# Tier-1 Compute Starting Grant

**Funder:** FWO
**Duration:** Up to 8 months
**Consortium:** No
**Application:** Single stage; assessed by Tier-1 coordinator
**Frequency:** Continuous
**Eligible countries:** BE
**Official call:** https://www.fwo.be/en/support-programmes/all-calls/senior-researchersresearch-teams/vsc-computing-time/
**Last verified:** 20 June 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Free trial compute allocation (up to 500k core hours and 1000 GPU hours) for Flemish university/SOC/public knowledge institution researchers to test software and perform scalability benchmarks before a full Tier-1 Compute application. Apply by email to compute@vscentrum.be.

## Summary

The FWO Tier-1 Compute Starting Grant offers free trial high-performance computing resources, up to 500,000 core hours and 1,000 GPU hours, for researchers at Flemish universities and public knowledge institutions to test software and benchmark scalability before submitting a full Tier-1 Compute allocation proposal. Projects run for up to eight months and applications are accepted continuously with no set deadlines. This is a stepping stone designed to reduce risk and refine computational workflows before committing to a larger resource request.

## Who should apply

- Researchers at Flemish universities, university colleges (hogescholen), and public knowledge institutions
- Teams with new computational methods or workflows needing validation before a larger allocation request
- Projects requiring up to 500,000 core hours and/or 1,000 GPU hours for testing and benchmarking
- Applicants planning to submit a full Tier-1 Compute proposal in the medium term

## Key dates

- Continuous intake; applications accepted year-round with no fixed deadline
- Single-stage evaluation by Tier-1 coordinator
- Projects run for up to eight months

## Tips for applicants

- Apply early to the full Tier-1 scheme if your trial results justify it; the starting grant is explicitly a gateway, not a sustained resource.
- Email compute@vscentrum.be directly with your trial plan; clarity on the research bottleneck (software validation vs. scalability proof) shapes reviewer assessment.
- Document and share your trial benchmarks; concrete performance data strengthens your transition to a larger Tier-1 award.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much computing time do I get with the FWO Tier-1 Compute Starting Grant?

Up to 500,000 core hours and 1,000 GPU hours for the trial period.

### How long can my FWO Tier-1 Compute Starting Grant project run?

Up to eight months.

### Who is eligible for the FWO Tier-1 Compute Starting Grant?

Researchers at Flemish universities, university colleges, and public knowledge institutions.

### Is there a deadline for applying to the FWO Tier-1 Compute Starting Grant?

No; the scheme accepts applications continuously throughout the year with no set deadline.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/fwo-tier-1-compute-starting-grant-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.