With the initiative excellent=austria, Austria is opening a new chapter in basic research: Seven Clusters of Excellence with hundreds of participating researchers are conducting cooperative projects on an unprecedented scale at numerous locations throughout Austria. In addition, further researchers are launching collaborative research projects in five Emerging Fields consortia on topics with particularly high potential for innovation.
The FWF and the participating research institutions have earmarked an investment volume of almost €200 million for the Clusters of Excellence for the first five years (from 2023/2024) of the planned ten-year term. The first five Emerging Fields consortia will receive a total of €31 million in funding over the next five years (starting in 2024).
More collaboration in cutting-edge research
Clusters of Excellence are characterized by a successful combination of cutting-edge research, research-led education, and the advancement of junior researchers, as well as an exchange of knowledge at national and international levels. Hundreds of researchers are being given the opportunity to achieve outstanding collaborative research results in strong, promising fields of research in Austrian basic research. Collaborations with the business community and the public to facilitate knowledge and technology transfer are a key element of the Clusters, which have a funding volume of up to €20 million over a five-year period. The funding can be used to establish long-term structures and attractive research conditions and boost international visibility at the participating institutions.
With Emerging Fields, the FWF is funding highly innovative, cooperative research projects that have the potential to trigger a paradigm shift in their field. Researchers are given the freedom to pursue promising approaches and riskier ideas. The inter-institutional consortia have up to €7 million at their disposal. The funding can be used to create attractive conditions for close cooperation at the participating institutions. Researchers are given the freedom to pursue promising approaches and riskier ideas.
Focus on key issues such as energy, health, and the knowledge crisis
Austria's new Clusters of Excellence are advancing basic research on key topics at the highest scientific level: Energy storage, quantum technologies, global health, the future of knowledge, Eurasian cultural heritage, healthy aging, and artificial intelligence.
The new Emerging Fields will advance basic research at the highest international level on high-risk research topics with particular potential for innovation: global security of supply, tumor therapies, evolutionary research, neurological research, and new approaches at the interface of mathematics and the theory of relativity.
