BOF/FWO - RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE - PRECALL 2025-2026

Research

Funding organisation:

Bijzonder OnderzoeksFonds

What?

PRECALL 2025-2026

OBI plans an info session on 13th of February between 12h30 and 13h30, at building D room E139. There is also the possibility to take part online.

Internal procedure?
  • UHasselt launches a pre-call to get a full overview of all applications for medium scale research infrastructure (FWO + BOF).
  • Only applications that have been registered in this pre-call will be considered for FWO or BOF funding.
  • After submission of the declaration of intent, bilateral interviews will be planned between OBI and all applicants, to discuss the application in detail.
  • Based on the FWO and BOF selection criteria and the requested budget, the Research Council will make a selection of applications that can be submitted within the FWO call for medium scale research infrastructure.

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) and connection to data platforms. They can be single-sited; distributed or virtual. (cfr. definition FWO)

Project period: 4 years

Budget:
  • FWO medium scale research infrastructure: research infrastructure with a total subsidy cost excl. co-funding of at least EUR 150,000 and at most EUR 1,000,000 (including VAT if applicable).
  • BOF research infrastructure: research infrastructure with a total subsidy cost excl. co-funding of at least EUR 50,000 and at most EUR 1,000,000 (including VAT if applicable).
  • Cofinancing:
    • For research institutes or centres there is a 20% cofinancing obligation in the total purchase cost of the equipment (excl. personnel and operational cost), of which at least 50% must come from AO budget (acquired profits, ongoing projects, contribution of 3rd parties,... Note that a discount from the supplier does not count as cofinancing). The other 50% can come from BOF means (see BOF regulations - maximum amounts to be used for infrastructure: Structural funding - no limit; Methusalem - max €75.000 per period of 7 years; Francqui: max €50.000 per grant).
    • For research groups that are not linked to a research institute or centre there is a 10% cofinancing obligation in the total purchase cost of the equipment (excl. personnel and operational cost), with a maximum amount capped at €25.000. This 10% must come from AO budget (acquired profits, ongoing projects, contribution of 3rd parties,... Note that a discount from the supplier does not count as cofinancing).
  •  VAT:
    • Not applicable if:
You’re planning to do valorisation with the purchased equipment (a signed valorisation form has to be submitted with the proposal).
AND
There is minimum of 10% AO proven cofinancing.
    • Applicable if:
If there is no valorisation planned, 21% VAT must be included in the total purchase amount (both equipment and operational cost).
  • Available budget for the call: 2,2m€ (BOF + FWO)

Eligible costs:
  • Equipment costs for research investments, i.e. the costs of purchasing and connecting the research infrastructure or purchasing the components for the construction of the planned research infrastructure, including the non-refundable portion of VAT. This also includes the upgrading, i.e. the substantial improvement of existing research infrastructure;
  • Personnel* costs for the development and construction of the research infrastructure. This also includes the personnel costs for upgrading the research infrastructure and the costs for the operational or maintenance personnel once the infrastructure is up and running;
  • Operational* costs consisting of maintenance costs over the entire depreciation period, i.e. the costs arising from maintenance agreements or research infrastructure upgrades and equipment repairs.
*Personnel and operational costs can be included in the FWO application as cofinancing but can never be funded by the FWO/BOF infrastructure fund.

Who?

Applications can only be submitted by members of the ZAP of Hasselt University.
ZAP members that have received funding as promoters in the previous FWO/BOF infrastructure call 2023-2024 are excluded from applying in this call.

Application?

Declarations of intent for pre-registration must be sent to bof@uhasselt.be and research@uhasselt.be using the application template.
Each of the specified costs must be justified by e-mails, price quotes, etc.

In case of valorisation, the signed valorisation form must be submitted as well.

OBI will ask the research institute/centre/faculty to rank the submitted application according to the strategic priorities of the entity.
For research institutes and centres an additional motivation letter of its director describing the alignment and relevance of this project within their research strategy plan is requested.

Regulations?

BOF internal guidelines

Timing?
  • 13.02.2025: BOF/FWO hybrid info session infrastructure call by OBI in Diepenbeek, room E139
  • 07.04.2025 10h00: Deadline declaration of intent pre-call FWO/BOF
  • 24.04.2025: FWO info session infrastructure call, by FWO in Brussels 
  • 07-11.04.2025: technical check applications
  • 10-11-25-28.04.2025: obligatory bilateral meetings Schedule a meeting via the link!
  • 09.05.2025: Deadline submission of adjusted applications
  • 27.05.2025: BOZR for selection applications
  • 19.06.2025: OZR for final selection applications BOF Research Infrastructure Fund call
  • 30.06.2025: Preregistration FWO call - if applicable
  • 18.09.2025: Deadline submission FWO final application (internal deadline UHasselt: 11.09.2025)
  • April 2026: Final selection applications FWO call

More information?

E-mail: bof@uhasselt.be  

Deadline

07.04.2025

Contact Hasselt University?

E-mail elke.bos@uhasselt.be

Tel. +3211269053

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