# Special bench fee from the Fund Suzanne Duchesne – Postdoctoral Fellowships Call 2026

**Funder:** FWO
**Budget:** €83,000 total (€41,500 per awardee)
**Duration:** 3 years
**Consortium:** No
**Application:** Single stage — bench fee application integrated into FWO postdoctoral fellowship application; only candidates selected for a postdoctoral fellowship (junior or senior) and evaluated by expert panel Med4 Cancer Research qualify
**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 verified:** 20 June 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Available exclusively to FWO postdoctoral fellows (junior or senior) active in cancer research at Flemish institutions. Applications are submitted via the FWO postdoctoral fellowship call and evaluated by the Med4 Cancer Research expert panel. The two best-ranked candidates each receive €41,500 as an additional bench fee on top of the regular bench fee (€4,000–€10,000/year).

## Summary

The Special Bench Fee from the Fund Suzanne Duchesne supplements FWO postdoctoral fellowships in cancer research with an additional €41,500 per awardee over three years. Only the two highest-ranked candidates in cancer research within the annual FWO postdoctoral fellowship competition (junior or senior track) qualify, provided they work at Flemish institutions. This additional funding sits on top of the standard FWO postdoctoral bench fee.

## Who should apply

- FWO postdoctoral fellowship applicants (junior or senior track) in cancer research
- Researchers based at Flemish institutions in Belgium
- Among the two highest-ranked candidates in the Med4 Cancer Research expert panel evaluation

## Key dates

- Integrated into the FWO postdoctoral fellowship 2026 call (verify deadline on FWO website)
- Single-stage evaluation via the Med4 Cancer Research expert panel
- Three-year fellowship duration

## Tips for applicants

- This bench fee is not a separate application, it is awarded only to the top two ranked candidates in the cancer research panel, so excellence in the FWO postdoctoral fellowship review is the primary route.
- The additional €41,500 supplements standard FWO bench fees (€4,000-€10,000/year); clarify total research support available to your proposal.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much is the Fund Suzanne Duchesne bench fee?

€41,500 per awardee over three years, paid on top of the standard FWO postdoctoral bench fee.

### Who is eligible for the Fund Suzanne Duchesne bench fee?

Only the two highest-ranked FWO postdoctoral fellowship applicants in cancer research evaluated by the Med4 Cancer Research expert panel, based at Flemish institutions.

### How do I apply for the Fund Suzanne Duchesne bench fee?

Apply for an FWO postdoctoral fellowship (junior or senior) in cancer research; eligible applicants are identified during the expert panel review and do not submit a separate bench fee application.

### Is the Fund Suzanne Duchesne bench fee awarded every year?

Yes, it is integrated into the annual FWO postdoctoral fellowship call, with two awardees selected each round.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/fwo-special-bench-fee-from-the-fund-suzanne-duchesne-p-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.