Cooperation Agreement with the FWO, Flanders

The FWO and the FNR have signed an agreement aiming at simplifying the submission procedures of bilateral research projects. In order to simplify the collaboration between Belgian and Luxembourg researchers in the domain of basic research, the Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (FWO) of Flanders and the FNR have signed an agreement for the launch of calls for joint research projects on 16th December 2009.

The agreement has been concluded for an initial duration of five years, with the objective to further intensify the already close cooperation in scientific research between the two countries.

Through this agreement, the administrative procedures for Belgo-Luxembourg funding requests are substantially simplified.

So far, in case of the submission of bilateral projects, researchers had to submit their proposals individually in their respective countries where they were then separately evaluated. In the future, these bilateral projects will be submitted, managed and evaluated in one single institution, the FWO.

The result of the evaluation will then be recognised by the FNR. As before, the funding of the projects will be assured separately.

The cooperation agreement covers cooperations in the framework of research projects of a maximum duration of four years. These bilateral projects will have to present a clear, scientific added-value due to complementary cross-border research activities. Research projects which are not carried out in close cooperation will continue to be submitted to the respective national institutions, i.e. the FWO or the FNR.

Contact person at the FNR :

Contact person at the FWO: