Review of applications 

Academy funding is allocated on a competitive basis to the best researchers and research teams and to the most promising young researchers for carrying out scientifically ambitious projects. High-level international peer review is the Academy’s key tool for identifying the best and most promising research.

On applications for multi-year research grants (Academy Projects, full applications for research programmes, research posts as Postdoctoral Researcher and Academy Research Fellow and full applications for research posts as Academy Professor), we usually request a written review report by an expert panel or at least two external written reviews by persons who are esteemed researchers in their field. The panel submits one review report for each application.

The final funding decisions are made by the Academy’s Research Councils or sub-committees on the basis of the presenting official’s (e.g. science adviser or programme manager) presentation. The decisions are primarily based on the review of the scientific merits of the research plan and the applicant, but also on the our other research policy objectives. The number of positive decisions and the amount of project funding depends on the budgets available for the Research Councils and sub-committees.

How applications are processed and reviewed depends on whether they concern a one-stage or two-stage call. For example, the call for Academy Project applications is a one-stage process, whereas most research programme calls are two-stage.