On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW), which was celebrated in 1997, the City of Vienna established the Anniversary Fund of the City of Vienna for the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Mag. Daniel Löcker, Secretary General of the Anniversary Fund of the City of Vienna for the OeAW, and Univ.- Prof. Dr. Heinz Faßmann, President of the OeAW, are inviting you to submit project proposals to the Anniversary Fund.

Vienna has been an important centre for science and university teaching and research, particularly since the 19th century. Nine public and two private universities, several universities of applied sciences and non-university research institutions, including the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW), stimulate the research location in a variety of ways. The life sciences, for example, form a rapidly growing cluster. The networking between universities, research institutions and international co-operation partners makes Vienna an attractive location for science and research, not least because of the high quality of life in Vienna. Favourable conditions for research do not arise by chance; using Vienna as an example it can be researched and analysed in various ways which parameters for a good research location have or have not been achieved. The call for proposals focuses on research projects in the humanities, social sciences or cultural sciences that critically investigate the potential, opportunities and challenges of Vienna as a research location, taking into account comparative regional, national, international and/or historical aspects, analyse the diverse conditions for a good research location using Vienna as an example, explore development options and risks under the conditions of the 21st century, identify science-based measures for the preservation and promotion of Vienna as a research location.

The call addresses scientists in Austria with a research perspective in the humanities, social sciences or cultural studies. Trans‑/Interdisciplinary integration of technical, environmental or social sciences as well as humanities is possible.

• 1 year

The budget can be between EUR 50,000 (mininum) and EUR 90,000 (maximum). The total amount available is EUR 250,000. The following direct costs may be applied for:

• staff costs (if applied for, including those for the project management). The Collective Bargaining Agreement applicable to the research institution will be used for calculating the staff cost rates. If no such Collective Bargaining Agreement exists, the cost rates of the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) shall be used.
• costs for consumables
• other costs (e.g. fees for use of infrastructures, travel expenses)
• Devices and overheads will not be paid.

• The project must be carried out at an Austrian research institution.
• A research institution may support multiple applications.
• Applicants must hold an academic degree.
• Each applicant may only submit one application.
• Several applicants, max. 3, may submit a joint application. One of the applicants is the principal investigator, all others are co-principal investigators. Principal and co-principal investigators must be affiliated to a research institution in Austria.
• Applicants are prepared to pro-actively contribute to the public presentation of the programme and take part in associated events.

Please submit your application to the following email address: programmmanagement(at)oeaw.ac.at by 15 March 2025.

Applications must be made in English by submitting the following documents:

• • application form, completed in full (name: Project acronym_Proposal),
  • budget sheet, completed in full (name: Project acronym_Costs),
  • Gantt chart (name: Project acronym_Workplan)
  • Documents of all applicants involved, consisting of CV, list of publications and signed declaration of consent of the research institution (1 file per applicant, name: Project acronym_(no.)_Applicant's name).

• Call for proposals
• Application form (Proposal)
• Budget sheet (Costs)
• Declaration of consent (Signatures)

Call begins: 15 January 2025

• All submissions which meet the necessary formal requirements for application (see application requirements) will be presented to an independent international jury.

• The jury will make an award recommendation on the basis of their expertise and other expert opinions obtained, if necessary.
• The award decision of the Board of the Anniversary Fund is expected to be made in the fourth quarter of 2025. Applicants will be notified promptly.

By taking part in this call applicants acknowledge that the related data and documents will be forwarded to experts. The data and documents will be forwarded for the purpose of evaluation of the application and decision-making with regard to the award of grants (see also the Data Protection Information of OeAW).

OeAW abides by the Guidelines of Good Scientific Practice of the Austrian Agency for Research Integrity (OeAWI). All applications will be checked for plagiarism using Similarity (Turnitin). Violations of the rules of good scientific practice will result in immediate exclusion of the application.

• The selected projects must start not later than 4 months after transmission of the grant letter and will have a project term of 12 months. A funding agreement will be concluded with the principal investigators. Provided that no extra costs arise, the project term may be extended by up to 6 months in well-founded cases.
• Changes to the project plan and the project management require approval.
• After conclusion of the project a comprehensive final project report plus a statement of accounts for the funds used must be presented.