# Odysseus programme

**Funder:** FWO
**Budget:** €21.8M (total call budget)
**Duration:** 5 years
**Consortium:** No
**Frequency:** Annual
**Eligible countries:** BE
**Official call:** https://www.fwo.be/en/support-programmes/all-calls/senior-researchersresearch-teams/odysseusprogramme/
**Last verified:** 9 August 2026

> **Recently updated:** catalog cleanup 2026-07-04: duplicate row (canonical sibling kept)

## Eligibility & scope

Attracts outstanding researchers who have built up a career outside Flanders. Provides start-up funding to develop a research group or research line at a Flemish university. Applicant must be based outside Flanders at time of application.

## Summary

The Odysseus Programme funds outstanding researchers relocating to Flanders to establish independent research groups at Flemish universities, with start-up support over five years. It targets researchers who have built careers outside Flanders and wish to launch or expand a research line within the region. The call is biannual and open to all research fields.

## Who should apply

- Researchers with substantial careers built outside Flanders
- Scientists ready to establish an independent research group or line
- Applicants committed to joining a Flemish university as host institution
- Researchers across all scientific fields

## Key dates

- Biannual call (verify the next deadline on the FWO website)
- Five-year project duration for start-up funding

## Tips for applicants

- Emphasize the independence and distinctiveness of your research line from prior affiliations; Odysseus rewards researchers bringing a new direction to Flanders.
- The host institution commitment matters: secure a concrete hosting agreement and letter of support before submission.
- Demonstrate how your career trajectory and external reputation position you to build a sustainable, competitive group within the Flemish research landscape.

## Frequently asked questions

### How long does the Odysseus Programme funding last?

Five years of start-up funding to establish your research group or line.

### Who is eligible for the Odysseus Programme?

Researchers with careers built outside Flanders who are relocating to establish an independent research group at a Flemish university.

### How often is the Odysseus Programme call open?

The call is biannual; check the FWO website for the next deadline.

### What fields of research does Odysseus fund?

All research fields are eligible under the Odysseus Programme.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/fwo-odysseus-programme-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.

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