The WWTF funds excellent scientific research in Vienna. It is the only science funding agency in Austria which is mainly working with private money. Established 2002, in the last 10 years around 100 Million € have been devoted to promotions. The size and quality of the scientific landscape in Vienna allows for a funding concept based on competition and broadening the spearhead. There are two main instruments for the timely limited call for proposals. Individual grants to hire distinguished scientists from abroad as well as project funding to support major scientific projects. The current annual budget is around 12 Million €, donated mainly from a private bank trust as well as a considerable share from the City of Vienna for commissioned research programmes. These “City Programmes” support social sciences and humanities, university infrastructure and the establishment of research group leaders in Vienna. Current research foci of WWTF are life sciences, mathematics and…, information- and communication technologies, cognitive sciences and social sciences and humanities.