# Large-scale research infrastructure

**Source**: https://www.ugent.be/en/research/funding/national/fwo/large-scale.htm
**Parent**: https://www.ugent.be/en/research/funding

## What?

In the call for **large-scale research infrastructure** funding is available for investments of **more than 1.000.000 EUR** in both fundamental and strategic basic research. Due to the broad definition of research infrastructure, it is possible for research groups from both alpha, beta and gamma faculties to submit a proposal.

Research infrastructure comprises all facilities and sources that promote the performance of cross-border and strategic basic research across all scientific disciplines. Besides **scientific infrastructure, this includes collections, natural habitats, corpora and databases** (including digital opening up). Due to this broad definition it is possible for research groups from both the alpha, beta and gamma faculties to submit a proposal.

An important criterion is that the new infrastructure can take the research to a substantially higher level. The application must include **a strong research plan** for the first years after acquisition of the infrastructure.

For the 2025-2026 call there is **10.363.636 EUR (overhead excl.)** available. 

## Conditions

- Total subsidy cost (excl. co-funding) at least 1.000.000 EUR (incl. non-refundable part of the VAT)
- Applicants: Flemish universities, strategic research centers and higher education institutions in charge of scientific research persuant to the Higher Education Code of 11 October 2013
- **Promoters from Ghent University**: Must have a ZAP-affiliation (or similar). Co-promoters can also be guest professor or postdoctoral researcher.
- Third Parties (companies, foreign partners, ...) can be part of the consortium, but can never receive funding from FWO. They have to provide a financially assessable contribution to the project.
- The **funding percentage** depends on the type of cooperation of the consortium:
  - The minimum fundig percentage is **70%**
  - This percentage can increase to **90%** if there is substantial cooperation between partners from two different institutions that can apply for funding and if each partner contributes to the co-funding in an equal way

  **In case of 90% funding, the part of the cofinancing from Ghent Unviersity will be paid from internal university funds: read the conditions in [art. 7 of this regulation](https://codex.ugent.be?regid=REG000082&lang=nl) (in Dutch)**

  - **100%** funding is possible if at least 25% of the investment costs are paid by an institution other than a university or university college
- Duration: 4 years

## What costs are eligible?

- **Equipment**: The purchase of (components for) the research infrastructure or the upgrade of already existing infrastructure
- **Staff costs**: For the development and construction or permanent operation of the research infrastructure, including costs for training.
- **Operational costs**: Maintenance costs, upgrades or repair costs to the research infrastructure

**Attention:** consumables for the use of the infrastructure are not eligible! These costs should be charged on the research projects that make use of the infrastructure.

**Overhead** costs should **not** be included in the budget.

## Procedure

1. The promoter-supervisor submits a preregistration on **30 June 2025** at the latest, via the [FWO e-portal](https://fwoweb.fwo.be/)
2. The promoter-supervisor submits the **full proposal**to Ghent University on **11 September 2025** at the latest (again via de [FWO e-portal](https://fwoweb.fwo.be/))
3. **Budget check** by Team National Funding from Ghent University. Any corrections can still be made by the promoter.
4. The host institution submits the proposal to FWO on **18 Spetember 2025 at 17:00 at the latest**
5. **Eligibility check** by the FWO
6. **External peer review** by referees not working in Belgium
7. Posibility to give feedback to the referee reports
8. **Evaluation** by 2 committees. \
   For more detailed information on the selection criteria from both committees: [see art. 13 of the regulations](https://www.fwo.be/en/support-programmes/regulations/regulations-for-large-scale-research-infrastructure/)
   - **Science Commission**: **Evaluation of the research programme.** In addition to the full proposal, the Science commission will also see the referee reports and the feedback from the applicants. The commission makes a list of applications for which a hearing will be organised. \
     During the **hearing**, applicants can explain their application and answer further questions from the commission.  \
     The commission then formulates a motivated advice, with a ranking of the most excellent applications. \
     - [Members Science Commission](https://www.fwo.be/en/evaluation-process/fwo-expert-panels/science-commission/)
   - **Invest Commission**: **Evaluation of the investment plan** of the proposals that were classified as excellent by the Science commission. The commission also examines whether there are still opportunities for cooperation with other Flemish or foreign partners.  \
     Based on this, the commission formulates an advice, which will be added to the advice of the Science commission.\
     - [Members Invest Commission](https://www.fwo.be/en/evaluation-process/fwo-expert-panels/invest-commission/)
9. The Board of Directors of the FWO takes a final decision, based on the advices from both committees (March 2026)
10. Project can start: Spring 2026

## More information

- [Presentation information session 2023](https://www.fwo.be/media/1025017/infosession-medium-and-large-scale-research-infrastructure.pdf)
- [Recording information session 2023](https://youtu.be/YukWNNpEJdg)
- [Testimonials information session 2023](https://www.fwo.be/media/1025018/testimonials-medium-and-large-scale-research-infrastructure.pdf)
- [www.fwo.be (large-scale research infrastructure)](https://www.fwo.be/en/support-programmes/all-calls/senior-researchersresearch-teams/large-scale-research-infrastructure/)

## Contact

**Team Flemish, Federal & BOF Projects**

- [vlaams-federaal@ugent.be](mailto:vlaams-federaal@ugent.be)
- Fien Elderweirdt, 09 264 98 44 or [MS Teams](https://teams.microsoft.com/l/chat/0/0?users=fien.elderweirdt@ugent.be)