Tiroler Nachwuchsforscher*innenfoerderung

What you get

You get a grant of up to 100,000 EUR per research project, paid by the Province of Tyrol. You do not have to pay it back, and it can cover up to 100% of your eligible costs: staff, travel, equipment, materials and contracts. A project can run for up to 36 months. Two lower caps apply: 30,000 EUR at the University of Innsbruck and 40,000 EUR at the Medical University of Innsbruck. The money helps young researchers start their own project and build a career in Tyrol.

Who can apply

• Career stage: You are an early-career researcher. Either you earned your PhD or doctorate no more than seven years before the application deadline, or you are no older than 35 when the application period starts.
• Career breaks count: Time off for parental leave, caring duties, long illness or military/civilian service is added to those limits, plus up to three years per child for raising children.
• Where you work: When you apply, you study at or work for a Tyrolean higher-education institution, such as the University of Innsbruck, the Medical University of Innsbruck, UMIT TIROL, MCI, FH Kufstein, fhg, the University College of Teacher Education Tyrol or the KPH Edith Stein.
• Your project: It is a scientific research project carried out mainly in Tyrol with a clear link to the region.
• Field of study: Basic and applied research both qualify. Commercial projects do not, nor do projects that are mainly artistic, social, therapeutic or in adult education.
• One leader per project: You name only one project leader. Joint leadership is not allowed.

How to apply

You apply online through the form of the Province of Tyrol's science funding office before your project starts. The next call runs from 1 February 2027 to 15 March 2027, and you cannot apply outside this window. Your institution reviews your project and proposes which projects to fund. The Tyrolean provincial government makes the final decision.

How realistic are your chances?

This funding is narrow: you must be an early-career researcher at one of a fixed list of Tyrolean institutions, with a project rooted in the region. That keeps the pool small for each call. The yearly budget is split by fixed shares across the institutions, so you mainly compete with peers at your own university, not everyone at once. If you clearly fit the age or post-doctorate limit and prepare a strong project, your prospects are solid. At the University of Innsbruck, first-time applicants even get a ranking bonus.