Explanation: This graph shows the evolution of the funding channels through which pre-doctoral and post-doctoral researchers at Flemish universities have been financed over time. The data refer to (1) the Special Research Fund (BOF), (2) the Industrial Research Fund (IOF), (3) FWO fellowships and research projects (FWO), (4) funds from Flemish and National programs, (5) international funds through, among others, European programs, (6) funds from the strategic research centers (SOC), (7) operational grants by the university (i.e., for (doctoral) assistants), or (8) other sources. For a more nuanced view, this graph also provides the option to zoom in further on gender by selecting a line, and one can also select the staff categories pre-doc and post-doc separately.
How to use this graph? How to export the displayed data and/or graph?
Sources: The displayed data can be found in the VLIR personnel statistics reports since 2004.
Time evolution funding pre-docs and post-docs.
FWO is the main funding source for pre-docs and post-docs. In 2023, 37% was funded by FWO. 
In absolute numbers, the staff funded by each source is increasing, indicating a rise in budgets across most categories.
Over time, the fraction of pre-docs and post-docs funded as (doctoral) assistants through operating grants and Flemish and national programs decreases, while funding through international programs, IOF, and other sources increases. Research in Flanders is funded through various channels. Each university receives a budget from the Flemish government: the Special Research Funds (BOF). Each university autonomously decides how to allocate these funds, for example, through internal competition or basic funding. Additionally, the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO) subsidizes individual mandates and research projects, grants for infrastructure, travel grants, and funding for international scientific cooperation from all Flemish universities and research institutes. For this, the FWO receives resources from the Flemish government. Finally, funding can also be made available through more specific channels and/or private entities, such as foundations. For more information about these different funding channels, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions page and the useful links below.
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