Transcan-4 - European network on Translational Cancer Research

FWO participation and funding in this call are open to both the fundamental research (FO) channel and the Strategic Basic Research (SBO) funding channel, which implies that projects within both FWO channels may be eligible for funding. It should be strongly emphasised that the choice of funding channel depends on the type of research project to be carried out (i.e. rather fundamental in nature versus having strong economic/societal valorisation potential). Failure to comply with the specific requirements of each funding channel may lead to ineligibility.

Please note that this is assessed on an individual basis: European and/or international partners within the same consortium are free to choose their type of research. From FWO’s perspective, only the ‘character’ of the subproject of the Flemish partner applying for FWO funding is relevant.

For the fundamental research funding channel, the relevant regulations apply. For the SBO funding channel, the SBO regulations must be taken into account. The latter concerns projects with a primary economic and/or societal finality, for which valorisation is an essential and mandatory component.

Research proposals must be submitted to the Transcan call secretariat via the submission platform by consortia of European and international researchers, in accordance with the applicable procedures and eligibility criteria set out in the above-mentioned call document. An example of a pre-proposal and full proposal template is available on the call page.

Where several Flemish institutions collaborate within the same consortium and apply for FWO funding, only one joint form must be submitted containing all information on the Flemish parties involved, in line with the ‘regular’ projects. This must always be done by the PI/promoter using their personal e-portal.

The submission deadline is aligned with the call deadline (pre-proposals). It is strongly recommended to contact the FWO administration no later than one week before submission in order to verify eligibility.

Within the framework of an international consortium, FWO can support at least two Flemish projects with a maximum eligible amount of EUR 350,000 (including overheads) per project as a whole, irrespective of the number of parties applying for FWO funding. FWO budgetary rules are also clarified in the ‘Guidelines for Applicants’ document (see from p. 10 onwards).

Key points and deviations from the regular FWO participation framework to take into account:

• Participation in the context of European co-funded partnerships does not interfere with ‘regular’ FWO project participation and is therefore not taken into account with regard to the maximum number of projects that may be applied for / are ongoing. An important caveat, however, is that one may participate in a maximum of 2 different projects/consortia per call, provided they concern different topics.
• A different overhead scheme applies to the fundamental research and SBO funding channels, as clarified in the ‘Guidelines for Applicants’ document (see from p. 10 onwards).
• SBO projects aimed at the development of a ‘spin-off’ are not eligible in this context. This possible avenue may therefore not be described in the FWO pre-registration.
• A ‘users’ or ‘advisory’ committee is not mandatory for an SBO project in this context.
• Projects have a maximum duration of 36 months and must be budgeted accordingly. Automatic extensions are not permitted within this participation framework. Consequently, Article 28 of the regulations on FWO research projects and Article 14 of the regulations on SBO projects are explicitly excluded.
• Researchers must hold an eligible appointment covering the entire duration of the project (e.g. ‘ZAP’ appointment for universities) . This applies to both ‘FO’ and ‘SBO’ projects and, more specifically, with regard to the emeritus scheme (Article 10, §7): this does not apply in this context.
• Research teams applying for FWO funding may, if they wish, involve ‘stakeholders’ (e.g. patient organisations, interest groups, public and/or private organisations) as subcontractors in a research project, including for non-routine tasks. Please contact FWO for further information.

Researchers are strongly advised to contact FWO before submission regarding the eligibility criteria in order to avoid the ineligibility of the Flemish researcher(s) individually and of the consortium as a whole.