Description

The Principal Investigator Projects programme is a thematically open funding scheme for basic research that provides researchers with maximum flexibility to pursue independent, pioneering research questions across all disciplines.

It supports individual principal investigators and their research teams in carrying out clearly defined research projects over a limited period, enabling them to generate new scientific insights.

Funding Amount

• Per project:
  • No fixed upper limit specified
  • Funding is project-specific, covering:
    • Personnel costs
    • Non-personnel costs (equipment, travel, etc.)
• Duration:
  • Up to 48 months
• Funding model:
  • Global budget with flexibility in allocation during project implementation

Submission Deadlines

• No fixed deadline
• Rolling submissions throughout the year
• Decisions taken in five approval meetings per year

Submission Conditions

• Applications must be submitted via the elane electronic portal
• Key requirements:
  • Applicant must have appropriate academic qualifications to lead the project
  • Project must be hosted by an Austrian research institution
  • Submission typically done via the PROFI funding mode (institution submits on behalf of researcher)
• Required elements:
  • Project description
  • Academic CV and publication record
  • Budget breakdown and justification
• Additional mandatory requirement (recent update):
  • Environmental sustainability statement describing ecological aspects of the research process
• Evaluation:
  • Based on international peer review
  • Final decision by the FWF Scientific Board

Eligible Types of Organisations

• Austrian universities
• Non-university research institutions
• Other research-performing organisations with adequate infrastructure

Applicants must be affiliated with an eligible Austrian host institution.