City of Vienna - Medical grant of mayor

What you get

You will receive a research grant from the City of Vienna to fund a medical research project, usually amounting to between about 20,000 and 80,000 EUR (gross). There is no set maximum amount. Projects generally run for one to three years. You are free to choose your topic, provided it addresses a relevant medical-scientific question. The Foundation’s Board of Directors regularly sets priority areas. These currently include Long COVID and new medicines to combat the coronavirus, care for socially disadvantaged patients, doctor-patient communication, and gender-specific differences in healthcare provision. The fund is administered by the City of Vienna and, since 1978, has funded over 1,600 medical research projects with around 37 million euros.

Who can apply

• Profession: You are a practising doctor, not a student. This grant is aimed at practising doctors, not at students.
• Where you work: You work in Vienna, either in your own practice, as a staff member at a Viennese hospital, a care home or an outpatient clinic, or within the public health service.
• Field: Your project deals with a medical-scientific issue.
• Nationality: Applicants of any nationality are welcome to apply. The key requirement is that you work in Vienna.
• One project rule: You may only lead or submit one project at a time.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online using the fund’s application form. There are usually two application deadlines each year: on 1 June and on 1 December at 12:00. A panel of experts, supported by external academic reviewers, decides which projects will receive funding. Please note that the submission of applications is currently suspended due to organisational changes and that the round scheduled for 1 June 2026 has been cancelled.

How realistic are your chances?

This funding scheme is very narrowly defined. You must be practising as a doctor in Vienna and submit a well-founded research proposal; the target group is therefore small and specialised. If you meet these criteria and submit a well-thought-out project – particularly one that aligns with the current priorities – your chances are good. No applications are currently being accepted; you should therefore wait for the next call for proposals before making any plans.