Third-party Funding: “At the Interface of Science and Society”

„This accomplishment represents a crucial milestone and a resounding success for our Faculty, and is of utmost significance in the context of our ongoing evaluation”, notes Michaela Trippl, Vice-Dean of Research at the Faculty of Earth Sciences, Geography and Astronomy.

As funding opportunities become increasingly competitive and budgets tighten, there is significant potential for further growth in the area of applied research. “Although our Faculty has a strong focus on basic research, we have observed that approximately 25 percent of our third-party funding over the past decade has come from applied research projects, as per UNIVIE data” says Trippl and she adds: “We believe that there is ample room for further expansion in this field.”  

New Strategy to Support Applied Sciences

With a view to enhancing the Faculty's applied research activities, the Dean's team has developed a comprehensive strategy that incorporates several key initiatives. These include the establishment of an information platform at the Faculty level, targeted networking programs, and enhanced communication efforts. “Our definition of Applied Sciences encompasses not only contract research for companies or public authorities, but also research collaborations funded by FFG programmes, as well as engagement with NGOs and civil society”, explains Trippl. Also citizen science projects, such as those supported through the citizen science initiative of our Faculty, represent a valuable form of applied sciences: “We view applied sciences as research at the interface of science and society”, says the Vice-Dean of Research.