The Fund for Scientific Research-FNRS and the Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO) will grant, in 2026, the Nokia Bell Scientific Award in recognition of an outstanding PhD thesis that brings the most original contribution in the field of Information and Communication Technologies.
Main features
- Eligible topics:
- Artificial and connected intelligence
- Artificial Intelligence assisted software development
- Decentralized/Trustless and secure Software Systems
- Edge and cloud computing
- Fixed and wireless communication
- Optical communication
- Signal processing
- AI-native, autonomous and mission-critical networks
- Amount: 8.000 € for personal use.
Eligible applicants
- The PhD thesis must have been publicly defended between 1st January 2025 and 31st December 2025 in a Belgian university or the Royal Military Academy.
- Candidates must hold a research position at a university or research institute at the submission deadline. This can also be an unpaid affiliation.
- The PhD thesis may have been partially or entirely conducted in collaboration with Nokia Bell and its subsidiaries.
- Employees from Nokia Bell and its subsidiaries are not eligible for the Award.
Call timeline
- Opening of the call: 17 December 2025
- Deadline of the call: 16 March 2026
- Panel meeting: Spring 2026
How to apply?
Applications, written in English, must be sent electronically to Cette adresse e-mail est protégée contre les robots spammeurs. Vous devez activer le JavaScript pour la visualiser. on 16 March 2026 (midnight Brussels time), at the latest.
The requested documents are:
- The application form duly completed and signed.
- A detailled curriculum vitae.
- A complete list of publications.
- An electronic version of the thesis.
The complete regulations of the Award are available here.
The list of the previous laureates is available here.
Questions about the Award should be adressed via email to Cette adresse e-mail est protégée contre les robots spammeurs. Vous devez activer le JavaScript pour la visualiser..
