Research Foundation - Flanders - Nokia Bell Scientific Award

Nokia Bell Scientific Award

You receive a one-off prize of 8,000 EUR for the best and most original PhD thesis in information and communication technology (ICT). The money is yours to use freely. The award is given once a year by the Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO) and the Fund for Scientific Research (F.R.S.-FNRS), with funding from Nokia Belgium.

Who can apply

• Your degree: You completed a PhD and defended it publicly between 1 January 2025 and 31 December 2025.
• Where you studied: You earned the PhD at a Belgian university or at the Royal Military Academy of Belgium.
• Current position: At the deadline you hold a research position at a university or research institute. An unpaid affiliation also counts.
• Field: Your thesis is in ICT and fits at least one of these topics: artificial and connected intelligence, AI-assisted software development, decentralised and secure software systems, edge and cloud computing, fixed and wireless communication, optical communication, signal processing, or AI-native and mission-critical networks.
• Nokia link: Your thesis may have been done fully or partly with Nokia Bell. But you cannot apply if you are employed by Nokia Belgium or its subsidiaries.
• Nationality: Any nationality can apply. What matters is where you did your PhD.

How to apply

You send your application in English by email to the FWO by 16 March 2026 (midnight CET). Include the completed form, a CV with your publication list, and an electronic copy of your thesis. An independent jury of experts appointed by the FWO and F.R.S.-FNRS reviews the entries and picks one winner. The prize goes to a single person and is not split.