Three New Special Research Areas in Austria

Generating more basic knowledge in historical language research, cognitive psychology, and mathematical models for medicine – 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 Central European University, the University of Graz, and the University of Innsbruck, will each receive approximately €4 million in funding over a period of four years.

December 4, 2024

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, 23 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 €12 million over the next four years. In addition to the three new networks, the FWF approved continued funding for two existing Special Research Areas: "Taming Complexity in Materials Modeling" (coordination: Ulrike Diebold, Vienna University of Technology) and "Metabolic Maintenance of Tissue Integrity by Macrophages" (coordination: Thomas Weichhart, Medical University of Vienna). For detailed information on these two Special Research Areas, please see the FWF website.

New research networks based on international standards

The first new Special Research Area will be investigating Latin literature of the early modern period and is coordinated by classical philologist Florian Schaffenrath from the University of Innsbruck. The second Special Research Area will focus on the question of how people develop convictions and how their behavior aligns with these beliefs (and sometimes doesn’t). Coordinated by cognitive psychologist Agnes Melinda Kovács, researchers from the Central European University are working together with colleagues from WU Vienna University of Economics and Business. The third Special Research Area expands the mathematical basis for medical diagnostics with the aim of improving imaging procedures such as magnetic resonance imaging. Under the coordination of Christian Clason from the University of Graz, the network includes researchers from the University of Klagenfurt, Graz University of Technology, and TU Wien.

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. A balanced consortium including women and junior researchers is also a key priority. Funding is provided by the Fonds Zukunft Österreich.

"Special Research Areas bring together leading researchers from all over Austria to solve promising research questions through collaboration and pooled expertise. The aim is to produce new findings that would be unattainable working independently," says FWF President Christof Gattringer, offering his heartfelt congratulations to the newly funded researchers.

Find out more

The new Special Research Areas at a glance

Special Research Area "Neo-Latin in the Modern World"

Porträt Florian Schaffenrath — The classical philologist Florian Schaffenrath is coordinating the new Special Research Areas "Neo-Latin in the Modern World." Researchers from the University of Innsbruck and the University of Freiburg will be collaborating in this Special Research Area. © Privat

Coordination: Florian Schaffenrath, University of Innsbruck

Research network: University of Innsbruck (Michael William Barton, Martin Korenjak, Johanna Luggin, Federica Rossetti, Patryk Ryczkowski, Isabella Walser-Bürgler)

Funding volume: €3.9 million / four-year term (funding decision on an additional sub-project at the German research institution will follow in February 2025)

While Neo-Latin research has made considerable progress in recent decades – not least thanks to various initiatives at the University of Innsbruck – it continues to struggle with two problems: Firstly, only sporadic research has been done on the ways Latin literature produced in the early modern period was anchored in the culture and social environment of its time, so we understand little about its diverse functions in this epoch. Secondly, most Neo-Latin texts are still not easily accessible to early modern scholars who are not proficient in Latin, which is why these texts are often ignored. The new Special Research Area at the University of Innsbruck aims to close these gaps.

Together with international colleagues, the researchers in Innsbruck will shed light on the interaction of Neo-Latin literature with key aspects of early modern life and, through a structured combination of digital tools (database, text corpus, AI for indexing Neo-Latin texts), allow other researchers in the field of early modern studies to find and independently use Neo-Latin texts as sources for their research questions.

Special Research Area "Why Do Coherent Belief Systems Tolerate Incoherence? Belief Update Failures in Society"

Porträt Agnes Kovacs — Cognitive scientist Agnes Melinda Kovács is coordinating the new Special Research Area "Why Do Coherent Belief Systems Tolerate Incoherence? Belief Update Failures in Society.” In this project, researchers from the Central European University are collaborating with WU Vienna University of Economics and Business. © Privat

Coordination: Agnes Melinda Kovács, Central European University

Research network: Central European University (Mats Köster, Natalie Sebanz, Adam Szeidl, Eva Wittenberg), WU Vienna University of Economics and Business (Susann Fiedler)

Funding volume: €3.8 million / four-year term

Beliefs shape our behavior and how we perceive reality. But even if we don't want to admit it, cognitive "belief systems" often contain profound contradictions. Some beliefs are even sustained despite evidence to the contrary. This Special Research Area aims to understand the cognitive processes that lead to beliefs and the mechanisms that cause people to develop "coherently incoherent beliefs." The objective is to better understand the impact of these dynamics on individuals and society.

An interdisciplinary team from the fields of psychology, cognitive science, linguistics, and economics is investigating the interplay between core beliefs, which are deeply rooted in identity, and evidence-based beliefs, which are shaped by experience and reason. The project will also investigate the role of language in shaping and maintaining belief structures, as well as the economic and political consequences of false or contradictory beliefs. Taking innovative approaches, the Special Research Area will offer insights into pressing societal challenges such as polarization, misinformation, and social cohesion, and provide new incentives for researchers and policy-makers.

Special Research Area "Mathematics of Reconstruction in Dynamical and Active Models"

Porträt Christian Clason — Mathematician Christian Clason is coordinating the new Special Research Area "Mathematics of Reconstruction in Dynamical and Active Models,” in which researchers from the University of Graz, the University of Klagenfurt, Graz University of Technology, and TU Wien will be working closely together. © Uni Graz/Eklaude

Coordination: Christian Clason, University of Graz

Research network: University of Graz (Kristian Bredies, Martin Holler), University of Klagenfurt (Barbara Kaltenbacher), Graz University of Technology (Thomas Pock, Martin Uecker), TU Wien (Elisa Davoli)

Funding volume: €4 million / four-year term

In order to be as precise as possible in the field of medical imaging, for example, relevant but not directly measurable parameters need to be reconstructed. This allows diagnosticians to detect pathological changes in the body at an early stage using tools like CT scans or magnetic resonance imaging. One common approach is to compare suitable indirect measurement data with a mathematical model that describes the relationship between this measurement data and the required parameters. Models with active dynamical components (i.e., those that can be influenced externally as a function of time) are of particular interest in these situations, as they can be used to design measurements in such a way that reconstruction can be carried out as quickly, accurately, and robustly as possible.

This is precisely where the Special Research Area comes in: Experts from the fields of optimization, inverse problems, variational calculus, machine learning, and medical imaging will be contributing their perspectives to jointly develop an integrated approach for the best possible reconstruction and apply this approach to magnetic resonance imaging.

This is expected to lead not only to a deeper mathematical understanding of the limits and possibilities of optimal reconstruction in dynamical models, but also to clinically relevant improvements in MRI imaging.

Extensions for an additional €10 million

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 €9.7 million:

Special Research Area "Taming Complexity in Materials Modeling"

Coordination: Ulrike Diebold, TU Wien

Research network: TU Wien, University of Vienna

Special Research Area "Metabolic Maintenance of Tissue Integrity by Macrophages"

Coordination: Thomas Weichhart, Medical University of Vienna

Research network: Medical University of Vienna, Medical University of Graz, University of Graz

About Special Research Areas

With a Special Research Area grant, five 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.