All news at TU Wien

13. October 2025

Philanthropy strengthens research: TU Wien Foundation establishes new fund

An extraordinary act of philanthropy sets a new milestone for re-search with social impact at TU Wien: a private donation of four million euros will be used to establish the new LUMINA FUND.

Female researcher sitting in a laboratory looking through a microscope — © Klaus Ranger

An extraordinary act of philanthropy sets a new milestone for research with social impact at TU Wien: a private donation of four million euros will be used to establish the new LUMINA FUND.

The fund, anchored in the TU Wien Foundation, opens an external URL in a new window, will strengthen research projects that combine scientific excellence with sustainable responsibility – particularly in the key areas of health and biomedicine, sustainable technologies, energy transformation, and green innovations.

Elfriede Baumann, Chair of the Board of Directors of the TU Wien Foundation, emphasizes: “Our goal is to support outstanding researchers in their projects and thus giving society access to solutions that might not have been possible outside of established fields of research: with this generous endowment, we can significantly advance the foundation's purpose.”

Michael Kaiser, Secretary General of the TU Wien Foundation, adds: “The LUMINA FUND enables the TU Wien Foundation to provide long-term support for the excellent research work carried out at TU Wien, which has international appeal. We are very grateful for this philanthropic commitment, which will benefit future generations of young scientists.”

The fund supports projects that open up new avenues for a sustainable future – from basic research to practical application. This also includes scholarships for young scientists, international partnerships, and educational initiatives in the STEM field. Starting in 2026, funding will be awarded in a two-stage, independent selection process that ensures scientific excellence, transparency, and social impact.

About the TU Wien Foundation
The TU Wien Foundation brings together all philanthropic activities related to the TU Wien. It promotes excellence in research, teaching, and innovation, strengthens cooperation between science, business, and society, and is committed to shaping a sustainable future. With impact-oriented funding models, it creates space for projects that translate scientific knowledge into social responsibility.

Contact
Michael Kaiser
Secretary General
TU Wien Foundation
michael.kaiser@tuwien.foundation
+43 664 60588 4061
https://tuwien.foundation/en, opens an external URL in a new window

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