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ESS26 - Resilience and Crises / Key Facts

Scope of the Call in a Nutshell

This call invites researchers to submit proposals for exploratory, interdisciplinary research projects that advance the conceptualization of resilience in relation to selected crises—primarily with regard to their societal dimensions. The project must be led by a social scientist. Projects should initiate structured collaboration with other scientific disciplines and with relevant practitioner communities, and employ methodological approaches capable of anticipating potential future crises.

This call is part of a two-phase funding activity. Projects funded in phase one will be invited to submit a further project proposal for larger projects once the exploratory projects are concluded (see outlook at the end of this document). The call for phase two is expected in early 2028 once all projects of phase one have finished.    

Who can apply?
  • An interdisciplinary team of 2-3 researchers led by a social scientist as PI & Coordinator (PI&C). 
  • The PI&C must be based at a university or research institute in Vienna.
  • Co-PIs may be based outside of Vienna (funding limited to 20% of total budget).
  • Co-PIs with an affiliation to an institution in Lower Austria may apply for up to 49% of the overall budget (Joint Project).
Project Duration

12-18 months

Funding
  • Call budget: € 2 million.
  • Project budget: € 50,000 to € 100,000.
  • Personnel and non-personnel costs may be claimed.
  • Maximum 50% non-personnel costs.
  • Up to 20% overhead costs may be claimed.
Timeline
  • Proposal deadline: June 17, 2026, 2pm CET 
  • Expected funding decision: October 2026.

  • Project start: January 2027.

Process
  • One-stage selection process
  • Selection by an international jury (no external review process)
  • Application via WWTF Funding Portal 

Upcoming Events and Workshops

WWTF organizes two events in order to provide a platform for networking for project collaboration and to introduce into anticipatory methods which are central to this call. 

Matchmaking and Networking Event on March 23!

Date: March 23, 2026, 13:00-17:00. Venue: Albert-Schweitzer-Haus, Schwarzspanierstraße 13, 1090 Wien.

Please save the date! For registration and matchmaking, WWTF will provide a platform around mid February. Please check again

The main purpose of the event is networking. Therefore, we kindly ask you to register at the (upcoming) platform to find interesting partners for potential collaboration. 

If you have specific questions about the call and the submission process, refer to the  ...

Call Info Session!

Date: April XX, 2026 , Online

Foresight Workshops!

The call specifications require the applicants to engage with potential future crisis scenarios and methods to do so. WWTF offer support in form of two workshops that introduce into methods with anticipatory techniques for the social sciences. 

The workshops will take place on:

  • Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 13:00-16:00 
  • Thursday, April 9, 2026, 9:00-12:00 

One workshop will be offered online, one on-site. Save the date! Details follow in due course. 

The workshop is thought as support for researchers new to these methods. It is not mandatory to participate in the workshop in order to submit a proposals. Furthermore, the methods presented at the workshops are exemplary. Other methods may also be chosen for the proposal.

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