Large-scale research infrastructure

What?

In the call for large-scale research infrastructure funding is available for investments of more than 1.000.000 EUR in both fundamental and strategic basic research. Due to the broad definition of research infrastructure, it is possible for research groups from both alpha, beta and gamma faculties to submit a proposal.

Research infrastructure comprises all facilities and sources that promote the performance of cross-border and strategic basic research across all scientific disciplines. Besides scientific infrastructure, this includes collections, natural habitats, corpora and databases (including digital opening up). Due to this broad definition it is possible for research groups from both the alpha, beta and gamma faculties to submit a proposal.

An important criterion is that the new infrastructure can take the research to a substantially higher level. The application must include a strong research plan for the first years after acquisition of the infrastructure.

For the 2025-2026 call there is 10.363.636 EUR (overhead excl.) available. 

Conditions

  • Total subsidy cost (excl. co-funding) at least 1.000.000 EUR (incl. non-refundable part of the VAT)
  • Applicants: Flemish universities, strategic research centers and higher education institutions in charge of scientific research persuant to the Higher Education Code of 11 October 2013
  • Promoters from Ghent University: Must have a ZAP-affiliation (or similar). Co-promoters can also be guest professor or postdoctoral researcher.
  • Third Parties (companies, foreign partners, ...) can be part of the consortium, but can never receive funding from FWO. They have to provide a financially assessable contribution to the project.
  • The funding percentage depends on the type of cooperation of the consortium:
    • The minimum fundig percentage is 70%
    • This percentage can increase to 90% if there is substantial cooperation between partners from two different institutions that can apply for funding and if each partner contributes to the co-funding in an equal way
    In case of 90% funding, the part of the cofinancing from Ghent Unviersity will be paid from internal university funds: read the conditions in art. 7 of this regulation (in Dutch)
    • 100% funding is possible if at least 25% of the investment costs are paid by an institution other than a university or university college
  • Duration: 4 years

What costs are eligible?

  • Equipment: The purchase of (components for) the research infrastructure or the upgrade of already existing infrastructure

  • Staff costs: For the development and construction or permanent operation of the research infrastructure, including costs for training.
  • Operational costs: Maintenance costs, upgrades or repair costs to the research infrastructure
Attention: consumables for the use of the infrastructure are not eligible! These costs should be charged on the research projects that make use of the infrastructure.

Overhead costs should not be included in the budget.

Procedure

  1. The promoter-supervisor submits a preregistration on 30 June 2025 at the latest, via the FWO e-portal
  2. The promoter-supervisor submits the full proposal to Ghent University on 11 September 2025 at the latest (again via de FWO e-portal)
  3. Budget check by Team National Funding from Ghent University. Any corrections can still be made by the promoter.
  4. The host institution submits the proposal to FWO on 18 Spetember 2025 at 17:00 at the latest
  5. Eligibility check by the FWO
  6. External peer review by referees not working in Belgium
  7. Posibility to give feedback to the referee reports
  8. Evaluation by 2 committees.
    For more detailed information on the selection criteria from both committees: see art. 13 of the regulations
    • Science Commission: Evaluation of the research programme. In addition to the full proposal, the Science commission will also see the referee reports and the feedback from the applicants. The commission makes a list of applications for which a hearing will be organised.
      During the hearing, applicants can explain their application and answer further questions from the commission.
      The commission then formulates a motivated advice, with a ranking of the most excellent applications.
    • Invest Commission: Evaluation of the investment plan of the proposals that were classified as excellent by the Science commission. The commission also examines whether there are still opportunities for cooperation with other Flemish or foreign partners. 
      Based on this, the commission formulates an advice, which will be added to the advice of the Science commission.
  9. The Board of Directors of the FWO takes a final decision, based on the advices from both committees (March 2026)
  10. Project can start: Spring 2026

More information

Contact

Team National Funding