The Austrian Science Fund (FWF) is Austria's central funding organization for basic research. His purpose is to support the ongoing development of Austrian science and basic research at a high international level and to make a significant contribution to cultural development, to the advancement of our knowledge-based society, and thus to the creation of value and wealth in Austria.

In 2009 the FWF approved grants for 606 projects, the total volume of funding approved came to EUR 147.6 million. Within the international peer-review process 4,205 reviews from 61 countries were received. About 80 % of the funding for approved projects went to the employment of particularly young researcher. As of December 31, 2009 the FWF listed over 3,300 research-employed persons on his "payroll".