Outline

The Odysseus programme provides outstanding researchers who have built up a career outside Belgium, a start-up funding in order to develop during a five-year period a research group or to set up a research linewithin a Flemish university, potentially in collaboration with (an)other Flemish research organisation(s), and become progressively more involved in the Flemish research landscape.

What is funded

What makes this programme unique is the combination of a position at a Flemish university and sufficient project funding to establish their own research team. This symbiosis forms the ideal starting point to attract high level, international research to Flanders.

Odysseus Type I

• for researchers who are internationally recognised as pioneers in their field;
• research funding: from 400,000 euro to 1,000,000 euro per year (2,000,000 euro to 5,000,000 euro for the 5-year period);
• when awarded the host institution(s) will provide you with a permanent (ZAP) positition.

Odysseus Type II

• for postdoctoral researchers who have the potential to develop a leading international position;
• research funding: from 100,000 euro to 200,000 euro per year (500,000 euro to 1,000,000 euro for the 5-year period);
• when awarded the host institution(s) will provide you with a fulltime tenure track position.

Duration

5 years

Eligibility

Only the universities in the Flemish Community can, potentially in collaboration with (an)other Flemish research organisation(s), nominate candidates at the FWO. Therefore, interested candidates are requested to directly contact one of the five following universities:

• KU Leuven: stephanie.eggermont@kuleuven.be
• University of Antwerp: greet.hellenbosch@uantwerpen.be
• Ghent University: vlaams-federaal@ugent.be
• Hasselt University: research@UHasselt.be
• Vrije Universiteit Brussel: rgo@vub.be

As an eligible candidate (for Type I as well as for Type II):

• you shall have a main appointment of minimum 80% at a foreign institution on the date of the FWO submission deadline.
• you shall have been affiliated with a foreign institution, with an appointment of minimum 80%, for at least three years in the past five years preceding the FWO submission deadline. During this period abroad, you shall have had an appointment of maximum 10% in Belgium.
• you are only allowed to submit one application per Odysseus call.

DEADLINE: 30th of September 2022 (5pm Local Time Brussels).