Research Foundation – Flanders - Grant for participation in a conference abroad

What the FWO conference travel grant covers

You get your return travel from Brussels to the conference and back reimbursed, so you can present your research at an international scientific conference abroad. Flights are covered in economy class and trains at the cheapest fare. If you drive, you get a mileage payment of up to 800 EUR. The Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO), Belgium's main research funder, also covers you automatically with travel accident insurance. The grant is tax-free and paid to you personally. If another body already gives you a full research grant for the same trip (for example Fulbright or BAEF), the FWO amount is reduced. If that other body pays you 2,150 EUR per month or more, you get no FWO grant.

Who can apply

• Where you work: You work as scientific staff, for the whole trip, at a university in the Flemish Community, a federal or Flemish scientific institute, a Flemish university hospital, or a recognised research centre.
• Your presentation: You give a talk or present a poster at the conference. Only the person actually presenting can get the grant. An official role like session chair alone is not enough.
• PhD students: You hold a master's degree from the European Economic Area or Switzerland. With a master's from elsewhere, your university must confirm it lets you do a doctorate.
• Postdocs: You got your doctorate no more than 6 years before the conference starts. Breaks of at least 3 months (for example parental or sick leave) can extend this by up to 1 year.
• Publications: For a conference in the EEA, Switzerland or the UK you need at least 1 peer-reviewed publication as first or last author. For a conference outside this area you need at least 3, with at least 1 as first or last author. Some fields with different publishing habits are exempt.
• How often: You can get at most 1 travel grant per calendar year, counting conferences, workshops and short study visits together.
• Not eligible: You work at a university of applied sciences ("hogeschool"), unless you belong to an academic programme at a Flemish School of Arts.

How to apply

You apply online in English through the FWO E-Loket, at the latest 3 months before your departure date. This deadline is binding. There is no fixed round, as the call runs permanently. You attach official proof that your talk or poster is accepted; if it is not ready in time, you can send it later. The International Collaboration Committee (CIWC) then decides, judging the quality of your contribution, your scientific track record and the standing of the conference.