Three New Special Research Areas in Austria

Generating more basic knowledge in mathematics, linguistics, and physics – the FWF is strengthening cutting-edge research in Austria with three new Special Research Areas based on international standards. The new networks, coordinated by researchers from the University of Vienna and the University of Graz, will each receive funding of €3 to 4 million over a period of four years.

December 6, 2023

Symbole auf einer schwarzen Schiefertafel — The Austrian Science Fund’s Special Research Areas create synergies and research networks on an international scale. © iStock

Bringing researchers together, strengthening key research areas, and working together to open up new fields: The Austrian Science Fund’s Special Research Areas create synergies and research networks on an international scale. In the most recent round of calls, made possible with funding provided by the Fonds Zukunft Österreich, 17 consortia submitted pre-proposals for international review. Four teams were invited to submit a full proposal, and of these, three were approved for funding, totaling €11 million over the next four years. In addition to the three new networks, the FWF approved continued funding for the four existing Special Research Areas F77, F78, F79, and F80. For further details on these Special Research Areas, please see below or visit theFWF website.

New research networks based on international standards

The first new Special Research Area is pushing the boundaries of mathematics at the interface of probabilities and combinatorics. Coordinated by mathematician Nathanael Berestycki from the University of Vienna, it will also involve researchers from the University of Vienna, Graz University of Technology, and TU Wien. The second Special Research Area will be developing a novel theoretical perspective on how language skills and the grammar of natural languages are embedded in the cognitive system. Researchers from the Universities of Graz and Vienna will be working together closely for this project. The third Special Research Area is in the field of physics and aims to increase the measurement accuracy of physical methods (spectroscopy). The network includes researchers from the University of Vienna, TU Wien, the Institute of Science and Technology Austria, and the University of Würzburg.

Special Research Areas strengthen cross-institutional collaboration

The goal of the FWF’s Special Research Areas funding is to create excellent research networks. Austrian research institutions are given the opportunity to firmly anchor promising researchers and to sharpen their own research profile. Teamwork is emphasized, with up to 15 researchers joining forces in each Special Research Area. The focus is often on multi- or interdisciplinary research topics. The inclusion of women and junior researchers is also a key priority. Funding is provided by the Fonds Zukunft Österreich.

"Special Research Areas bring together expertise and knowledge at Austria's research institutions, allowing new networks based on international standards to grow. Linking different approaches not only adds value for everyone involved, but also increases the knowledge gained in the end,” says FWF President Christof Gattringer, who warmly congratulates the newly funded researchers.

The new Special Research Areas at a glance

Special Research Area "Discrete Random Structures: Enumeration and Scaling Limits"

Portrait Nathanael Berestycki — Mathematician Nathanael Berestycki is coordinating the new special research area "Discrete Random Structures," in which researchers from the University of Vienna, TU Wien, and Graz University of Technology will be working closely together. © Universität Wien/Barbara Mair

Coordination: Nathanael Berestycki, University of Vienna
Research network: TU Wien (Michael Drmota, Marcin Lis, Benedikt Stufler, Fabio Toninelli), University of Vienna (Ilse Fischer, Christian Krattenthaler), Graz University of Technology (Mihyun Kang)
Funding volume: €4.3 million / four-year term

This research network focuses on random discrete structures, which are ubiquitous in many areas of modern mathematics, but are also essential for the description of various phenomena in mathematical physics. For example, they play a key role in understanding phase transitions that physical systems undergo during abrupt changes – such as water transitioning from a liquid to a solid state when the temperature falls below freezing. The researchers in this Special Research Area will be investigating various two-dimensional models, such as the famous dimer model and planar graphs. They will be combining probabilistic and combinatorial perspectives to answer fundamental questions about these models. How can they be counted, either exactly or approximately? How can their random geometry be understood under suitable scaling? How can we explain the fascinating observation that the same structures and laws occur over and over again in completely different contexts? These and similar questions are deeply rooted in mathematical physics, from topological phase transitions to Liouville quantum gravity, which are part of the consortium’s research.

Special Research Area "Language between Redundancy and Deficiency"

Portrait Edgar Onea Gáspár — The linguist Edgar Onea Gáspár is the coordinator of the new Special Research Area "Language between Redundancy and Deficiency," which includes researchers from the University of Graz and the University of Vienna. © privat

Coordination: Edgar Onea Gáspár, University of Graz
Research network: University of Graz (Boban Arsenijević, Steffen Heidinger, Susanne Wurmbrand), University of Vienna (Daniel Büring, Dalina Kallulli, Eva-Maria Remberger, Albert Wall)
Funding volume: €3.8 million / four-year term

Language is one of our most fundamental cognitive skills. This Special Research Area is developing a new approach to modeling the linguistic system. The starting point is the hypothesis that although the cognitive core of language ability is based on logical-symbolic calculations, it is embedded in a cognitive system of a stochastic nature. As an interface between the symbolic and stochastic components, grammar makes use of the central optimization factors of redundancy and deficiency, which can be behind linguistic operations and which enable the processing of both under-specified and over-specified input. The Special Research Area bundles the extraordinarily strong linguistic research at the Universities of Graz and Vienna and deals with uniformly defined, comprehensive empirical areas of grammar (pronouns and ellipses). Sub-projects will examine, classify, and model these areas both theoretically and empirically from the perspective of the concepts of redundancy and deficiency. The expected findings promise not only a better understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of the grammatical system, but also open up new perspectives for key questions in cognitive science regarding the role of language in cognition.

Special Research Area "Coherent Optical Metrology Beyond Dipole-Allowed Transitions (COMB.AT)"

Portrait Oliver Heckl — Physicist Oliver Heckl is the coordinator of the new Special Research Area "Coherent Optical Metrology Beyond Dipole-Allowed Transitions (COMB.AT),” which includes researchers from the University of Vienna, TU Wien, the Institute of Science and Technology Austria, and the University of Würzburg. © privat

Coordination: Oliver Heckl, University of Vienna
Research network: TU Wien (Thorsten Schumm, Andrius Baltuška), University of Würzburg (Adriana Pálffy-Buß), Institute of Science and Technology Austria (Mikhail Lemeshko)
Funding volume: €3.1 million

The COMB.AT Special Research Area is an ambitious project in the field of optical metrology, with a team of researchers investigating fundamental physical constants at an unprecedented level of precision. Applying an innovative method that uses light with orbital angular momentum (OAM), COMB.AT aims to increase measurement accuracy in molecular and nuclear spectroscopy.

This Special Research Area combines the expertise of leading theoretical and experimental physicists who are working together at the frontier of scientific understanding. COMB.AT focuses on electric-dipole forbidden transitions that can be studied using light with OAM. This opens up a new paradigm for precision measurement and the development of innovative nuclear and molecular clocks.

This groundbreaking Special Research Area allows researchers to work on long-term and interdisciplinary research topics, to significantly expand the boundaries of optical metrology and spectroscopy, and to create the infrastructure needed for excellent research.

In addition to the three new Special Research Areas, the FWF is extending funding for the following existing Special Research Areas for a further four years with a total funding volume of €21.5 million:

Special Research Area "Advanced Computational Design"

Coordination: Michael Wimmer, TU Wien
Research network: Graz University of Technology, University of Innsbruck

Special Research Area "Stem Cell Modulation in Neuronal Development and Regeneration"

Coordination: Jürgen A. Knoblich, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA), Austrian Academy of Sciences
Research network: Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Max Perutz Labs/University of Vienna, University of Innsbruck, Medical University of Vienna

Special Research Area "Targeted Protein Degradation - from Small Molecules to Complex Organelles"

Coordination: Sascha Martens, University of Vienna
Research network: Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA)/OeAW, Research Center for Molecular Medicine/OeAW, Gregor Mendel Institute for Molecular Plant Biology/OeAW, Medical University of Vienna, Max Delbrück Center (Berlin)

Special Research Area "RNAdeco: Decorating RNA for a Purpose"

Coordination: Michael F. Jantsch, Medical University of Vienna
Research network: Max Perutz Labs/University of Vienna, Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Medical University of Innsbruck, University of Vienna

About Special Research Areas

With a Special Research Area grant, 5 to 15 researchers can form an internationally visible research network and explore research questions in greater depth at one location. The program is aimed particularly at multi- and interdisciplinary research. With Special Research Area funding, research institutions have the opportunity to create excellent working conditions for promising researchers and to sharpen their own research profile. The program is financed with funds from the Fonds Zukunft Österreich.