Overview
FWO's Odysseus programme offers five-year research-group funding for outstanding researchers established abroad who are nominated by a Flemish university.
Complete grant details
The 2026 Odysseus call has €21.8 million available to attract leading researchers from abroad to Flanders. Type I supports internationally recognised pioneers with €400,000–€700,000 per year (€2–3.5 million over five years). Type II supports postdoctoral researchers with potential for international leadership with €100,000–€200,000 per year (€0.5–1 million over five years). Only universities in the Flemish Community can nominate candidates, potentially with other Flemish research organisations.
Eligibility requirements
Candidates must have a main appointment of at least 80% at a foreign institution on the FWO deadline and must have been affiliated to a foreign institution at at least 80% for three of the previous five years, with no more than a 10% Belgian appointment during that period. Type II candidates may have a maximum of 12 years of postdoctoral seniority. A Flemish university must select and nominate the candidate and commit to an appropriate five-year appointment if funded.
Tips for this grant
Practical Job and Scholarship guidance. These tips do not replace official rules or create new eligibility requirements.
- Check eligibility, funding coverage, study/project level and every required document before investing time in the application.
- Prepare transcripts, references, language tests, proposal/motivation statement and proof documents early.
- Separate the scholarship deadline from any university/program admission deadline; they may be different.
- Treat “fully funded” as a source fact only when the official provider explicitly confirms the covered costs.
Verification notes
Verified on FWO's official 2026 Odysseus page on 27 August 2026. The call is marked open and confirms the 30 September 2026 17:00 CEST deadline, €21.8m total budget, Type I/II funding ranges, five-year duration, foreign-appointment rules and Flemish-university nomination process.
Job and Scholarship is the discovery and verification layer. Confirm eligibility, dates, salary/funding and application instructions on the original source before submitting anything.
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