FWF
1000 Ideas Program
Currently no submissions — no open application period at time of extraction
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The FWF 1000 Ideas programme funds high-risk, unconventional research ideas with transformative potential across all disciplines, offering €50,000-€175,000 over 6-24 months. Open to researchers at Austrian institutions, it supports exploratory, early-stage projects that might not yet fit traditional grant pathways, including up to 50% PI salary. The selection process uses double-blind review and international juries, with some proposals randomly selected from the fundable pool, a mechanism designed to reward originality over incremental refinement.
Details
| Funder | FWF |
| Budget | €175,000 |
| Duration | 6–24 months |
| Consortium | No |
| Application | Double-blind selection; international jury review and funding recommendation; some proposals drawn at random from funding-worthy pool; final decision by FWF Scientific Board |
| Eligible countries | AT |
Eligibility & scope
PI must be employed ≥50% at an Austrian research institution for the project duration (not financed by 1000 Ideas funds). Project must be carried out at an Austrian research institution with necessary infrastructure. ~20 projects funded per call. Double-blind selection with international jury.
Who Should Apply
- •Researchers based at Austrian academic institutions
- •Early-stage researchers with exploratory, high-risk ideas not yet ready for mainstream grant competition
- •Projects across all disciplines with transformative or unconventional potential
- •Applicants comfortable with shorter timelines (6-24 months) for proof-of-concept
Key Dates
- •Currently no open application period; check the FWF website for next call announcement
- •6-24 month project duration
Tips for Applicants
- ✓Emphasise unconventionality and transformative potential, not feasibility alone, this fund explicitly backs high-risk ideas that traditional panels might reject.
- ✓Budget PI salary up to 50% to cover your own research time, which many early-stage researchers underuse in other FWF schemes.
- ✓Document why your idea is not yet ready for mainstream funding; FWF 1000 Ideas screens for genuinely novel, preliminary concepts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can FWF 1000 Ideas funding be spent on?
The budget covers project costs and up to 50% of the PI's own salary; doctoral candidate positions are not eligible.
Who is eligible for FWF 1000 Ideas?
Researchers based at Austrian institutions working on early-stage, high-risk, or unconventional research ideas across all disciplines.
How long is a FWF 1000 Ideas project?
Projects run for 6 to 24 months, allowing flexibility for exploratory timelines.
How is FWF 1000 Ideas selection decided?
Double-blind international jury review leads to a fundable pool, from which some proposals are randomly selected; the FWF Scientific Board makes the final decision.
Summary generated by AI based on published grant information. Always verify details on the funder's website.
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