PROGRAMME SUMMARY
Luxembourg is increasingly establishing itself as a research destination and putting itself on the international research map, and in 2006, we launched the INTER programme – our umbrella for our international cooperation opportunities.
The INTER programme is our instrument to provide co-funding for international research collaborations between scientists in Luxembourg and abroad.
The INTER Programme is the FNR’s main funding instrument to foster international collaboration.
It aims to give Luxembourg’s public research a higher profile in the international context by providing funding for international collaboration. INTER enables the FNR to initiate bi or multilateral arrangements for project calls in conjunction with other national or international funding bodies.
FNR has entered a number of cooperation agreements with foreign funding agencies to provide funding opportunities for bilateral projects. Furthermore, FNR has joined several international consortia which provide funding opportunities for multilateral projects.
INTER projects need to be submitted to a specific INTER call. Calls may target bi- or multilateral projects. Researchers wishing to submit joint proposals should consult information within individual call documents for details.
All INTER Calls are announced in the FNR’s newsletter FNR Info.
It is highly recommended to read the INTER application guidelines
FNR WEAVE partner agencies (INTER or CORE)
The FNR is one of 12 funding agencies in 11 European countries to sign WEAVE, a bottom-up, cross-European initiative developed by European research funders to support excellent collaborative research projects across borders.
WEAVE aims to simplify the submission and selection procedures of collaborative research proposals that involve researchers from up to three European countries or regions. It does this by making proposals go through a single evaluation procedure.
Find out more on the WEAVE website as well as in the WEAVE document for Luxembourg-based researchers.
With whom can you collaborate?
- Bi- and trilateral projects possible (*NWO-ENW bilateral only)
- Higher research effort (in PM) could be abroad
- 1 proposal per LU-PI per agency/year only
Country Weave partner agency Call deadline abroad (INTER) Austria FWF Ongoing call Belgium FWO 01 April 2026 FRS-FNRS May/June 2026 Czech Republic GACR Annual call open to Weave applications was launched on 9 Feb. Call Deadline: 31 March 2026 Germany DFG Ongoing call Poland NCN 15 December 2025 Slovenia ARIS Annual call open to Weave applications was launched on Monday, 16 Feb. Call Deadline: 31 March 2026 (14:00) Sweden Formas Late Summer 2026 Switzerland SNSF 01 April /01 October 2026 The Netherlands NWO-ENW (domain Science)* Ongoing call (but check) Bilateral agreements where the FNR always acts as Lead Agency 2026 (CORE)
In some cooperation, the FNR always acts as Lead Agency and joint bilateral proposals have to be submitted to the FNR CORE programme. Please refer to the FNR CORE Programme Description and FNR CORE application guidelines for more details.
Autonomous Province of Bolzano – South Tyrol,
Fonds de Recherche du Québec (FRQ): FRQ will not participate in the CORE call 2026 but is planning to join the CORE call 2027.
With whom can you collaborate?
- Bilateral projects only
- Higher research effort (in person*months) must be in Luxembourg
FNR partner agencies where Lead Agency is always abroad (INTER)
With whom can you collaborate?
- Bilateral proposals only!
- Higher research effort (in PM) always in the country of the Lead Agency!
- 1 proposal per LU-PI per agency/year only
| Country | Partner agency & call |
| United Kingdom | UKRI (all research councils) |
| The Netherlands | NWO: – ZonMW * |
| – ENW-XL* | |
| France | ANR |
| CNRS | |
| Germany | DFG- Research Units (Forschergruppen)** |
| DFG- Priority Programmes (SPP)** | |
| DFG- Collaborative Research Centres (SFB)** | |
| Quebec | FRQ/Audace * |
| USA | NSF** |
* Pre- and Full-Proposals must be submitted to FNR INTER
** Submitting a proposal is only allowed upon prior approval of the FNR
Bilateral proposals only!
Higher research effort (in PM) always in the country of the Lead Agency!
1 proposal per LU-PI per agency/year only
Multilateral Funding Opportunities – European Programmes (INTER)
The FNR participates in several European Funding Programmes in 2026. Each Programme has its own call description and guidelines, the links are available in the list below.
The dates of the deadlines are indicative! Please refer to the respective European programme call websites as well as to the FNR info (Newsletter) for potential updates.
Thematic calls, no bottom-up funding
Budget cap per call and/or proposal
INTER application required at pre-proposal and full proposal stage!
| Programme | Call | Deadline | FNR Programme Manager |
| EP BrainHealth | JTC 2026, Call 2 https://www.brainhealth-partnership.eu/calls/jtc2026-neurodegenerative-disorders/ | Pre-proposal: 10 March 2026 (14:00 CEST) Full proposal: 30 June 2026 (14:00 CEST) | Gideon Giesselmann / Sean Sapcariu |
| EP PerMed | Call 2026 | Pre-proposal: 10 Feb 2026 (14:00 CEST) Full proposal: 09 June 2026 (14:00 CEST) | Gideon Giesselmann |
| ERDERA | Call 2026 | Pre-proposal: 12 Feb 2026 Full proposal: 8 July 2026 | Sean Sapcariu / Gideon Giesselmann |
| EUROSTARS | Call 2026-1 Call 2026-2 https://www.eurekanetwork.org/programmes-and-calls/eurostars/eurostars-march-2026/ | 19 March 2026 September 2026 | Richard Nakath |
| GreenEraHub | Call 2025/26 https://www.greenerahub.eu/news/announcement-of-the-2025-joint-call | Pre-proposal: 28 Nov 2025 (12:00 CET) Full proposal: 25 March 2026 (12:00 CET) | Marie-Claude Marx |
| MERANET | Call 2026 | May/June 2026 | Christiane Kaell |
| PRIMA | Call 2026, section 2 | PRIMA deadlines (section 2): Pre-proposal: 15 May 2026 (17:00 CET); Full-proposal: 29 Sept 2026 (17:00 CET). (However: “2. CALLS CALENDAR: Please note that the calendar for the Calls included in the draft version is not necessarily the official or final calendar. It is important to communicate this clearly if you are organising a national Info Day at the time the final AWP has not yet been published. The calendar might slighty change.) | Helena Burg |
| QuantERA | Call 2025/26 | 5 Dec 2025 (17:00 CET) | Christiane Kaell |
| Water4All | Joint Call 2025/26 | Pre-proposal: 13 Nov 2025 Full proposal: 20 April 2026 (15:00 CEST) | Helena Burg |
APPLICATION INFORMATION
- The Luxembourg project partner needs to be eligible for FNR funding, while the foreign project partner needs to be eligible for funding from the foreign funding agency(-ies) participating in the call.
- For each call, a lead agency is defined which manages the complete selection process from reception of the applications to the peer review procedure. In most cases the foreign funding agency is the lead agency (and not the FNR).
- Additionally to submitting to the lead agency abroad, all applications have to be submitted through the FNR Online Grant Management System by the Luxembourg partner, including the FNR INTER documents.
- Proposals must be submitted to the FNR at latest 7 working days after the lead-agency’s deadline. Applicants will need to provide basic information and attach the proposal (including all further relevant documents) based on the form provided by the lead agency.
Other calls/actions
Korea
COST
COST is a European cooperation measure in the field of scientific and technical research. It does not fund research itself but provides a platform for European scientists to cooperate on a particular project and exchange expertise. These projects are called “Actions”. Luxembourg-based researchers from the public and private sector are invited to participate in these Actions. Participating in a COST Action is a particularly effective way for building up an international network.
Fulbright
The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange programme of the U.S. Department of State promoting international exchange between the United States and over 160 countries worldwide. It fosters and promotes academic excellence and cross-cultural exchange.
Through this MoU, the two organisations will co-fund grants for research visits of Luxembourgish pre-doctoral (PhD students), post-doctoral and senior researchers at US academic institutions within the framework of the prestigious Fulbright Awards programme.
Benefits include a monthly stipend, a one-time travel stipend, sickness and accident benefits, J-1 visa sponsorship, pre-departure orientation and in-country programming (e.g., Gateway Orientations, Fulbright Enrichment Seminars), membership in active Fulbright alumni networks, etc.
The Fulbright Award competition for Luxembourg is held annually by the Commission for Educational Exchange between the United States, Belgium and Luxembourg (Fulbright Commission). It administers several prestigious Fulbright scholarship programmes for Luxembourg citizens. This includes grants for research visits of pre-doctoral, post-doctoral and senior researchers (visiting scholars) at US academic institutions, which are now co-funded by the FNR.
Research visits must be between 3 and 9 months and are possible in all potential areas of scientific research.
Eligible applicants must complete an online application available via links on the Fulbright Commission’s website, which also contains further details about the Fulbright programme, application and selection procedure, and benefits. After submission, please be aware that the application must also be submitted to the FNR’s online grant management system.
Direct link for application for pre-doctoral grants
Direct link for application for post-doctoral grants (including senior researcher grants)
Eligibility criteria
All applicants to the Fulbright Program for Luxembourg must be Luxembourgish citizens and have proficiency in English. (Non-Luxembourg nationals are invited to consult the Fulbright Commission’s websites for opportunities that may exist for their country).
Annual deadline of 1 December – call opening is announced in the FNR Info newsletter.
Fulbright Application Guidelines
