Aim 

This scheme supports short, targeted activities that strengthen scientific exchange, collaboration, and visibility of machine learning research within and around the Austrian Academy of Sciences. 

Funding available 

• Total budget for 2026: up to EUR 15,000 (overall) 
• Funding per mission/event: up to EUR 3,000 
• Each mission needs the support of at least two institutes. 
• Institutional limit: each ÖAW institute may act as main sponsor/host for up to two supported missions 
• Duration of the call: as long as the funds are available 

What can be supported 

• Short research stays / visits (e.g., hosting an external collaborator for max one month) 
• Invited talks / lectures (including associated visit and meetings) 

(MLA²S also offers support for the organization of  workshops, conferences or similar events. For these, contact us directly.) 

Requirements

• The topic of the invited speaker / researcher must be relevant to more than one institute.  
• Every funded mission must include a public talk/lecture (online or in-person) organized in coordination with the Machine Learning Topical Platform (e.g., as part of a seminar series). 

Eligible costs (examples) 

• Travel and local transport 
• Accommodation and subsistence (reasonable rates) 

Submission process (rolling) 

Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis until the total budget is committed. 

Please submit a single PDF to mla2s-admin(at)oeaw.ac.at, subject line: Scientific Support Mission – Submission, that will include: 

1. Title and type of mission (talk/research visit) 
2. Host institute and main contact person 
3. Other supporting institutes and contact persons  
4. Visitor(s)/speaker(s) and short bios (or links) 
5. Proposed dates and duration: 
6. Purpose and expected outcomes (max 1 page) 
7. Planned platform talk: tentative title + format (online/hybrid/in-person) 
8. Budget request (up to EUR 3,000) with a brief breakdown 

Selection criteria 

Submissions will be assessed at the coordination team's earliest convenience, with the time to decision not exceeding 4 weeks from submission. The main criterion is the relevance of the mission to machine learning and to multiple institutes.  

The applicants may be asked to provide additional details.  

In the case of multiple submissions, MLA²S is at liberty to consider the following additional criteria: 

• Distribution of submissions across the institutes 
• Gender balance of speakers / researchers 

Reporting / deliverables 

After completion, hosts are asked to provide: 

• A short 1–2 paragraph summary of outcomes (collaboration steps, next actions, etc.) 

How to submit / contact 

Send submissions (and questions) to: mla2s-admin(at)oeaw.ac.at with subject line: Scientific Support Mission – Submission