KoEF 7th Call for International Development Research Collaboration (Austria)

Deadline: 30-Nov-2026

The KoEF 7th Call supports collaborative research projects between Austrian higher education or research institutions and partner institutions in eligible low- and middle-income countries. The program provides up to €40,000 per project for research collaborations addressing development-related challenges, with funding available for researcher mobility and essential material costs. Projects will run for 24 months, with the earliest possible start in July 2027 and the latest start in December 2027. Eligible projects must involve at least one Austrian higher education or research institution and one partner institution from an eligible low- or middle-income country, excluding India. What Is the KoEF 7th Call? The KoEF 7th Call is designed to strengthen international research collaboration between Austria and eligible low- and middle-income countries. The program supports research partnerships that address development-related challenges while encouraging participating institutions to contribute meaningfully to the research process. Rather than supporting one-sided research activities, the call emphasizes equitable partnerships, interdisciplinary collaboration, knowledge exchange, and long-term institutional relationships.

Objectives of the KoEF Program

The program aims to create sustainable research partnerships that continue beyond an individual project.

Supported projects are expected to:

- Promote equitable research partnerships - Encourage interdisciplinary approaches - Address development-related challenges - Strengthen research capacity and collaboration - Facilitate knowledge exchange - Support innovative research approaches - Generate meaningful scientific contributions from participating institutions - Develop long-term partnerships between Austrian and international researchers - Promote research innovation KoEF Funding Amount The maximum funding available is €40,000 per project. KoEF funding can support eligible project expenses, particularly researcher mobility and essential material costs. The grant is intended to contribute to project costs rather than finance the entire research project. Therefore, coordinating and/or partner institutions must provide own funds and identify these contributions in the financing plan. Eligible Funding Costs

The main eligible costs include:

- Researcher mobility - Travel expenses - Subsistence allowances - Essential material costs Material costs are subject to a maximum of €5,000 per project. Researcher Mobility Funding Mobility funding supports researchers travelling between Austria and the participating partner country. Eligible mobility expenses include travel and subsistence costs for both incoming and outgoing researchers.

Travel funding is available up to:

- €2,000 per person per trip Subsistence allowances are available up to: - €180 per day - Maximum €2,160 per month - Maximum €6,480 per research stay These mobility provisions are intended to facilitate meaningful in-person collaboration between participating research institutions. Material Costs Material costs may be funded up to €5,000 per project, provided that the expenses are essential for implementing the approved research activities.

Eligible material costs may include:

- Research consumables - Laboratory supplies - Research permits - Data acquisition - Software licences - Workshop costs - Conference-related costs - Publication costs Applicants should demonstrate why each requested material cost is necessary for achieving the project’s research objectives. Co-Financing Requirement KoEF funding does not necessarily cover the full cost of a project. The coordinating and/or partner institutions must contribute their own financial resources where required. Applicants must clearly indicate these own funds in the financing plan. The financing plan should therefore provide a transparent overview of: - KoEF funding requested - Institutional contributions - Other available resources - Overall project costs Project Duration and Start Dates Each approved KoEF project will have a duration of 24 months. Projects can begin within the specified implementation window:

- Earliest possible start: July 2027

- Latest possible start: December 2027

- Project duration: 24 months

Applicants should plan their research activities, researcher mobility, material procurement, and other project activities around the proposed start date. Who Can Apply? The call is intended for collaborative research teams involving Austrian institutions and eligible partner institutions in low- and middle-income countries.

Each project must include:

- At least one Austrian higher education or research institution - At least one partner institution from an eligible low- or middle-income country The partner country must be classified as one of the following: - Least developed country - Other low-income country - Lower-middle-income country India is specifically excluded from this call. Eligible Austrian Institutions The Austrian side of the partnership must include at least one eligible Austrian higher education or research institution. The project coordinator must be affiliated with an Austrian public university or research-performing institution and must hold a PhD. Project Coordinator Requirements The project coordinator plays a central role in the application and project implementation.

The coordinator must:

- Hold a PhD - Be affiliated with an Austrian public university or research-performing institution - Coordinate the collaborative research project - Provide the required CV - Coordinate with participating institutions and researchers - Ensure the project proposal and financing information are complete Who Can Participate as a Researcher? All participating researchers must be either: - PhD students, or - PhD holders Master’s students are not eligible to participate. This requirement applies to researchers involved in the collaborative research activities. Equitable Research Partnerships A major feature