13 top researchers are coming to Flanders

30/04/2021 16:33

The flagship of the FWO, the Odysseus programme aims to encourage excellent researchers who have built up a career outside Flanders, to come and work in Flanders and establish themselves within the Flemish research community. Within the Odysseus programme, the FWO provides top researchers with start-up funding for 5 years in order to develop a research group or set up a research line within a Flemish university, with the university offering them a position within the institution. Following a thorough reform, in which the objective of the Odysseus programme was retained, the Odysseus programme again does what it set out to do: attract top research talents to Flanders.

The first call under the revamped Odysseus programme was closed on 30 September 2020. We received no fewer than 102 eligible applications, including 40 for TYPE I and 62 for TYPE II. Based on the peer review reports from on-topic experts, the TYPE I and TYPE II Odysseus juries made a first selection of 12 and 23 candidates who were invited for an interview on 25-26 February 2021. Based on excellence and taking into account the available funds, the Odysseus juries decided to select a total of five TYPE I and eight TYPE II projects for a total amount of €15,603,236 and €7,463,745 respectively. The FWO and the Flemish research community are delighted to welcome the following excellent researchers and their research projects to Flanders. The next Odysseus call will in principle be launched in the first half of 2022.

View the 13 financed research projects.