Mobility projects France -TOURNESOL

The FWO is keen on promoting international collaboration as a driving force for excellence. That is why the FWO signs agreements with a number of countries for the funding of scientific mobility projects. Within these projects only travel and living expenses can be funded.

Partenariat Hubert Curien (PHC) TOURNESOL is a scientific exchange programme supported by FWO and the Embassy of France in Brussels in which travel grants are allocated in the framework of selected scientific mobility projects. The goal of such TOURNESOL grants is to further sustain and expand the collaborations between Flanders and France.

• Duration of projects: 2 years (01/01/2026 – 31/12/2027)
• All scientific disciplines are eligible
• FWO funding for the researchers from Flanders: funding for travel and accommodation expenses of junior researchers with a maximum of 2,000 euro per project per year; travel to be booked through a travel agency authorized by the FWO
• At Flemish side only predoctoral researchers or postdoctoral researchers (with maximally 12 years postdoctoral experience, i.e. first PhD degree can be obtained maximally 12 years before the submission deadline (02/04/2025) of the project, to be counted from the date of obtaining the doctoral degree) can make use of the funding to cover travel towards and accommodation expenses in France

• The collaboration with partners from France will have an added value for the project.
• As supervisor-spokesperson of the Flemish research team, you hold a PhD. Important: In addition, you have maximally 12 years of postdoctoral seniority (first PhD degree can be obtained maximally 12 years before the submission deadline (02/04/2025) of the project, to be counted from the date of obtaining the doctoral degree).
• In addition, you hold, throughout the entire period of your project, an appointment of at least 50% at:
  • a university in the Flemish Community (including the academic programmes within the corresponding association), or to
  • a federal or Flemish scientific institute as scientific staff of the Dutch-speaking community of, or to
  • a university hospital in the Flemish Community as scientific staff, or to
  • a hospital with an academic character recognized as research center in the Flemish Community as scientific staff.
• You agree with the Research Integrity Clause.

• Carefully read the guidelines for applicants (see ‘Documents and additional information for applicants’ below).
• You must submit your project proposal before the deadline to both FWO and Campus France according to the modalities of each institution.
• For FWO you submit your application through the FWO E-loket by using the specific digital application form under ‘International collaboration / Mobility projects’. Please note that each online FWO submission is automatically confirmed by a confirmation email. If you did not receive such an email, please verify whether you properly submitted your application. Please be aware that it is essential to update your FWO E-loket profile each time you submit a new FWO application.
• Specific points of attention FWO application:
  • A CV of each involved Flemish and French (co-)supervisor(-spokesperson) that is structured according to the FWO Mobility Projects CV template. Please note that only the Flemish supervisor-spokesperson can upload these CVs in the FWO application.
  • Only the Flemish supervisor-spokesperson should register at FWO by creating an online profile including an overview of academic positions and an updated list of publications on the FWO E-portal before the submission deadline. Please note that the registration of your login/password can take up to 24 hours. It is therefore strongly advised to start well in advance.
• FWO and Campus France perform an eligibility check to verify if your application meets all formal criteria of each institution involved.
• In a first phase, the eligible proposals will be evaluated separately at Flemish and at French side. At FWO the evaluation will be done by the CDP (Cross-Domain Panel).
• In a second phase, the final funding decision will be taken during a joint committee between FWO and the Embassy of France in Belgium/Campus France. Proposals must have been evaluated positively on both the French and Flemish side in order to be fundable.

• Webpage Campus France regarding this TOURNESOL call 2025