Research Foundation Flanders - BiR&D Cross-Disciplinary PhD Award

BiR&D Cross-Disciplinary PhD Award

You receive a one-off prize of 5,000 EUR for a finished PhD thesis that crosses subject boundaries and could be used in industry. Four prizes are awarded each year: two in Life & Health Sciences and two in Science & Technology. Winners also present their work to the board of the Belgian Industrial Research and Development association (BiR&D). The prize is given by the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) and the Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique (F.R.S.-FNRS), under the patronage of BiR&D. This rewards work you have already completed. It is not a monthly grant for a future project.

Who can apply

• Degree: You have finished your PhD and defended your thesis.
• Where you studied: You got your PhD at a Belgian university or the Royal Military School.
• Timing: You defended your thesis within the set window for that year's round. For the 2023 round this was between 1 November 2021 and 31 October 2022.
• Topic: Your thesis is original, crosses subject boundaries and could be used in industry within about 5 years.
• Category: You apply in one field only, either Life & Health Sciences or Science & Technology.
• Nationality: Any nationality can apply, as long as your PhD is from a Belgian university.

How to apply

You apply by email in English, attaching the application form, your CV with a publication list, and a copy of your thesis. For the 2023 cycle the deadline was 1 February. A jury for your field then reviews the entries and picks the winner of each prize.

You can find more scholarships in our guide Scholarships in Belgium.