On behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF) and funded by the European Union under the Development and Resilience Plan (2020-2026; only available in German), the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) and the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) are implementing the Quantum Austria Funding Initiative from 2021-2026. To do so, they are relying on a number of their respective funding instruments for personnel and infrastructure. A portion of the funds are earmarked for research infrastructure in the highly innovative field of next generation high performance computing, quantum computing, and their intersections.

Under the initiative, a separate budget of EUR 30 million is available for basic research projects funded through the FWF.

Funding may be requested for projects that are clearly defined in terms of objectives and methods with specific limits in terms of duration and budget in accordance with the requirements of the FWF programs Principal Investigator Projects (previously called Stand-Alone Projects) or Erwin Schrödinger Fellowships including a return phase. More detailed information on submitting projects under FFG programs as part of the Quantum Austria Initiative can be found here. Applications must focus thematically on the field of quantum research and quantum technology. Possible research questions may include, for instance, the following topics:

• Specific preparation and control of quantum states;
• New algorithms and mathematical theoretical concepts that make use of the superposition and entanglement of quantum states;
• Developments and applications in quantum communication; Quantum sensor technology, quantum metrology, quantum simulation, quantum computing, and quantum information;
• Development of ideas based on quantum phenomena in the neighboring fields of physics, mathematics, chemistry, and in biological systems.

Target group
Researchers from universities, non-university research institutions, and relevant industrial research departments who are working in the field of quantum research and quantum technology.

Objective
The aim of the program is to support excellent, transformative, and innovative basic research in the field of quantum physics, quantum computing, as well as next generation high performance computing; to ensure Austria’s continued competitiveness in the EU and globally; and to successfully use quantum technology for innovative products and services.

Requirements, length, and level
The requirements that applicants must meet correspond to those of the FWF programme Principle Investigator Projects (PAT) or Erwin Schrödinger Fellowships including a return phase (J). The FWF attaches great importance to promoting women and young researchers and therefore encourages them to submit applications under the relevant funding instruments.

Additional special features of the call
Please note that limiting the duration of the Quantum Austria Initiative PP entails a number of special features which have to be considered at the time of submitting a project. The FWF recommends submitting an application as early as possible, ideally in 2022. The “Quantum Austria” projects funded through the FWF must be finished by 31 March 2026. The statement of accounts and the reports must be finished no later than one month after the end of the project.

The “Supplementary Information on Submitting Applications (pdf, 56KB)” document provides a summary of the special features of the call. In addition to the application documents required for submission under the selected program, the relevance of the submitted proposal explaining the project’s expected contribution to the field of quantum research and quantum technology must be detailed in an additional form in elane.

In the case of Principal Investigator Projects, the maximum amount of funding that can be requested is EUR 1 million per project; in the case of applications under Schrödinger, it depends on the amount specified in the current program guidelines. Please note that when submitting a Principal Investigator Project, the number of reviews required depends on the amount of funding requested.

For the approval of applications

• Up to EUR 400,000, two reviews are needed,
• Up to EUR 600,000, three reviews are needed, and
• From EUR 600,000 to EUR 1 million, four reviews are needed.

In the case of Schrödinger projects, EUR 20,000 per year is available during the return phase.

Submitting the application

• Start of the call: 26 November 2021
• End of the call Principal Investigator Projects: 30 June 2024; applications may be submitted via elane until 14.00 local Vienna time/Austria.
• End of the call Erwin Schrödinger Fellowship including a return phase (with a shorter duration than the maximum funding period that can be applied for): 30 June 2024; applications may be submitted until 14.00 local Vienna time/Austria.
  Please contact the FWF in advance if you plan to apply for an Erwin Schrödinger Fellowship including a return phase (shorter than the maximum funding period) after 30 August 2022.
• For both programs (PAT and J), we recommend contacting the FWF in advance about the funding period that can still be applied for.
• Applications must be submitted in accordance with the application guidelines for Principal Investigator Projects or Erwin Schrödinger Fellowship including a return phase.(including an additional programme-specific annex (docx, 51KB)) exclusively via the FWF’s electronic application portal (elane).
• Submissions to ESPRIT and 1000 Ideas are no longer possible within Quantum Austria.

Allocation

• Funding decision by the FWF Board
• On a rolling basis from the application open date

Funding
Funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU

Contact
Petra Biberhofer or the scientific project officers in the relevant specialist departments

Downloads
Applications