FWO
SBO (Strategic Basic Research) projects
Pre-registration by 2026-09-11 at 5pm; final submission by host institution by 2026-09-25 at 5pm
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FWO Strategic Basic Research (SBO) projects fund problem-oriented research with economic or societal application prospects, with a total budget pool of €45.5M (~€1.7M per project excl. overhead, max €500k/year per legal entity) over four years. Applicants must be based at Flemish research institutions and lead a multi-partner consortium (at least one other Flemish organisation; some institutions like IMEC and VITO must include additional Flemish partners). The call is open annually; this round's results are expected end of May 2027.
Details
| Funder | FWO |
| Budget | €45.5M total (guideline ~€1.7M excl. overhead per project; max €500k/year incl. overhead per legal entity) |
| Deadline | 25 September 2026 |
| Duration | 4 years |
| Consortium | Required — at least one Flemish research organisation; some institutions (IMEC, VITO, VIB, Flanders Make, VLIZ, hogescholen) must partner with at least one other Flemish research organisation |
| Application | 2-stage: pre-registration (11 Sep 2026) → full proposal submitted by host institution (25 Sep 2026); rebuttal phase Jan 2027; results end of May 2027 |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Eligible countries | BE |
Eligibility & scope
Problem-oriented strategic basic research with economic or societal application prospects. Applicants must be based at Flemish research institutions (universities, university colleges, strategic research centres); max 20% budget to non-Flemish partners. Supervisors at Flemish universities require ZAP appointment; non-university applicants need equivalent R4-level role with doctoral degree. Advisory committee of stakeholders required (except spin-off projects). Proposals submitted in English via FWO e-portal.
Who Should Apply
- •Researchers based at Flemish universities, university colleges, or strategic research centres
- •Applicants ready to lead a consortium of at least two Flemish organisations
- •Research addressing a problem with clear economic or societal application prospects
- •University supervisors holding a ZAP appointment; non-university applicants at R4 level with a doctoral degree
Key Dates
- •Pre-registration deadline 11 September 2026 at 5pm; full proposal submission by host institution 25 September 2026 at 5pm
- •Two-stage process with rebuttal phase in January 2027; results end of May 2027
- •Four-year project duration
Tips for Applicants
- ✓Consortium composition matters: IMEC, VITO, VIB, Flanders Make, VLIZ, and hogescholen must formally partner with at least one other Flemish organisation, or they cannot be the lead; check this early to avoid late rejection.
- ✓An advisory committee of stakeholder representatives (industry, civil society, end-users) is mandatory unless the project is a spin-off; draft it in the pre-registration phase to strengthen the full proposal.
- ✓Non-Flemish partners are capped at 20% of the total budget; front-load Flemish capacity and justify any non-Flemish involvement by expertise gap, not convenience.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much funding is available under FWO SBO?
The total call budget is €45.5M; the guideline for individual projects is approximately €1.7M excluding overhead, with a maximum of €500k per year including overhead per legal entity.
Who can lead an FWO SBO project?
University-based supervisors must hold a ZAP appointment; non-university applicants must hold an equivalent R4-level position with a doctoral degree, all based at a Flemish institution.
Is a consortium required for FWO SBO?
Yes, at least one other Flemish research organisation must be a partner; certain institutions (IMEC, VITO, VIB, Flanders Make, VLIZ, hogescholen) must include a second Flemish partner.
What type of research does FWO SBO fund?
Problem-oriented strategic basic research with clear economic or societal application prospects; purely fundamental or exploratory research without application pathway is not the fit.
Can non-Flemish institutions participate in FWO SBO?
Non-Flemish partners can contribute but are capped at 20% of the total project budget; the lead must be at a Flemish institution.
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