The Austrian Academy of Sciences was founded in 1847 and represents both a learned society and Austria's leading non-university institution for basic research. It is currently promoting 26 research institutes with more than 1.800 employees. The Austrian Academy of Sciences is a legal entity under the special protection of the Federal Republic of Austria, and its mission is to promote the sciences and humanities in every respect, particularly in basic research.

The learned society of the Academy consists of two divisions: the Division of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, and the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences. Furthermore, a Young Academy was established in 2008.Presently, the Academy has more than 750 members in Austria and abroad.