# Special Bench Fee from the Fund Suzanne Duchesne **Funder:** FWO **Budget:** €50,000 (split as two awards of €25,000 each) **Duration:** 3 years **Consortium:** No - individual applicant, integrated into the FWO postdoctoral fellowship application (junior or senior) **Application:** Single stage: submitted as part of the FWO postdoctoral fellowship application to the Med4 Cancer Research panel **Frequency:** Annual **Eligible countries:** BE **Official call:** https://www.fwo.be/en/support-programmes/postdoctoral-fellowships/special-bench-fee-from-the-fund-suzanne-duchesne/ **Last updated:** 6 Sept 2026 ## Eligibility & scope Additional bench fee (on top of the regular €4,000–€10,000/year FWO bench fee) for FWO postdoctoral fellows active in cancer research, funded by the King Baudouin Foundation's Fund Suzanne Duchesne. Only the two best-ranked candidates in the Med4 Cancer Research panel receive €25,000 each; applicants must add a justification paragraph to the 'Bench fee' section of their postdoc fellowship application. ## Summary This FWO top-up award adds €25,000 in extra bench fee, on top of the standard €4,000-€10,000/year FWO bench fee, for the two best-ranked cancer researchers applying for an FWO postdoctoral fellowship in the Med4 Cancer Research panel. It targets early-career researchers already submitting a junior or senior postdoc fellowship application to FWO in Belgium, funded through the King Baudouin Foundation's Fund Suzanne Duchesne. There is no separate application: candidates add a justification paragraph to the bench fee section of their existing fellowship submission. ## Who should apply - Early-career researchers applying for an FWO junior or senior postdoctoral fellowship - Applicants whose research falls under the Med4 Cancer Research panel - Researchers based at or applying to host institutions in Belgium - Individual applicants only, no consortium or co-applicant structure ## Key dates - Submitted alongside the annual FWO postdoctoral fellowship deadline for the Med4 Cancer Research panel - Single-stage application, integrated into the standard fellowship submission - Three-year funding period, matching the postdoctoral fellowship term ## Tips for applicants - Write the justification paragraph in the 'Bench fee' section specifically to argue why your cancer research needs the extra €25,000, since this paragraph is the only extra material reviewed for this award. - Because only the top two ranked Med4 Cancer Research candidates receive the award, treat your core fellowship proposal's ranking-relevant sections (track record, project quality) as the real deciding factor, not the bench fee paragraph alone. - Confirm your project fits within cancer research scope for the Med4 panel before applying, since eligibility for this top-up is tied to panel classification, not a separate thematic review. ## Frequently asked questions ### How much does the Special Bench Fee from the Fund Suzanne Duchesne pay? It provides €25,000 each to the two best-ranked candidates in the Med4 Cancer Research panel, on top of the regular FWO bench fee. ### Who can apply for the Fund Suzanne Duchesne bench fee? Only researchers applying for an FWO postdoctoral fellowship (junior or senior) in the Med4 Cancer Research panel, at a Belgian host institution. ### How do I apply for this extra bench fee? You add a justification paragraph to the 'Bench fee' section of your regular FWO postdoctoral fellowship application; there is no separate application form. ### Is the Fund Suzanne Duchesne bench fee awarded every year? Yes, the call runs annually alongside the FWO postdoctoral fellowship round for the Med4 Cancer Research panel. ### Do I need a consortium or co-applicants for this award? No, it is an individual award integrated into a single applicant's postdoctoral fellowship application. --- Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/fwo-special-bench-fee-from-the-fund-suzanne-duchesne-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying. **See which EU calls match your profile.** [Preview your matches in 30 seconds, no signup](https://grantsby.eu/demo?ref=llm_grant_md).