As part of the Berta Karlik Program, special professorships were created at the University in 2011 to promote excellent female researchers. Following the principles of gender equality, the Berta Karlik Program was designed to increase the opportunities of highly qualified women researchers at the University of Vienna. These temporary professorships increased their chances of subsequently being appointed as professors in Austria or abroad. The Program was launched two times. 6 Berta Karlik professorships were awarded in total.