ICT Call 2025

This repository contains all the necessary information for the ICT Call 2025. Please note that WWTF is currently piloting this way of providing call information to potential applicants. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any suggestions for improvement.

ICT25 / Call Facts

This is a call for cutting-edge research projects that seek to improve understanding of a fundamental question in ICT. 


Scope of the Call

This call is open to researchers from all areas of ICT. Projects should address fundamental, hypothesis-driven research questions, develop and apply cutting-edge methodology, and present a clearly defined research plan. Project topics may range from theoretical computer science to the intersection of ICT with other domains (e.g. health, energy, industry, transport, finance and other societal issues). Proposals should focus on advancing basic knowledge in ICT while laying the foundations for future high-impact applications. Projects may be focused within a single discipline or be interdisciplinary in nature.

Who can apply?
Project Duration

24-48 months

Funding             
Timeline
Process

ICT25 / Call Specifications

This section contains information on the process, criteria, and instrument of this call. It is intended for applicants wishing to submit a proposal in the ICT25 call. 

ICT25 / Call Specifications

ICT25 / Scope of the call

This call seeks to enable cutting-edge projects that improve the understanding of fundamental research questions in ICT, thus enhancing the international visibility of Vienna’s innovative ICT research landscape, 

This call is open to researchers from all areas of ICT. Projects should address fundamental, hypothesis-driven research questions, develop and apply cutting-edge methodology, and present a clearly defined research plan. Project topics may range from theoretical computer science to the intersection of ICT with other domains (e.g. health, energy, industry, transport, finance and other societal issues). Proposals should focus on advancing basic knowledge in ICT while laying the foundations for future high-impact applications. Projects may be focused within a single discipline or be interdisciplinary in nature.

ICT25 / Call Specifications

ICT25 / Submission

To submit a proposal in this call, please go to the WWTF Funding Portal.

Important information for your submission

Proposal deadline: February 11th, 2025, 2pm CET

Details on the submission process can be found in this section.

ICT25 / Call Specifications

ICT25 / Eligibility of applicants and roles in the project

The general eligibility of applicants is specified in the WWTF Funding Guideline (in German only).

A project’s core team may include up to three Principal Investigators (PIs). This includes a PI&C and up to two co-PIs. 

One PI must be designated as PI&C.

Up to two co-PIs may also be named in the core team.

Additional project partners and collaborators are permitted in the research team. They can be added by name in the full proposal stage.

Research partners outside Vienna:

ICT25 / Call Specifications

ICT25 / Joint Projects with partners in Lower Austria

WWTF welcomes Joint Project (JP) applications between Viennese and Lower Austrian universities and research institutions in this call. The aims of this initiative are to promote research cooperation between Lower Austria and Vienna on equal terms and to strengthen cooperation of research institutions in the Vienna region.

A conversion between JPs and regular WWTF projects is not possible between the short and full proposal phases.

ICT25 / Call Specifications

ICT25 / Content and structure of the proposal

The content and structure of the proposal are defined and specified in the submission guideline. Please register and create a proposal to learn more about the details via our Funding Portal. An overview of the main parts of the short and full proposal is provided below:

Short Proposal

Full proposal

Abstract (EN)

Lay summary and scientific abstract

Project description (about 4-5 pages): outline of the main scientific research idea and approach

Project description (about 12-15 pages): elaboration on the research idea and approach (upload of PDF, template with structure is provided)

Project core team: with CVs and publications lists (upload of PDF, template with structure is provided)

Project team and further collaboration partners: with CVs and publications lists for the core team members (upload of PDF, template with structure is provided)

Budget overview

Detailed budget

Signatures: required from the researchers and the institutions of the core team members

Signatures: required from the researchers and all participating institutes

Please note that the short proposal is intended for a jury panel with expertise covering a range of proposals, while the full proposal is primarily aimed at experts in the specific topics of the proposal.

ICT25 / Call Specifications

ICT25 / Evaluation criteria

The following criteria are used in the evaluation.

The key criteria in the evaluation of proposals are scientific excellence. In detail, this means:

Further criteria:

Other aspects:

ICT25 / Call Specifications

ICT25 / Eligible costs

All costs that are directly attributable to the project and are regarded as commonly required in the respective scientific field are eligible for funding. Please also consider your organization’s internal guidelines for eligible expenses/costs.

Personnel costs

WWTF is dedicated to funding researchers. Hence, the larger share of the project’s budget should be allocated to personnel costs for researchers working on the project.

Non-personnel costs

Running costs for basic infrastructure (telephone costs, rents) as well as costs for the acquisition of infrastructure and basic equipment are not eligible for funding, as these should be covered by the category “overhead costs”. Non-personnel should not exceed 25% of the overall budget.

Indirect costs (overheads)

 WWTF pays a maximum of 20% overhead. Overhead is calculated as a percentage of the direct costs of the project (i.e., personnel + non-personnel costs). Please note that WWTF offers the maximum 20% overhead lump sum to compensate for all administration costs. This means that flat fees for payroll or project accounting are not eligible. The total funding volume is calculated as direct plus indirect costs.

Applicants are required to comply with the overhead regulations of the involved institutions.

ICT25 / Call Specifications

ICT25 / Gender aspects in the application phase

WWTF’s Gender Strategy and Gender Equality Plan must be considered throughout the application. Please note that WWTF requests jury members and reviewers to take into account both gender and specific roles in research team composition, as well as gender in research content during evaluation processes.

The following questions should be considered during development of the proposal:

Equal opportunities in research

Gender in research content and in the research ideas phase

Proposal phase

Research phase


Further resources

ICT25 / Call Specifications

ICT25 / Guidelines for good scientific practice and ethics

Compliance with the rules for good scientific practice, including the observance of ethical aspects in research, is mandatory. This pertains to the application process and, in case of funding, the research work.

Project proposals may include ethical aspects that require the approval from an ethics committee/institutional review board.

ICT25 / Call Specifications

ICT25 / Open Science

WWTF requires compliance with its Open Science Policy. This document outlines the rights, roles and responsibilities of WWTF, researchers, and research organizations.

ICT25 / Call Specifications

ICT25 / Use of generative AI in the application process

WWTF recognizes that the use of genAI tools is pervasive and can facilitate proposal writing, for example in relation to improving written language. However, substantial use of genAI must be declared as such for the sake of transparency. 

“Substantial use” is defined in line with the European Commission’s definition: “[…] using generative AI as a basic author support tool is not a substantial use. However, interpreting data analysis, carrying out a literature review, identifying research gaps, formulating research aims, developing hypotheses, etc. could have a substantial impact.” (EC 2024: Living Guidelines on the responsible use of generative AI in research.)  

This mainly concerns critical parts of scientific relevance, such as hypothesis formulation and the scientific project plan. Applicants will be required to provide statements on the use of generative AIs at both the short and full proposal stages. WWTF emphasizes the importance of human responsibility for the content submitted at all stages of the application process. 

For your information, WWTF does not allow the use of genAI in the evaluation process.

ICT25 / Call Specifications

ICT25 / Selection and decision process

Applications must be submitted via the online Funding Portal in the specified timeframes. Submissions after the deadline will not be considered.

The core element of WWTF’s decision-making processes is an international jury mandated to make a funding recommendation to the WWTF boards. 

Formal eligibility check by WWTF

WWTF office will conduct a formal eligibility check of the proposal based on the criteria outlined in the WWTF Funding Guideline, and this document. This includes:

Substantial deficiencies and missing sections in the application will lead to the exclusion of the application from further evaluation and rejection on formal grounds. The strict timeline of the call does not allow for proposals to be sent back to the applicants for amendments.

Evaluation of short proposals

Evaluation of full proposals

Eligible full proposals will undergo a review process. 

Applicants will have the opportunity to respond in writing to the external reviews.

Full Proposal Jury meeting

The jury will convene about 3-4 months after the submission deadline of the full proposals to select full proposals to recommend for funding. The jury may be extended by additional members in case supplementary expertise is needed to cover the topics of the proposals. At least two jury members are assigned to each proposal and act as rapporteurs for the proposals.

Formal funding decision

The jury recommendation will be formally confirmed first by the WWTF Advisory Board and then approved by the WWTF Board of Directors.

ICT25 / Call Specifications

ICT25 / Funding contract

In case of funding, WWTF office will contact the PI&C to draw up the funding contract. 

ICT25 / Call Specifications

ICT25 / Community Building

WWTF is highly committed to supporting the growing ICT community in Vienna. To this end, several community building activities will be offered throughout the funding cycle. Funded teams will be invited to participate in these activities to foster collaborations between and beyond WWTF funded projects. 

ICT25 / Call Specifications

ICT25 / Monitoring and reporting

Funded teams commit themselves to delivering reports and participating in evaluation and monitoring. WWTF offers the possibility to adapt the work plan according to project needs. For details, see the Reporting and Accounting Guideline.

ICT25 / Submission Guideline / Full Proposal

This section is a guide to using WWTF’s Funding Portal. It is intended for applicants who wish to submit a full proposal in the ICT25 Call.

ICT25 / Submission Guideline / Full Proposal

ICT25 / Submission Process

About the Submission Process 

Submission of full proposals -> External written reviews -> Applicant response -> Jury meeting to select projects for funding -> Funding Decision via WWTF Board of Directors (early October 2025).

ICT25 / Submission Guideline / Full Proposal

ICT25 / Login and go to your proposal

About the Funding Portal

Please note that only the coordinating PI (PI&C) can submit the proposal.

Login and go to your proposal

  1. Go to https://fundingportal.wwtf.at/
  2. Login with your credentials
  3. You will see an overview of your proposal(s) and role(s) under the menu “My Proposals & Roles"

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ICT25 / Submission Guideline / Full Proposal

ICT25 / Update information about PIs

Contact details, CV, and information about your role in the project have been automatically transferred from the short proposal to the full proposal. Please ensure your contact details are up-to-date. To update your CV, delete the previous document and upload a new CV as PDF.

Update “Roles and responsibilities within project” and “Specific competencies for the project” only if relevant. Please describe convincingly your expertise to accomplish the work in the project. Make sure that the information provided here is in accordance with the according chapter of the Work Programme upload. 

Step 1: Update your “Profile” if relevant

Upon login, go to “My Profile” in the top menu to update your profile. Please upload or update your CV based on the template provided. 

Please use the CV template provided in the Funding Portal. Please use the following template:"All other calls: wwtf_cvtemplate_project.docx"

Different CVs in case of the submission of two proposals

 

Applicants have the possibility to submit two proposals. This may necessitate slightly different versions of the CV (publications specific to the proposals). In this case, the following procedure is recommended:

Now, the CV is imported from your profile to Proposal A, and only to Proposal A! 

As a result, Proposal A and B should have different CVs. 

Do not exceed 2 pages for the CV, as the system will not accept the upload of documents longer than 2 pages.

Step 2: Update your “Role” if relevant

Go to “My Proposal & Roles” in the top menu. Under “My Roles”, click on your role below the title of the proposal.

Please note that the information entered here should be specific to the project. If you are participating in multiple proposals that require different subsets of your expertise, please tailor the information according to the project.

ICT25 / Submission Guideline / Full Proposal

ICT25 / Overview of chapters

The proposal is comprised of six chapters, each under a separated tab:

A chapter with a red alert symbol indicates that it is incomplete. Within the marked chapter, click on the red symbol(s) beside individual sections to highlight the fields requiring attention.  A green checkmark symbol indicates that the information in the chapter is complete.

Please note that the symbols might not refresh immediately even if the information in the chapter is complete. Changing to another chapter and going back to the other will refresh the symbol. 

ICT25 / Submission Guideline / Full Proposal

ICT25 / Details of chapters

Basic Information

This chapter contains basic information about the full proposal, including title, scientific disciplines involved, keywords, duration, and type of project (i.e., regular WWTF Project or Joint Project). Fill out fields as required.

Please note:

In order to suggest eligible and unique reviewers, the jury will be informed about the reviewers suggested and excluded by the applicants. The reviewers nominated by the applicants will be not be disclosed to the reviewers themselves. Each proposal is generally reviewed by four (and no less than three) reviewers.

Personnel and Institutions

Please note that the addition, removal, or substitution of core team members (PI&C, co-PIs) are not permitted at this stage. WWTF may make exceptions in well-argued circumstances (e.g., a co-PI moving to an institution abroad or leaving the academic field). Please contact WWTF in such a case. WWTF reserves the right to exclude projects from further evaluation in cases in which PIs can no longer be part of the project team. 

Further partner institutions: Collaborating institutions beyond those of the core team members can be added in this stage. Please note that every person involved in the project must be linked to an institution in order to allow indication of time commitment and salary in the “Budget” section. A signature will be required from the authorizing persons at the core team members’ institutions and at all further partner institutions. A maximum of five different institutions (including those of the core team members) is permitted. Should a project be funded, the addition of further collaborations will be possible.

Project

This chapter contains the scientific work programme. Fill out the following fields:

Please note that the character limit includes spaces

Lay summary (1,000 characters)

Please provide a description of your proposed research that is suitable for the general public. This will primarily be used by WWTF for communicating your work to non-experts for fundraising and public relations purposes. 

Scientific abstract (2,000 characters) 

Please provide a concise scientific abstract of the project. This will be used in approaching reviewers. 

Work programme: Please use the template provided for download in the WWTF Funding Portal. The headings in bold are mandatory (details and guiding questions can be found in the template). Upload the completed document as PDF (max. 15 pages including figures)

1. Introduction and background

2. Hypotheses and objectives 

3. Innovativeness and expected results

4. Methodological approach 

5. Mid- to long-term academic and societal impacts

6. Project team 

7. Key references 

Please note that potential sex/gender aspects of the research topic and gender balance in the research team should be considered throughout the application (see this section). These should be briefly described where appropriate in the relevant sections.

Ethical considerations (500 characters)

Indicate if ethical approval of an ethics committee or institutional review board is required for the project. If so, please describe the potential ethical aspects and upload the ethical approval(s) as a single PDF. There is no page limit for the approvals, but the document may not exceed 10 MB. If no ethical aspects are identified, please also provide a brief statement.

Data Management (500 characters) 

In case of funding, a detailed data management plan must be submitted at the start of the project. At the full proposal stage, we encourage applicants to consider and briefly address the following points as appropriate:

Use of generative AI (800 characters)

Please describe if and how GenAI has been used in developing your research proposal. Please see further details here.

Budget

Please note the following guidelines for the budget:

Personnel costs

Non-personnel costs

Budget per region

Cost overview

Explanation of Cost Planning (2500 characters) 

Disclosure of other applications for funding (750 characters) 

ICT25 / Submission Guideline / Full Proposal

ICT25 / Signatures

Submission of the proposal requires the signatures of the authorized person(s) at the host institutions of each of the PI&C and co-PIs (“Authorization”) and all partner institutions. 

Please ensure signatures are dated. Undated signatures and re-use of signatures from the short proposal will not be accepted.

Unlike proposals in the previous Submission System, signatures from the core team are no longer required in the new Funding Portal.

ICT25 / Submission Guideline / Full Proposal

ICT25 / Proposal submission

Once all symbols in all chapters are marked by green checkmarks, the proposal can be submitted. The “Submit proposal” button is at the bottom of the “Signatures” chapter. 

The PI&C will receive an automatic confirmation email when the Funding Portal receives the completed submission. Please check your emails after hitting the submit button. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please get in touch with the Call Manager.

You can access your submitted proposal as PDF on the page “My Proposals and Roles”. 

No changes are possible after the project has been submitted. After the indicated deadline, submission is no longer possible. Unsubmitted proposals will be excluded from the ensuing evaluation process.

ICT25 / Submission Guideline / Full Proposal

ICT25 / Applicant Response Phase

Applicant Response Phase (22nd - 29th of August 2025, 2pm (CET))

The purpose of the applicant response step is to allow the core team to correct any factual errors or conceptual misunderstandings in the external peer reviews. The applicants should respond directly to reviewer comments in a constructive manner.

Scope of applicant response

As much as possible, the applicant response should refer to parts of the full proposal where the reviewer’s concerns are already addressed. Only where necessary and appropriate, should references to peer-reviewed publications in order to correct any factual inaccuracies in the reviews be provided. In addition to providing the DOI, applicants should clearly specify the section (figure, data, text) of the publication that supports their response. Pictures, graphs, or other documents themselves cannot be inserted or attached.

Process for applicants

What will happen to the applicant response?

Submission of a response to reviews is not compulsory. However, the jury panel will be informed that all teams were provided with the opportunity to respond to reviews.  

ICT25 / Important documents


WWTF Funding Guideline General Guideline for WWTF funding activities
Guideline for Good Scientific
Practice
Guidelines by the Austrian Agency for Research
Integrity
Open Science Policy Open Science Policy of WWTF
Gender Equality Strategy & Plan Gender Equality Strategy & Plan of WWTF
Reporting and Accounting Guideline Specifies reporting and accounting for funded projects

ICT25 / Contact

Missbach.jpg Strassnig.jpg

Benjamin Missbach | benjamin.missbach@wwtf.at | Tel.: +43 1 402 31 43 19

Michael Strassnig | michael.strassnig@wwtf.at | Tel.: +43 1 402 31 43 15