Belgium - Processes-based projects through generic rersearch programmes

The FNRS (Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique or National Fund for Scientific Research) is involved in the financing of Nanotechnology- and Nanoscience-based projects in the universities of the French community of Belgium (CFWB or Communauté française Wallonie Bruxelles). The developed financing procedure of the CFWB consists in a bottom-up approach where proposals are yearly submitted and are selected after evaluation by scientific committees.

To achieve this goal of supporting generic research programmes, three types of tools are available:
- temporary research grants;
- permanent research positions;
- research initiatives (mostly for equipment).
To develop generic scientific research in the field of new processes in the framework of initiatives presented by researchers; to stimulate the production and development of knowledge by supporting individual researchers as well as interuniversity research programmes.
The projects are grouped and evaluated by thematic areas. The commissions related to multifunctional materials are:
- Applied chemistry and metallurgy;
- mineral and organic chemistry.
The projects accepted in 2002 (or earlier) for financing in 2003 cover mostly the field of new catalytic processes. 2 permanent researchers are active in this field.