Funding Academy Day 2025

Cluster

Career management

Target audience

Ghent University staff and MA and PhD students

Abstract

Join us for the Funding Academy Day 2025, a dynamic event designed to help (aspiring) researchers navigate the complex landscape of funding opportunities. This full-day program includes insightful sessions on securing research grants, funding for doctoral and postdoctoral positions, and collaboration opportunities at local, European, and global levels.

Highlights include a plenary session on avoiding critical mistakes in grant applications, followed by interactive thematic tracks. Explore entrepreneurial careers, discover funding options for academic research, and learn how to attract international talent or establish collaborative partnerships. Engage in speed dating sessions with experienced researchers and funding experts to gain personalized insights.

Whether you're an aspiring PhD, a PhD or a postdoc looking for funding to continue your research, or a professor seeking research collaborations, this event is for you. Don’t miss this opportunity to strengthen your grant-writing skills!

Objectives

This course will give participants the opportunity to

Improve your grant writing by identifying common pitfalls and learning what evaluators look for.
Get an overview of funding opportunities for PhD students, postdocs, and professors, including local, European, and global programs.
Explore funding options for entrepreneurial careers, including industry collaborations and launching your own company.
Learn how to attract international researchers and build global partnerships through funding schemes like Horizon Europe and Erasmus+.
Network with funding experts and experienced researchers to find the right opportunities and collaborators.

Dates and venue

22 May 2025, from 10:00–17:00, Provinciehuis (Charles de Kerchovelaan 189, 9000 Ghent).

Free underground bike parking is available on site.

Limited underground car parking is available - set your GPS for Eekhout 5. The fee is €1/hr.

Programme

10:00	12:00	Plenary session—Auditorium How to avoid killer mistakes in grant applications Target audience: all research staff and research support staff Goal of the session: enhancing your core grant writing skills to convince evaluators Speakers: Dr. Margo Baele, Dr. Frederik Vandecasteele (EU-team)
12:00	13:30	Networking Lunch—Foyer During lunch, there will be an info market where researchers can get guidance and support from experts in Open Science and Research Data Management, Core Facilities, TechTransfer, Societal Impact
		Track A - Career boost (young researchers) Location: Auditorium	Track B - Attract talent (Professors) Location: Bocage	Track C - Collaboration (Postdocs and professors) Location: Bronbos	Track D - Speed dating Location: De Parade
13:30	14:30	Session 1A: Entrepreneurial careers Target audience: PhD students or postdocs interested to cooperate with a company or to create a spin-off Goal of the session: supporting industrial (postdoc)careers with internal and national funding Speakers: Ann Zwertvaegher (IOF team), Kamila Mascart (TechTransfer)	Session 1B: Local Bites Target audience: professors looking for PhD students Goal of the session: attracting national funding for academic or industrial PhD candidates Speakers: Karen Curé (TechTransfer), Thijs De Jaegher (Team Vlaams-Federaal)	Session 1C: Local Charm Target audience: Professors looking for national/Flemish project funding Goal of the session: to set up or consolidate your research group with project funding supporting local collaboration Speakers: Cédrique Walthoff-Borm (BOF-team), An Moors (BOF-team), Sien Smits (Team Vlaams-Federaal), Fien Elderweirdt (Team Vlaams-Federaal), Ann Zwertvaegher (IOF team)	Session 1D Speed dating with experienced researchers in various funding schemes
14:30	15:00	Coffee Break—Foyer
15:00	16:00	Session 2A: Academic careers Target audience: PhD students or postdocs Goal of the session: launching your academic career using Flemish and European funding schemes Speakers: Frederik Vandecasteele (EU-team), Thijs De Jaegher (Team Vlaams-Federaal)	Session 2B: Global Delights Target audience: Professors wishing to attract doctoral fellows and postdocs from abroad Goal of the session: to attract international talent with external funding: doctoral fellows with BOF funding (DOS, CSC, DOC with label), and international postdocs with Horizon Europe MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships Speakers: An Moors (BOF team), Cédrique Walthoff-Borm (BOF team) and Margo Baele (EU-team)	Session 2C: Global Flavors Target audience: Researchers (postdoc/ZAP) and research support managers Goal of the session: to unlock funding opportunities supporting international collaboration and global outreach in research and educational activities, such as VLIR-UOS, Erasmus+ KA2/3, Horizon Europe (pillar 2 and 3), FWO WEAVE, Cofunded Partnerships Speakers: Sylvia Burssens (EU-team), Steven Schoofs (Global Outreach), Sien Smits (Team Vlaams-Federaal), Andries Verspeeten (Onderwijsprojecten EU Internationaal)	Session 2D Speed dating with experienced researchers in various funding schemes
16:00	17:00	Networking Reception—Foyer

Registration

Follow this link for the registration module. Once you have chosen a workshop, it is not possible to change your choice.
The no show policy applies.

Registration fee

Free of charge for Ghent University staff and students.

Number of participants

Maximum 160

Language

English

Evaluation method

After successful participation, the Doctoral School Office will add this course to your curriculum of the Doctoral Training Programme in Oasis. Please note that this can take up to one to two months after completion of the course.