FWF
Emerging Fields
Most recent deadline was 31 March 2025 (2:00 p.m. Vienna time); call cycle unknown from PDF
Last verified:
The FWF Emerging Fields programme funds consortia of 3-7 leading researchers to pursue high-risk basic research with potential for paradigm shifts, with budgets of €3-7 million over five years. The call targets teams at Austrian research institutions working on approaches that depart significantly from established methods. This is a single-cycle call for genuinely transformative, disruptive innovation rather than incremental advance.
Details
| Funder | FWF |
| Budget | €3–7M |
| Duration | 5 years |
| Consortium | Required — 3–7 researchers at Austrian research institutions |
| Application | 3-stage review process |
| Eligible countries | AT |
Eligibility & scope
Targets consortia of 3–7 internationally outstanding researchers at one or more Austrian research institutions. Funds high-risk basic research with potential for paradigm shifts and disruptive innovation. Applicants must depart from established approaches.
Who Should Apply
- •Consortia of 3-7 internationally recognised researchers
- •Team members based at Austrian academic or research institutions
- •Research teams departing deliberately from established methods and conventional approaches
- •Applicants with strong publication and track records in their respective fields
- •Projects explicitly framed around high-risk, disruptive potential rather than incremental improvement
Key Dates
- •Most recent deadline 31 March 2025; next call cycle not yet announced
- •Three-stage evaluation process
- •Five-year project duration
Tips for Applicants
- ✓Frame the risk explicitly, emphasise the potential for paradigm shift, not just novelty; review panels for this call reward ambitious failure over safe increments.
- ✓Consortium composition matters: make clear how the 3-7 members complement each other and why the interdisciplinary or methodological mix is essential to break new ground.
- ✓Justify departure from convention in concrete terms, cite established approaches you are rejecting and explain why the new angle requires radical departure, not just a tweaked hypothesis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the budget for the FWF Emerging Fields programme?
€3-7 million per consortium over five years, depending on project scope and team size.
Who can apply for FWF Emerging Fields?
Consortia of 3-7 internationally outstanding researchers based at Austrian research institutions. All team members must be affiliated with recognised Austrian institutions.
What kind of research does FWF Emerging Fields fund?
High-risk basic research with potential for paradigm shifts and disruptive innovation, explicitly designed to depart from established approaches rather than extend existing lines of work.
Is FWF Emerging Fields a consortium grant?
Yes, applicants must form a consortium of at least 3 and at most 7 researchers working together on the project.
When is the next deadline for FWF Emerging Fields?
The most recent deadline was 31 March 2025; FWF has not yet announced the next call cycle.
Summary generated by AI based on published grant information. Always verify details on the funder's website.
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