City of Vienna - Academic Anniversary Foundation of the City of Vienna for the Promotion of Science

What the Anniversary Fund gives you

You will receive a project grant of 50,000 EUR to 90,000 EUR for a research project with a duration of 12 months. In justified cases, you may extend the duration by up to 6 months, provided this does not incur any additional costs. The funding covers direct costs: staff (including project management), consumables and other costs such as travel expenses or fees for the use of infrastructure. Equipment and overheads are not funded. The total budget per call for proposals is 250,000 EUR, meaning that only a handful of projects will be funded. The City of Vienna established the fund in 1997 to mark the 150th anniversary of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW), and the two organisations manage it jointly.

Every two years, a theme is set as part of a new call for proposals. The theme of the 2025 call for proposals is ‘Vienna as a research hub’: projects from the humanities, social sciences or cultural studies that critically examine the strengths, opportunities and challenges of Vienna as a research hub. Regional, national, international and/or historical comparisons may be drawn upon.

Who can apply

• You are a researcher, not a student: You already hold an academic qualification. This is a competitive project grant for established researchers, not a personal scholarship (financial support for your own studies).
• Where the work happens: You run your project at an Austrian research institution and are affiliated with one.
• Field of study: Your project should be rooted in the humanities, social sciences or cultural studies. You may incorporate interdisciplinary technical, environmental or other social science perspectives.
• Topic: Your project ties in with the current theme, ‘Vienna as a centre for research’.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply. The key requirement is that you are affiliated with an Austrian research institution.
• One application each: You may submit only one application. Teams of up to 3 researchers can apply jointly, with one lead researcher and the others as co-researchers, all based at Austrian institutions.
• Public role: You are ready to present the programme to the public and take part in the events.

How to apply

Please submit the complete application in English by 15 March via email to the OeAW’s Research Funding Office. The Office will first check whether you are eligible for funding. An independent international panel will then assess the applications and make recommendations regarding the recipients of funding. The Foundation Board will make the final decision, which is expected towards the end of the year.

How realistic are your chances?

The scope of the call is narrow in several respects. Your project must fall within the field of the humanities, social sciences or cultural studies, be carried out at an Austrian institution, and address a specific theme set for the two-year cycle. This keeps the pool of applicants small. However, with a total budget of 250,000 EUR, only a few projects will receive funding, and an international jury will assess the applications. If your application clearly fits the current theme and you can submit a sound, well-calculated research plan, your prospects are realistic.