Top Citizen Science (TCS)
Funding of FWF research projects in Austria for the active involvement of citizens in scientific research with durations of up to 24 months. Applications can be submitted online via elane, e.g., until 08.04.2025.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
Support for research activities that enable the participation of citizens, allowing them to contribute their skills, expertise, and curiosity to achieve substantial scientific added value and to facilitate the opening of research to society.
Eligible expenses
- Personnel costs
- Equipment costs
- Material costs
- Travel expenses
- Contract work
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Non-eligible expenses
- Infrastructure
- Basic equipment
- Publication costs
Eligible to apply
- Educational Institutions
Funding requirements
- Ongoing FWF basic project (project end ≥ 30.11.2025)
- Project leadership or participation in a funded FWF project
- Proof of citizen science qualification
- Implementation at a suitable Austrian research institution
- Submission via the electronic application portal elane
Documents required for application
- Proposal.pdf
- Summary_main.pdf
- Publications_lists.pdf
- Research Institution Assignment Form
- Contact Form
- Application Form
- Cost Breakdown Form
- Scientific Abstract Form
- Co-authors Form
Evaluation criteria
- Innovative content
- Methodological quality of the citizen science approach
- Qualification of the research team
- Impact and dissemination
- Ethics and gender aspects
Description
The Top Citizen Science program supports FWF basic projects anchored in Vienna that are expanded with citizen science components within up to 24 months. The goal is the active involvement of citizens of all ages and backgrounds to generate substantial scientific added value through their expertise, curiosity, and participation. Funding is provided for research activities in the fields of research & innovation as well as science that open their structures to society. Up to €100,000 per project is available as a grant. The funding amount covers personnel costs, equipment costs, material and travel expenses, service contracts, and general project costs; infrastructure investments and publication costs are excluded. Applications can be submitted online via elane until April 8, 2025, 2:00 PM (Vienna time).
The funding is aimed at researchers from all disciplines at Austrian research institutions who lead or participate in an ongoing FWF basic project (project end ≥ November 30, 2025) and demonstrate proven citizen science qualifications. A prerequisite is implementation at a suitable research institution and submission of all required documents – from the project description (Proposal.pdf) through the scientific abstract to forms for cost breakdown and co-authors. Evaluation is based on the criteria of innovation content, methodological quality of the citizen science approach, team qualifications, impact, as well as ethical and gender aspects. Through the participatory structure, research processes become more transparent and science is experienced as lively and engaging.