From Influencer Communication to the Digital Euro

In this year’s fourth round of awards, the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) is funding 174 research projects with around €95.16 million, including two new Clusters of Excellence. Details on the newest approvals are now available online.
October 9, 2024
A drop of water creates ripples
In its latest round of approvals, the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) gave the green light for 174 new basic research projects, totaling approximately €95.16 million in funding granted. © Unsplash/Terry Vlisidis

Once again, Principal Investigator Projects accounted for the largest share of approvals. At its 100th Scientific Board meeting, the FWF approved 73 Principal Investigator Projects worth €31.81 million. This program offers researchers maximum flexibility to carry out pioneering projects in all areas of basic research. It provides principal investigators and their research teams with the resources they need to investigate specific research questions over a period of several years. In International Programs, which are carried out jointly with international partner funding organizations, decisions by the partner organizations are still pending.

Two New Clusters of Excellence Set to Launch

Based on the recommendations of an international jury, the FWF’s Scientific Board has approved two additional Clusters of Excellence in the federal government's excellent=austria initiative to expand top-level research at universities and non-academic research institutions. The two consortia will receive a total of €37 million in funding from the FWF over the next five years to strengthen cooperation in brain research and materials research.

ESPRIT and Erwin Schrödinger career programs

The FWF's career programs play a key role in supporting and promoting highly talented young researchers. The Erwin Schrödinger outgoing program offers junior researchers the opportunity to work at renowned international research institutions. Nine projects out of 23 applications submitted were approved, for a total of €1.86 million in funding.

In the ESPRIT postdoc program, the FWF supports highly qualified postdocs from all scientific disciplines. Of the 81 ESPRIT proposals submitted, 24 projects with excellent reviews and a volume of around €8.24 million were approved at the most recent Scientific Board meeting.

Top Citizen Science and Science Communication

In the Top Citizen Science program, researchers involve interested citizens in research projects. In this round, five proposals with a funding volume of €460,000 were approved for funding. In the Science Communication program, the FWF approved four innovative projects with a volume of close to €400,000.

The following new Citizen Science and Science Communication projects were approved:

  • Raffael Heiss: Influencer Communication for Youth Health; Management Center Innsbruck, Center for Social and Health Innovation
  • Klaus Krämer: Citizens’ Attitudes Towards the Digital Euro; University of Graz, Department of Sociology       
  • Susanne Waiblinger: COwWEL – A OneWelfare Approach Studying Food Vulnerability; University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Center for Animal Nutrition and Welfare     
  • Andreas Wagner: Bisphenol A All Around - Environmental Distribution of Bisphenol A; University of Innsbruck, Department of Microbiology       
  • Anette Baldauf: Fabric; Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, Institute of Art Theory and Cultural Studies        
  • Libor Zavorka: BrainFood; WasserCluster Lunz – Biologische Station GmbH, Wassercluster Lunz       
  • Pavlos Topalidis: From Brain to Mind; Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Department of Psychology
  • Gina Elaine Moseley: Kalaallit Nunaat Caves and Climate Outreach; University of Innsbruck, Department of Geology
  • Nicole Amberg: BraiNFC - A Multisensory, Digital Journey Through the Brain; Medical University of Vienna, Department of Neurology

Approved research projects