High inflation and the associated price increases were the backdrop against which the Academy had to negotiate its new performance agreement with the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF). Despite this difficult starting position, it was possible to conclude a future-proof budget. The Austrian Academy of Sciences will receive a total of 529.2 million euros for the years 2024 to 2026. This is an increase of €117 million compared to the current budget for 2021 to 2023, which represents an increase of 28 percent.
Federal Minister Martin Polaschek and OeAW President Heinz Faßmann signed the performance agreement on March 27, 2024 in a highly symbolic location: In the historic Kleiner Kassensaal of the former Vienna Postal Savings Bank (PSK), which is now home to art and research institutions, including numerous institutes of the OeAW.
Continuing what has been started, making new things possible
"The Austrian Academy of Sciences is an important partner of the BMBWF and, as an institution, stands for excellence in science and research. The increase of around 117 million euros compared to the 2021-2023 funding period is therefore not only a clear commitment to a strong science and research location, but also an important long-term investment in high-quality, future-oriented and competitive research," says Science Minister Polaschek.
OEAW President Heinz Faßmann says: "We can be satisfied with the new performance agreement. We need a large part of the funds for the increased wage costs, higher rents, energy costs and other price increases. However, we are also able to continue projects we have already started and launch new initiatives. We will be able to continue to appoint outstanding researchers to the OeAW and promote promising ideas. The OeAW can continue to be uncompromising in its claim to excellence in research. The new policy contains fewer individual measures and instead focuses more on the strategic and long-term essentials."
Building on research
For example, the new performance agreement completes the renovation and relocation to the PSK. After challenging years, synergies can now be exploited between the OEAW institutes and also with the other art and research institutions located in the PSK, such as the University of Applied Arts or institutes of the Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft. The Campus Academy, which has its starting point at the main building of the OEAW, is now coming to an end with the PSK, bringing to life a new research mile in the middle of Vienna's city center.
Other important construction projects have also been secured for the coming years with the new LV, such as the climate and energy upgrading of the Erich Schmid Institute for Materials Science in Leoben and the branch of the Austrian Archaeological Institute in Athens, as well as the renovation of the Nobel Prize-winning Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information in Vienna's Boltzmanngasse.
The establishment of the Cori Institute in Graz can also be driven forward at full speed with the now completed course. It will focus on metabolic research in order to better understand widespread metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. Cooperation is an important concern for Heinz Faßmann: "We are not doing this alone, but together with three universities in Graz. There is no new allotment, no new institution, but the institute will be embedded in existing structures. It is therefore cost-effective and the existing scientific connections are an excellent prerequisite for rapid and sustainable success."
School television 2.0
Of course, none of this is happening in an ivory tower. The Academy will continue its intensive efforts to communicate science. In addition to a broad program of lectures and events, science education initiatives such as "Academy in the Classroom" will therefore be continued. In addition, a major video project for a young target group and schools is currently being developed. In this "School TV 2.0", researchers will present their work in the digital space and thus make an important contribution to countering disinformation and strengthening trust in science.
