2026-07-09
Weave / D-A-CH (FWF–DFG) New
High
Bilateral research projects between Austria and Germany (optionally further Weave countries such as Switzerland) under the FWF–DFG lead agency procedure: one application, one review, funding in both countries. All disciplines, duration up to 36/48 months.
Funding amount: wie FWF-Einzelprojekte (FWF-Anteil)
Target group: Researchers in Austria with project partners in Germany
Deadline: Continuous submission
Kooperation Deutschland Grundlagenforschung
Go to grant
Data last updated: 2026-07-09
Science Communication Programme (WKP) New
Medium
Funds outstanding science communication activities for FWF-funded projects – from exhibitions to digital formats. Duration up to 2 years. Also open for recently completed projects (up to 3 years after completion).
Funding amount: bis 100.000 €
Target group: Leaders and team members of ongoing or recently completed FWF projects
Deadline: Annual call (next deadline: May 13, 2026)
Wissenschaftskommunikation FWF-Projekte Öffentlichkeit
Go to grant
Data last updated: 2026-07-09
FWF Wittgenstein Award New
High
Austria's highest-endowed individual research award for established top researchers in all disciplines. Maximum freedom and flexibility for research over 5 years. No direct application – nomination by rectors, ÖAW/ISTA presidents, or previous laureates.
Funding amount: 2.000.000 €
Target group: Established researchers (up to age 60) permanently employed at an Austrian research institution
Deadline: Annual; nomination window July 1 – September 17 (2026)
Exzellenz Auszeichnung Etablierte Forschende
Go to grant
Data last updated: 2026-07-09