Submission of a joint project proposal at the FWO (FWO as Lead Agency)

In the framework of the Weave initiative, the FWO has a bilateral agreement with the following countries:

In practice this means that researchers who are eligible at the FWO, can submit at the FWO a joint bilateral or trilateral project with researchers from Luxembourg (FNR), Austria (FWF), Slovenia (ARRS) and/or Switzerland (SNSF).

Features

Weave is not a new, separate funding programme. It makes use of existing funding channels for fundamental research (with the corresponding timelines and conditions) of the Weave partners. The FWO will integrate the Weave initiative as from 2021 onwards within its channel for regular FWO research projects for fundamental research:

  • Project duration: in principle 4 years, minimally 2 years.
  • Call closed
  • Announcement of results: 16 December 2021.
  • Start of the projects: 1st of January 2022.

Profile and conditions

The modalities (e.g. budget) and eligibility criteria of the Flemish part follow the regulations of the junior/senior research projects for fundamental research. This means among other things:

  • FWO staff and consumables: € 45,000 to € 130,000 per year, project partners may also request a budget in the amount of € 0 or € 20,000 per year.
  • FWO equipment: maximum € 150,000 per project.
  • Institutions involved (Article 7) and (co-)supervisor(s) (Article 10-12) have to comply with the conditions as described in the regulations junior/senior research projects for fundamental research. Within a Weave project it is however not possible to include a non-Flemish institution other than the involved foreign Weave partner(s) for maximally 10% of the total project funding.
  • Junior vs. senior projects based on Article 10 of the regulations junior/senior research projects for fundamental research. In order to decide on the type of research project (junior/senior), the scientific seniority of the involved foreign Weave (co-)supervisor(s) has to be take into account as well.
  • Weave projects are taken into account for the maximum of 2 projects per application round for which you can act as a (co-)supervisor(-spokesperson). They also count for the regulation stating that the total number of research projects fundamental research – applied for and currently ongoing – in name of one and the same (co-)supervisor(-spokesperson) cannot be more than two on the starting date of the new granted project.

The modalities (e.g. budget) and eligibility criteria of the foreign partner(s) follow the regulations of the respective research funder(s) for which they are eligible. For more information, see the specific webpages of the following research funders that are admissible:

Procedure?

The submission and evaluation of this type of joint project proposal follow the procedure of the junior/senior research projects for fundamental research. This means among other things:

  • To be submitted at the FWO (FWO E-portal) by using the specific application form ‘Research project WEAVE (FWO acts as Lead Agency)’. Please be aware: when applying for a Weave project, you cannot use the application form for a regular junior/senior research project for fundamental research.
  • Each (co-)supervisor(-spokesperson) of both the involved Flemish and foreign research teams must have an online profile on the FWO E-portal – including an updated overview of his/her functions/career as well as an updated list of publications – and must add to the application his/her CV (template).
  • Please be aware: besides submitting the entire application to the FWO, for each involved Weave country/region an administrative submission needs to be done as well to the involved foreign research funder. For more information (including the deadline):
  • The FWO and the involved foreign research funder(s) check the eligibility of the application.
  • Weave research projects will be evaluated together – and thus in competition – with junior/senior research projects for fundamental research. For more information see the webpage junior/senior research projects for fundamental research. Positively evaluated applications will be presented by the FWO to the involved foreign research funder(s) for ratification.
  • The boards of trustees of all involved research funders do the final ratification. The FWO will pay for the Flemish part of the positively evaluated proposals, the foreign part will be paid by the respective foreign research funder(s).

Regulations and downloads

  • General regulations
    These general regulations are applicable for every funding application to the FWO.
  • Regulations Weave
    The regulations for Weave projects will be integrated end-February 2021 in the Regulations of the Research Foundation – Flanders governing fundamental research projects.

In case of any further questions regarding Weave, mail to weave@fwo.be