AttachmentsFWO overview 2013

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Graphs

20Financing of the FWO

27Organisation

33Support the FWO

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Content

The FWO supports fundamental research

7What can FWO do for me?

11The application procedure

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The FWO supports fundamental research

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Science is fundamental

Science pushes the boundaries of our knowledge. The Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO) is the agency that supports ground-breaking fundamental research at the universities of the Flemish Community. The FWO also stimulates cooperation between the Flemish universities and other research institutes.

Science creates opportunities

Fundamental scientific research is focussed on expanding knowledge about human beings and their environment. As the level of knowledge of our society grows, so does the quality of life in general and the quality of training in particular. Young people are thus provided with every opportunity to deploy their talents in a broad array of disciplines.

Science is essential for our well-being

In the long term, such a high level of knowledge in combination with the resulting human capital pave the way for targeted and applied research, which has also a policy-supporting role. Decisions in economic or social domains can then also be influenced by the work of excellent research groups. This is not surprising, as ground-breaking research may lie at the heart of solutions to the key challenges facing our society today (environment, mobility, health, etc.).

Science is the driver of innovation

Fundamental research seldom leads to short-term economic or social valorisation. It is, however, essential for ensuring our welfare and well-being in the long term. That is why the FWO is dependent on government funding. A balanced distribution of resources between targeted and non-targeted research is required.

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The FWO and Europe

Non-governmental ‘research councils’ are a tradition in Europe. The FWO, too, is a member of the European Research Council (ERC) and involved in various European research initiatives. 

What can FWO do for me?

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Support for research in Flanders

PhD anD PostDoctoral fellowshiPs

— Fellowships for young researchers

(PhD fellowships) of 2x2 years

— Special PhD fellowships of 1 year

— Clinical PhD fellowships of 2 years, part-time

— Postdoctoral fellowships of 2x3 years

— Senior clinical investigator 3x5 years, part-time

research grants of 1 year

research Projects

— Research projects up to 4 years, renewable

— Big Science: supporting research projects at

major international research facilities (CERN, ESRF,

ICECUBE, enz.)

— Odysseus programme: providing start-up funding

for researchers who have built up a career outside

Flanders

Support for internationalisation

international mobility

— Participation in (inter)national conferences

— Short and long stays abroad in and outside Europe

— Bilateral exchange programmes

— Pegasus Marie Curie Fellowships: Postdoctoral

fellowships of 1 (short) or 3 (long) years at a Flemish

university

international contacts

— Scientific research networks

— Organisation of scientific meetings

— Funds for coordination activities of international

collaborative associations

international collaboration

— Bilateral research cooperations (Brazil, China,

Ecuador, Québec, Vietnam, South-Africa)

— Exchange agreements

— Scientific cooperations

euroPean Programmes

— FWO as NCP for programmes within Horizon2020

— COST

— ERA-NET

— JPI

More information and lists of benicifiaries on www.fwo.be

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The list of laureates can be consulted on www.fwo.be

Scientific Prizes

The awarding of scientific prizes, sponsored by private companies or non-profit organisations, creates close ties between the business world and the research community. With these prizes the FWO rewards outstanding fundamental scientific research. But these prizes also have an important signal function: they highlight the societal relevance of scientific research.

the following Prizes were awarDeD in 2013:

— Acerta Scientific Award (€5.000)

Koen Nevens – VUB & Tim Vantilborgh – VUB

— Scientific Prize McKinsey (€5.000) Bart van Grinsven – UHasselt

— Scientific Prize IBM Belgium for informatics (€5.000) Nikolaos Deligiannis – VUB

— Scientific Prize Study Centre Princess Josephine Charlotte (€12.500) Laurent Gillet – Ulg

— Scientific Prize Alcatel-Lucent Bell (€8.000) Dieter Duyck – UGent

— ExxonMobil Chemical European Science & Engineering Award (€40.000) Jorge Cason – TU Delft

— Foundation AstraZeneca Award – Cardiovascular diseases (€25.000) Peter Sinnaeve – KU Leuven

— Foundation AstraZeneca Award – Infectiology (€25.000) Françoise Van Bambeke – UCL

— Foundation AstraZeneca Award – Oncology (€25.000) Jean Christophe Marine – KU Leuven

— Foundation AstraZeneca Award – Asthma & COPD (€25.000) Hamida Hammad- UGent

— Inbev Baillet Latour Prize for Clinical Research (€75.000) Chantal Mathieu – KU Leuven

— Inbev Baillet Latour Health Award (€250.000) Carlo M. Croce – Ohio State University (USA)

— Umicore Award for graduate dissertations (€2.500) Hans Simillion- VUB & Bart Bueken – KU Leuven

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FWO Excellence Prizes

Every five years, FWO grants the following awards through donations and legacies (next call in 2014, next selection in 2015):

— 2 Dr. A. De Leeuw-Damry-Bourlart Prizes, one for

Physical Sciences and one for Applied Sciences;

— 2 Dr. Joseph Maisin Prizes, one for Fundamental

Biomedical Sciences and one for Clinical

Biomedical Sciences;

— The Ernest John Solvay Prize for the Humanities

These prizes are worth € 100,000 each and, in terms of importance, can be considered the “Flemish Nobel Prizes”.

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Duration workflow fellowships: < 5 monthsDuration workflow projects: < 7 months

* If this date falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the closing date is moved to the following Monday at 05:00 PM.

call

External referees (online)

JuneNovember

submission/ eligibility

check

Expert-panels (29+1)

CIS(Pegasus)

Board of Trustees

2x / year meeting

in Brussel

1 February*1 April*

February/March

April/May

The application procedure

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fellowshiPs, research Projects anD

research grants on 1 october 2013

PhD Fellowships

Postdoctoral fellowships

Research projects and research grants

n % n % namount(in kEUR)

%

Biological Sciences 101 12 116 15 171 12.914 14

Humanities 162 19 114 15 107 6.845 8

Social Sciences 160 19 106 14 189 12.643 14

Medical Sciences 209 24 190 25 23 2.257 2

Science and Technology

208 24 226 29 512 32.791 36

Interdisciplinary 15 2 14 2 283 23.123 26

Graphs

22 23

evolution success rate

PhD Fellowships

Postdoctoral fellowships

Research projects

evolution fellowshiPs, research Projects

anD research grants Portfolio

PhD Fellowships

Postdoctoral fellowships

Research projects

Research grants

1400

1200

1000

800

600

400

200

0

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

target33

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PostDoctoral fellowshiPs by DisciPline

15% Biological Sciences 15% Humanities 14% Social Sciences 25% Medical Sciences 29% Science and Technology 2% Interdisciplinary

PhD fellowshiPs by DisciPline

12% Biological Sciences 19% Humanities 19% Social Sciences 24% Medical Sciences 24% Science and Technology 2% Interdisciplinary

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Financing of the FWO

research Projects anD research grants by DisciPline

14% Biological Sciences 8% Humanities 14% Social Sciences 2% Interdisciplinary 36% Medical Sciences 26% Science and Technology

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extra 7.6 million euros (3%) to spend. Finally, FWO

can rely on the employment programme for

fundamental research, the Scientific Maribel Plan,

which brings in 17.9 million euros (8%).

euroPean union

— The purpose of the Pegasus Marie Curie Fellowship

is to attract excellent postdoctoral researchers to

Flanders in order to contribute to the advancement

of Flemish research. The fellowship provides the

selected fellows with optimal conditions to further

develop their research career in Flanders or abroad.

The subsidy for 2013 will amount to 1.4 million

euros (1%).

Funds are raised not only through subsidies, but also via benefactors:

— Prizes: various companies and institutions support

fundamental research in their fields with their own

prizes

— Donations and legacies

— FWO Excellence Prizes: the “Flemish Nobel Prizes”,

each worth € 100,000, have been made possible

thanks to donations and legacies

FWO relies on various financing sources to support researchers. In 2013 the budget totalled 226,4 million euros, which were distributed as follows:

flemish government

— Subsidy, including the Odysseus programme,

international collaboration and research at big

international research facilities: 165.7 million euros (73%)

— Subsidy from the National Lottery: 11.5 million

euros (5%)

feDeral government

— Grant for additional researchers (Federal Science

Policy): 7.1 million euros (3%)

— FGWO subsidy: Fund for Medical Scientific Research

(Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain safety

and Environment): 1.8 million euros (1%)

— IIKW subsidy: Inter-University Institute for Nuclear

Science (Federal Public Service Economy, SMEs,

Self-employed and Energy): 2 million euros (1%)

fiscal anD Parafiscal measures:

— For its postdoctoral fellowships FWO is granted

a 80% income tax exemption, which results in an

estimated extra budget of 11.2 million euros (5%).

Moreover, FWO is exempt from employers’ social

security contributions for Postdoctoral Researchers,

which have been added to the reference list dated

31 December 1995. This gives FWO an estimated

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subsiDy Distribution by DisciPline

13% Biological Sciences 13% Humanities 16% Social Sciences 2% Interdisciplinary 31% Medical Sciences 25% Science and Technology

subsiDy Distribution 2013

45% Fellowships 2% Scientific contacts 1% Research grants 50% Research projects 2% Administrative management

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Organisation

evolution subsiDies 2006-2013 (in keur)

Flemish Government

Federal Government

Total subsidies

250000

200000

150000

100000

50000

0

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

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President

Every year on 1 October a new FWO president is appointed. As stated in the statutes, the position alternates between the rectors of the four major Flemish universities.

the current PresiDent is prof. Anne De Paepe, Rector UGent (October 2013 – September 2014).

President

Board

Board o

f Tru

stee

s

Audit Committee of the FWO Board

of Trustees

Financial Advisory Committee

Expertpanels Administration

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Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees decides upon the proposals of the Board concerning recommendations by the Expertpanels and scientific committees, the activities of the FWO, the budget and accounts, etc.

The Board of Trustees is made up of the following members (1 October 2013):

PresiDent Prof. Anne De Paepe, Rector UGent

vice-PresiDent Prof. Alain Verschoren, Rector UAntwerpen

secretary general dr.ir. Elisabeth Monard, Secretary

General FWO

government Delegates

— Mrs. Danielle Gilliot, Advisor Science and Innovation

Cabinet minister Lieten

— Mr. Georges Stienlet, Inspector-General Finances /

Adjunct-Principal private secretary minister Muyters

members

— Mrs. Patricia Ceysens, President of the Committee

for Economic Affairs, Economic Government

Instruments, Innovation, Science Policy, Employment

and Social Economy of the Flemish Parliament

— Prof. Patrick De Baetselier, Vice-rector Research VUB

— Prof. Paul De Knop, Rector VUB

— Prof. Luc De Schepper, Rector UHasselt

Board

The Board investigates all the matters on which the Board of Trustees is called to deliberate, and presents them to the Board of Trustees. These include the budget, the accounts, the awarding of the different research grants and the formation of the FWO-Expertpanels

The Board consists of the following members (1 October 2013):

PresiDent Prof. Anne De Paepe, Rector UGent

vice-PresiDent Prof. Alain Verschoren, Rector UAntwerpen

secretary general dr.ir. Elisabeth Monard, Secretary

General FWO

observer Prof. Luc De Schepper, Rector UHasselt

members

— Prof. Paul De Knop, Rector VUB

— Prof. Rik Torfs, Rector KU Leuven

— Prof. Erik Van Bockstaele , Administrator-General of

the Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research

— Prof. Géry van Outryve d’Ydewalle, Permanent

Secretary of the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium

for Sciences and the Arts

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— Prof. Jacob Fokkema, President ALW Gebiedsbestuur,

NWO and professor at the Delft University of Technology

— Mr. Guido Gryseels, Director-General, Royal Museum

for Central Africa

— Mr. Roger Heijens, Honoray president PWC and

administrator of companies

— Prof. Bernard Himpens, President of the Belgian Royal

Academy of Medicine / Dean of the Faculty Medicine

of the KU Leuven

— Mr. Luc Jansegers, Administrator-General of the Agency

for Higher Education, Adult Education and Study Grants

— Prof. Ignace Lemahieu, Director Research affairs UGent

— Prof. Liliane Schoofs, Vice-rector Research policy KU

Leuven

— Prof. Carel Stolker, Rector magnificus and president of

the Board of Governors of the University of Leiden

— Prof. Jean-Pierre Timmermans, President Research

Board UAntwerpen

— Prof. Rik Torfs, Rector KU Leuven

— Prof. Erik Van Bockstaele, Administrator-General of

the Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research

— Prof. Géry van Outryve d’Ydewalle, Permanent

Secretary of the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium

for Sciences and the Arts

— Mrs. Mia Vanstraelen, Director of Human Resources

Services EMEA IBM Belgium/Luxemburg

— Prof. Karel Velle, Director-General, State Archives

Member with an advisory vote — Generaal-majoor Harry Vindevogel, Rector of the

Royal Military Academy

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FWO-Expertpanels

The Expertpanels are the beating heart of the FWO. They evaluate the applications for fellowships and research projects. There are 29 subject specialist panels and 1 interdisciplinary panel. Most panels are composed of 16* members , the majority of which are not affiliated to a Flemish university. The panels meet twice a year and submit scientific advice to the Senate and the Board of Trustees.

The 29 Expertpanels are divided into 5 scientific domains:

— Biological Sciences

— Humanities

— Social Sciences

— Medical Sciences

— Science and Technology

* Exceptions are the Expertpanels Cult 4 (18) and Med8 (18)

FWO in its national context – the FFWO

The Board of Trustees of the FWO is responsible for the allocation of the funds which mainly come from the Flemish Government, and to a lesser extent from the Federal Government. The French Community has a fund analogous to the FWO: the “Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique F.R.S.- FNRS”. The Boards of Trustees of both institutions manage the Federal Fund for Scientific Research (FFWO). The FFWO decides on non-divisible resources and a number of well-defined responsibilities (decisions on common rooms of buildings or certain prizes, donations and legacies).

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For ethical advices concerning experiments on humans and animals or the use of genetical manipulation, the FWO calls upon the local ethical committees of the universities.

When it comes to the educational research, both in terms of policy-making and –implementation, of the Flemish Community’s Department of Education, the Research Foundation – Flanders is asked for advice concerning the submitted applications.

Overview:

biological sciences

— Bio1: Molecular and Cellular Biology

— Bio2: Functional Biology

— Bio3: Biodiversity and Ecology

— Bio4: Applied Biological Sciences

humanities

— Cult1: Languages

— Cult2: Art and Literature

— Cult3: History, History of Arts and Archeology

— Cult4: Theology, Philosophy, Science of Religion

There is also an International Scientific Collaboration Committee (CIWC) consisting of 14 Flemish members, or former members, of Expertpanels from various disciplines. This committee advises on applications for attending conferences, stays abroad, bilateral exchange agreements, scientific research networks, European programmes (ERA-NET, JPI,…) and requests to organize conferences in Belgium. This committee meets once every month.

The panel for International Collaboration (CIS) meets three or four times a year, depending on the needs, and evaluates all proposals for international collaboration that go beyond individual mobility and for which there is no continuous submission process:

— Bilateral research cooperation

— ERA-NET (Flemish members are consulted for advice)

— International Coordination Action

— Pegasus Marie Curie Fellowship

There are also a number of advisory groups with well-defined mandates which advise on a specific line of research (Jury Clinical Fellowships, Odysseus Jury, Big Science Jury,…) or within a specific collaboration. These groups meet once or twice a year as requested.

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science anD technology

— W&T1: Mathematical Sciences

— W&T2: Physics

— W&T3: Condensed Matter and Physical Chemistry

— W&T4: Chemistry

— W&T5: Informatics and Knowledge Technology

— W&T6: Chemical Engineering, Material Sciences

— W&T7: Energy, Electrical Engineering, Electronics

and Mechanics

— W&T8: Sciences of the Earth and Space

— W&T9: Science and Technology of Construction

and the Built Environment

interDisciPlinary exPertPanel

social sciences

— G&M1: Sciences of Law and Criminology

— G&M2: Economics, Business Economics and

Management

— G&M3: Psychology, Pedagogy, Didactics and Social

Work

— G&M4: Social, Political and Communication

Sciences

meDical sciences

— Med1: Pharmaceutical Sciences and Protein

Chemistry

— Med2: Genetics, Functional Genome Research,

Bio-informatics Science

— Med3: Microbiology and Immunology

— Med4: Cancer Research

— Med5: Cell Biology, Physiology, Physiopathology

and Medical Clinical Research of Organ Systems I

— Med6: Cell Biology, Physiology, Physiopathology

and Medical Clinical Research of Organ Systems II

— Med7: Cell Biology, Physiology, Physiopathology

and Medical Clinical Research of Organ Systems III

— Med8: Health Sciences

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Personnel and accounting department

Stephan DurayAlain De Dobbeleer

IT departmentGeert De Pauw

Logistics departmentWerner Coorevits

Applications and current

research department

Tanja Rubbrecht

Planning of research policy

dr. Olivier Boehmedr. ir. Isabelle Verbaeys

Kim BarbéWim Schreurs

Ann MoerenhoutEva Leemans

Geertrui Poelaert

Administration

Secretary Generaldr. ir. Elisabeth Monard

Operational planningChristiane Linthout

AdministrationDanny Huysmans

Reporting, financing & budgetAnne-Aymon Gunst

Document managementDanique Moors

Support for researchersdr. Hans Willems

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international Programs (e.g. travel grants anD

bilateral scientific cooPeration):

+32 (0)2 550 15 92 interprog@fwo.becis@fwo.be

big science

+32 (0)2 550 15 13 bigscience@fwo.be

scientific Prizes

+32 (0)2 550 15 13 prijzen@fwo.be

national contact Point euroPean Programmes

+32 (0)2 550 15 70 ncp_fwo@fwo.be

exPertPanels

+32 (0)2 550 15 35 expert@fwo.be

Contact the FWO

biolgocial sciences

+32 (0)2 550 15 82 bio@fwo.be

humanities

+32 (0)2 550 15 84 cult@fwo.be

social sciences

+32 (0)2 550 15 86 GM@fwo.be

meDical sciences

+32 (0)2 550 15 90 med@fwo.be

science anD technology

+32 (0)2 550 15 88 WT@fwo.be

interDisciPlinary research

+32 (0)2 550 15 78 interdisciplinair@fwo.be

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Why support the FWO?

Fundamental research, or the search to push the boundaries of our knowledge, is a necessity in our society. Without this search there would be no penicillin, velcro or post-it’s.

But the search for new foundations of science is not always readily visible. It is only after many years of searching, testing and double-checking that scientists come out. As many years go by before fundamental scientific research finds a practical application. This long search makes today’s researchers tomorrow’s inventors. And they need your support!

With your support to scientific research you consciously choose for the future. With your donation or legacy you help to build the future of your children and grandchildren. And your great-grandchildren.

Support the FWO

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How to support the FWO?

The Fund fulfils its mission partly thanks to financial donations from benefactors and testators. The desired goal and type of scientific research can be set out in the conditions of the act of donation or will, as long as the research topic is sufficiently generic. The government has ensured that the tax levied on these donations is very limited, so that the money goes almost entirely to scientific research through the following instruments:

— As a Public Utility Foundation, FWO enjoys lower

inheritance taxes under Art. 59 of the Inheritance

Tax Act.

— Monetary donations are tax deductible under Art.

104, 3° b of the 1992 Income Tax Act, provided the

sum donated is at least 40 euro (Art. 107) and lower

than 250,000 euro (to be indexed); moreover, the

sum donated cannot amount to more than 10% of

the net taxable income (Art. 109), or, in the case of

companies, 500.000 euro and not more than 5% of

the net taxable income (Art. 200).

More information: http://www.fwo.be/en/support-the-fwo/e-mail: mecenaat@fwo.be

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Colophon

Research Foundation–Flanders (FWO)Egmontstraat 51000 Brussels, BelgiumT 02/512 91 10F 02/512 58 90E post@fwo.bewww.fwo.be

Editor-in-chief dr.ir. Elisabeth Monard, Secretary-General, FWOCopyright Research Foundation–FlandersCreation and design CIBE Communication coach in communication

Published in May 2014