Results of the Call FRArt 2025
On 10 April 2025, the FRArt Management Board awarded funding to the following FRArt Research Projects.
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Results of the Call for Infrastructure & Large Equipment 2024
On 9 April 2025, the FNRS Board of Directors granted the following applications under the Infrastructure & Large Equipment Call 2024.
The aim of this new version of the Large Equipment Call (GEQ) is to promote and consolidate the state-of-the-art infrastructure in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation by financing the acquisition of major equipment, the establishment and development of research infrastructures and the upgrading of existing facilities.
Opening of the WelCHANGE call
Funding of projects in the humanities and social sciences with potential societal impact
WelCHANGE FNRS is a funding programme for research projects
- carried out by a principal promoter in the humanities and social sciences,
with potential societal impact. - These projects, which may be single or multi-university, must be led by a principal promoter in the SHS, in possible collaboration with co-promoters in the SVS or SEN.
In practical terms, the WelCHANGE FNRS programme offers financial support over 4 years, including operating, personnel and equipment costs.
Applications must be submitted by 2pm on 28 May.
The relevant documents are available via the following link.
For any questions about the programme: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
For any technical questions about submitting an application: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Opening of the 8th Generet Award for Rare Diseases call for applications
On the initiative of the Generet Fund, managed by the King Baudouin Foundation, the prestigious Generet Award will be granted in 2025, for the 8th time, to support a 4-year research project in the field of rare diseases in Belgium.
Main Features
Amount: 1.000.000 € over 4 years granted in two instalments of 500.000 € (the second being subject to the positive evaluation of a mid-term report).
Rare diseases are considered to be life threatening or chronic conditions which affect no more than 1 person out of 2.000. Rare cancers and rare adverse drug events research projects are not eligible for this call.
Application Procedure
Proposals will undergo a two-step application procedure encompassing a pre-proposal phase (open to all) and a full proposal phase (accessible to shortlisted applicants from the first stage).
Applicants applying to the pre-proposal phase must fill in a short pre-proposal form, provide a letter of intent of max. 3 pages focusing on the scientific proof of concept of the research project and attach a relevant core bibliography and short CV information.
Eligable candidates
Candidates must be:
- Internationally established investigators, with outstanding scientific achievements and multiple seminal contributions in the field of rare diseases.
- Internationnaly established investigators, with outstanding scientific achievements and multiple seminal contributions in common diseases, who can demonstrate that their research will have a substantial added value for rare diseases and can accelerate research in this particular field.
Candidates must have a scientific seniority of min. PhD + 10 years (career breaks, such as maternity leave or long-time illness, not included).
Candidates must be affiliated to a Belgian University, a Belgian University Hospital or an eligible Research Institute, until December 31st, 2029 and not reach the retirement age limit during the project timeframe.
Former laureates cannot reapply to the Generet Award as Principal Investigator but can be partners in other applications (at the earliest 4 years after being laureate).
Eligible research project
The research project must be conducted in Belgium in the field of rare diseases.
The research project should aim at a better understanding of the processes underpinning rare diseases and translating fundamental discoveries into better prevention, diagnosis or treatment for patients. Research can encompass all stages from bench to bedside.
Eligible expenses
Eligible expenses encompass personnel costs, running costs and equipment. A max. of 10% overheads may be applicable (subject to negotiation and included in the Prize money).
Up to 30% of the Award's amount can be outsourced for supporting international or intranational expenses (personnel and running costs) including the private sector if they charge at cost price.
Call timeline
- Opening of the call: March 20, 2025
- Pre-proposals deadline: May 12nd, 2025
- First Panel meeting: End of June 2025
- Invitation for full proposals: Following the first Panel meeting
- Full proposals deadline: August 11th, 2025
- Second Panel meeting: End of November 2025
- Start of the research: January 1st, 2026
How to apply ?
Pre-proposals, written in English, must be submitted via the online application system available on www.generetaward.be on May12nd, 2025 at the latest.
The complete regulations of the Generet Award 2025 are available here.
The complete regulations of the Generet Award 2025 are available here.
The list of the previous laureates is available here.
Questions about the Award should be addressed via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Press release from the Rectors’ Council of French-speaking universities in Belgium : The universities of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation support “Stand Up for Science”
1 million euros for Research into early-onset dementia thanks to Generet Prize
This is an extremely promising avenue of research, and one that we are encouraging on this International Rare Disease Day. “What we are developing is as close as it gets to curing a form of early-onset dementia: we are targeting the genetic cause of the disease”, explains Prof. Dr. Patrik Verstreken who receives the Generet Prize for Rare Diseases
Prof. Dr. Patrik Verstreken (Professor and researcher at the Center for Brain & Disease Research VIB – KU Leuven) is researching how a specific form of early-onset dementia can be treated with so-called ASOs (antisense oligonucleotides). This year, he receives the Generet Prize for Rare Diseases from the Generet Fund, managed by the King Baudouin Foundation and administered by the FNRS. This prize comes with a research budget of 1 million euros.
Difficulty processing information and memory, mood swings, behavioural changes... the symptoms of dementia are all too familiar to many. For some, they come very early: several hundred thousand people worldwide carry a genetic mutation that inevitably causes them to develop dementia in their forties or early fifties. In Belgium, 300 to 400 people suffer from this disease. The disease strikes early and progresses rapidly.
"It concerns familial versions of Alzheimer's," says laureate Prof. Dr. Patrik Verstreken (VIB – KU Leuven). Prof. Verstreken's team is particularly looking at a large Mexican family with the same mutation. In other families, it is a different mutation, but always on the presenilin gene, and always with the certainty that early-onset dementia will occur.
"We are investigating how we can treat them with antisense oligonucleotides. ASOs are a type of medication that ensures certain parts of the DNA are expressed differently – 'differently' usually means 'less'," explains Prof. Verstreken.
When asked when the drug will be available to patients, Prof. Verstreken understandably responds somewhat cautiously, "But I dare to hope within a foreseeable time, which in research terms means: within about ten years…Thanks to the funds from the Generet Fund, we can create more ASOs, conduct more preclinical tests, involve more families, learn about more mutations... In short, continue working towards a solution."
See the press release of the King Baudoin Foundation...
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