# 1000 Ideas

**Funder:** FWF
**Budget:** €50,000–€175,000
**Duration:** 6–24 months
**Consortium:** No
**Frequency:** Continuous
**Eligible countries:** AT
**Official call:** https://www.fwf.ac.at/en/funding/portfolio/projects/1000-ideas
**Last verified:** 12 July 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Seed funding for high-risk, unconventional, or particularly original early-stage research ideas with high transformative potential, open to researchers from all disciplines. PI's own salary fundable up to 50% only; doctoral candidate positions are not eligible. Host institution must be an Austrian research organisation.

## Summary

The FWF 1000 Ideas scheme offers €50,000-€175,000 in seed funding over 6-24 months for unconventional, high-risk early-stage research ideas with transformative potential across any discipline. The call is open to researchers at Austrian research organisations and runs continuously with rolling deadlines. PI salary can be funded up to 50%, though doctoral positions are not eligible.

## Who should apply

- Researchers at Austrian academic or research institutions
- Early-stage researchers with genuinely unconventional or high-risk ideas
- Projects spanning all disciplines with transformative potential
- Applicants seeking to fund up to 50% of their own PI salary

## Key dates

- Continuous call with rolling application windows (verify submission dates on FWF portal)
- 6-24 month project duration

## Tips for applicants

- FWF rewards conceptual boldness here, frame the intellectual gamble explicitly and the risk mitigation alongside it.
- Doctoral candidates cannot be funded positions, but can be named on the team; design roles carefully.
- Keep narrative tight: seed funding panels expect clarity on how this early-stage work scaffolds future larger grants.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does the FWF 1000 Ideas grant pay?

€50,000-€175,000 depending on project scope and duration.

### Who is eligible for the FWF 1000 Ideas scheme?

Researchers based at Austrian research institutions; all disciplines are eligible. Doctoral candidate positions cannot be funded, but doctoral students may be included in other roles.

### How long is a 1000 Ideas project?

6-24 months, with the budget and duration tailored to the risk and scope of the idea.

### Is the FWF 1000 Ideas call continuous?

Yes, the call is continuous with rolling deadlines; applicants can submit at set windows throughout the year.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/fwf-1000-ideas-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.

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