The funding of FNRS: a public commitment to research

The F.R.S.-FNRS (Fund for Scientific Research) is funded primarily through public resources. In 2025, public funding amounted to €253.7 million, representing more than 91% of the organisation’s total resources (€278.9 million).

These public resources mainly come from:

• the Wallonia-Brussels Federation (€182.8 million);
• the Belgian Federal State (€40.8 million, including the IISN);
• the Walloon Region (€22.8 million);
• the Belgian National Lottery (€7.3 million).

These public funds are complemented by additional resources, including donations and bequests (€24.7 million, of which €10.0 million came from Télévie) and other miscellaneous income.

What are these funds used for?

These public grants directly support researchers’ careers, fund research projects and ensure the efficient operation of the F.R.S.-FNRS. In 2025, total expenditure amounted to €293.5 million (excluding depreciation, provisions, financial items and other non-recurring expenses) and was allocated as follows:

• €162.9 million for the salaries and operating budgets of PhD researchers, postdoctoral researchers and permanent research staff;
• €103.2 million for research projects, grants and other funding instruments (including fundamental research, Télévie, FRIA, FRESH, FRFS/WELBIO, WEL-T, EOS, FRArt and Audacious Medical Grants);
• €12.4 million for international research and researcher mobility;
• €13.6 million for administrative and operational support.

Additional funding was also allocated to scientific evaluation, support for the WELRI non-profit association, and other targeted initiatives.

A tangible impact

Thanks to this public funding, the F.R.S.-FNRS was able in 2025 to:

• support 2,749 fellows, grant holders and research staff;
• fund fundamental research projects across all scientific disciplines;
• foster international collaboration and researcher mobility;
• contribute to the development of strategic research and scientific excellence within the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.

👉 Public funding is therefore the cornerstone of the F.R.S.-FNRS’s independence and scientific excellence. Complemented by the generosity of donors and philanthropic initiatives such as Télévie, it ensures sustainable support for fundamental research, driving innovation and contributing to societal progress.

Key developments compared with 2024

• Total resources: €262.2 million → €278.9 million (+€16.7 million)
• Public funding: €241.8 million → €253.7 million
• Donations and bequests: approximately €20.0 million → €24.7 million
• Total expenditure: €270.2 million → €293.5 million
• Support for researchers (salaries and operating grants): €152.9 million → €162.9 million
• Research projects and other funding instruments: €93.3 million → €103.2 million
• International research and mobility: €10.9 million → €12.4 million
• Administrative and operational support: €15.3 million → €13.6 million
• Number of fellows, grant holders and research staff: more than 2,700 → 2,749