NFWO
Encyclopedia
The National Fund for Scientific Research (NFSR) (Dutch: NFWO, French: FNRS) is a government institution in Belgium
for supporting scientific research. Nowadays it has been split into two organizations, the Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (FWO) in Flanders
and the Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique (FNRS) in the French-speaking community (Wallonia and Brussels-Capital Region).
The task of the FWO and FNRS is to stimulate the development of new knowledge in all scientific disciplines. The means to achieve this, is to finance excellent scientists and research projects after an inter-University competition and with an evaluation by foreign experts. The criterion for support is the scientific quality of the scientist and the research proposal, irrespective of scientific discipline.
for more resources for scientific research. On 1 October 1927, in a speech at Cockerill
in Seraing
, King Albert I strongly emphasized the importance of scientific research to the economic development of Belgium. He repeated his appeal for more resources, on 26 November 1927, in a speech to the Academy
. This led to the creation within the University Foundation
of the National Fund for Scientific Research on 2 June 1928. The new institute was led by Emile Francqui
.
The NFSR was the first Belgian organization to finance fundamental scientific research. Among the earliest projects funded were the stratosphere flights of professor Auguste Piccard
. The FNRS-1
was a balloon that set a world altitude record. The NFSR also funded the FNRS-2
, which was the first ever bathyscaphe
built.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
for supporting scientific research. Nowadays it has been split into two organizations, the Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (FWO) in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
and the Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique (FNRS) in the French-speaking community (Wallonia and Brussels-Capital Region).
The task of the FWO and FNRS is to stimulate the development of new knowledge in all scientific disciplines. The means to achieve this, is to finance excellent scientists and research projects after an inter-University competition and with an evaluation by foreign experts. The criterion for support is the scientific quality of the scientist and the research proposal, irrespective of scientific discipline.
History
The National Fund for Scientific Research (NFSR) was founded on 2 June 1928 after a call by king Albert I of BelgiumAlbert I of Belgium
Albert I reigned as King of the Belgians from 1909 until 1934.-Early life:Born Albert Léopold Clément Marie Meinrad in Brussels, he was the fifth child and second son of Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders, and his wife, Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen...
for more resources for scientific research. On 1 October 1927, in a speech at Cockerill
Cockerill
Cockerill is a surname, and may refer to:Sport and sportsmen*Glenn Cockerill, English football manager*John Cockerill , British football player*Kay Cockerill, American golfer*Mike Cockerill, Australian football journalist...
in Seraing
Seraing
Seraing is a Walloon municipality of Belgium in Province of Liege. The municipality of Seraing includes the old communes of Boncelles, Jemeppe-sur-Meuse, and Ougrée. With Liège, Herstal, Saint-Nicolas, Ans, and Flémalle it forms the greater Liège agglomeration...
, King Albert I strongly emphasized the importance of scientific research to the economic development of Belgium. He repeated his appeal for more resources, on 26 November 1927, in a speech to the Academy
The Royal Academies for Science and the Arts of Belgium
There are two Royal Academies for Science and the Arts in Belgium, corresponding to the two main languages of the country, Dutch and French . The Academies are located in the Palace of Academies in Brussels....
. This led to the creation within the University Foundation
University Foundation
The Belgian University Foundation was founded in 1920. The goal of the Foundation, as was put forward by Emile Francqui, is to promote scientific activity at Belgian universities....
of the National Fund for Scientific Research on 2 June 1928. The new institute was led by Emile Francqui
Emile Francqui
Emile Francqui was a Belgian soldier, diplomat and business man. Being an orphan, he was sent to the military school when he was 15 years old...
.
The NFSR was the first Belgian organization to finance fundamental scientific research. Among the earliest projects funded were the stratosphere flights of professor Auguste Piccard
Auguste Piccard
Auguste Antoine Piccard was a Swiss physicist, inventor and explorer.-Biography:Piccard and his twin brother Jean Felix were born in Basel, Switzerland...
. The FNRS-1
FNRS-1
The FNRS-1 was a balloon, built by Auguste Piccard, that set a world altitude record. It was named after the Belgian Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique, which funded the balloon....
was a balloon that set a world altitude record. The NFSR also funded the FNRS-2
FNRS-2
The FNRS-2 was the first bathyscaphe. It was created by Auguste Piccard. Work started in 1937 but was interrupted by World War II. The deep-diving submarine was finished in 1948. The bathyscaphe was named after the Belgian Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique , the funding organization for...
, which was the first ever bathyscaphe
Bathyscaphe
A bathyscaphe is a free-diving self-propelled deep-sea submersible, consisting of a crew cabin similar to a bathysphere, but suspended below a float rather than from a surface cable, as in the classic bathysphere design....
built.
See also
- Belgian Federal Science Policy OfficeBelgian Federal Science Policy OfficeThe Belgian Federal Science Policy Office or BELSPO is a Belgian government institution responsible for coordinating science policy at a federal level. It designs and implements research programmes and networks and manages the participation of Belgium in European and international organisations...
(BELSPO) - Science and technology in BelgiumScience and technology in BelgiumScience and technology in Belgium is well developed with the presence of several universities and research institutes. As Belgium is a federal state, science is organized at several levels...
- Science and technology in the Brussels-Capital Region
- Science and technology in FlandersScience and technology in FlandersScience and technology in Flanders, the northern region of Belgium , is well developed with the presence of several universities and research institutes...
- Science and technology in WalloniaScience and technology in WalloniaScience and technology in Wallonia, the southern region of Belgium , is well developed with the presence of several universities and research institutes.-Technology institutes:Wallonia is home to several science and technology organizations....
- Belgian Interdisciplinary Platform for Industrial BiotechnologyBIPIBThe Belgian Interdisciplinary Platform for Industrial Biotechnology or BIPIB is a Belgian organization which consists of three working groups which come together on biomass supply, bioprocesses and bioproducts, bio-energy. It was founded by Els Van Weert, Flemish secretary for sustainable...
- Institute for the promotion of Innovation by Science and TechnologyInstitute for the promotion of Innovation by Science and TechnologyThe Agency for Innovation by Science and Technology is a public institution in Flanders to provide R&D and innovation support. The institute was established by the Flemish government in 1991...
(IWT) - Belgian Academy Council of Applied SciencesBelgian Academy Council of Applied SciencesThe Royal Belgian Academy Council of Applied Sciences is a Belgian council, which consists of the Flemish Academy Committee for Science and Technology and Walloon Comité de l'Académie pour les Applications de la Science committees of the Flemish and French Academies of Science in Belgium. BACAS...
(BACAS) - Belgian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyBelgian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyThe Belgian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is a Belgian non-profit organization, concerned with biochemistry and molecular biology....
- Flanders Interuniversity Institute of Biotechnology (VIB)
- Flemish institute for technological researchFlemish institute for technological researchThe Flemish institute for technological research or VITO, is a research centre, located in Mol, Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium. The institute performs contract research and develops products and processes in the fields of energy, environment and materials, for both the public and the private sector...
(VITO) - European Research Consortium for Informatics and Mathematics (ERCIM)
- Francqui FoundationFrancqui FoundationThe Francqui Foundation was founded in 1932 by Emile Francqui and Herbert Hoover with the goal "to further the development of higher education and scientific research in Belgium". The foundation is a private foundation under the legal from of a Belgian "Institution of Public Utility"...
- Francqui PrizeFrancqui PrizeThe Francqui Prize is a prestigious Belgian scholarly and scientific prize, awarded each year since 1933 by the Francqui Foundation in recognition of the achievements of a young Belgian scholar or scientist...
- InBev-Baillet Latour Fund
- Queen Elisabeth Medical FoundationQueen Elisabeth Medical FoundationThe Queen Elisabeth Medical Foundation is a Belgian non-profit organization, founded in 1926 by the former Queen Elisabeth of Belgium. She founded the organization, based on her experience with the wounded from the front-line during the First World War...