Funding Academy Day 2026: From brilliant idea to successful project

Cluster

Career management

Competences as defined in ResearchComp

ResearchComp is a European competency framework developed by the European Commission. It provides a common reference framework that makes researchers’ competencies more visible and comparable—not only for researchers themselves, but also for universities, employers, and policymakers across Europe.

To get started with ResearchComp, you can consult this guide.

Target audience

Ghent University staff and MA and PhD students

Content

Join us for the Funding Academy Day 2026, a dynamic event designed to strengthen project calls, making them more compelling and distinctive for funding bodies and help researchers navigate the complex landscape of funding channels and opportunities.
This year’s theme — Open, Innovative and Impactful: Building blocks for successful project financing — forms the backbone of our programme.

Highlights include a plenary session on Generative AI, followed by interactive sessions on the do’s and don’ts of impact, open science, grant writing, expanding your cooperation into education, and the use of core facilities. During our networking lunch, you can further explore funding opportunities for academic research and education.

Whether you're an aspiring PhD candidate, a current PhD researcher or postdoc seeking support to continue your work, or a professor looking to build research collaborations, this event is for you.
Don’t miss this opportunity to strengthen your skills and enhance your funding success!

Dates and venue

20 May 2026, from 08:30–13:30, Sint-Baafshuis (Biezekapelstraat 2, 9000 Ghent).

Free bike parking is available on site.

The Sint-Baafshuis is located 450 meters from the VRIJDAGMARKT van park, 500 meters from the REEP van park, 600 meters from the SINT-MICHIEL van park, and 800 meters from the ZUID van park.

Programme

08:30–09:00

Registration and coffee

09:00–09:15

Welcome by Rector Prof. Petra De Sutter

09:15–10:00 — Plenary session

GenAI use for academics: a toolkit for responsible support with research applications

Generative AI is developing at an exceptionally rapid pace, leading to significant challenges and uncertainties in research practice. In this keynote, we will explore how researchers can integrate GenAI responsibly and thoughtfully into both their research process and when drafting research proposals. We will also address the systems' operation, limitations, and possibilities. We will make this concrete with several examples, use cases, and potential tools, and also provide guidance on ethical and responsible use in line with Ghent University's values. Leave with a compact toolkit and the necessary manual to get started yourself.

Speaker: Lore De Greve (policy officer AI)

10:10–11:15 — Parallel sessions (choose one)

Session 1A — Impact: buzzword or bottom-line?

Understanding research impact is becoming essential for navigating today's scientific landscape. This session equips researchers with an understanding of the main components of impact literacy — what research impact is, who plays a role in planning and delivering it, and how to embed it across their work and proposals. Through concise guidance, practical resources, and two expert testimonials, you will gain a grounded understanding of how impact thinking can benefit you. Whether you're preparing your next proposal or aiming to mobilise your research more effectively, this session provides the key insights you need to elevate your impact mindset and skills.

Speakers: Nathan De Geyter (business developer BIOREFINED), Esther De Smet (senior research policy advisor) and Alexis Dewaele (associate professor and research coordinator PSYNC)  

Session 1B — As open as possible, as closed as necessary: balancing Open Science and valorisation in your funding proposal (Focus: Horizon Europe)

Funders increasingly expect researchers to combine Open Science practices with thoughtful valorisation strategies. These two dimensions are not opposite; they reinforce each other. When approached with one coherent strategy, valorisation and Open Science can generate meaningful impact and enhance transparency, reproducibility, collaboration, and societal uptake. This session offers a helicopter view of how to address both Open Science and intellectual property/valorisation requirements effectively in your proposal and throughout your research project. You will learn how to open your research results as much as possible, and keep your results closed when this is required to enable valorization and IP protection. In this session we will focus on the Horizon Europe context.

Speakers: Stefanie De Bodt (Data Steward (Bioscience) Engineering), Karen Curé (expert valorization advisor) and Inge Van Nieuwerburgh (policy officer Open Access)

Session 1C — Expanding your R&I cooperation into education: the potential of international cooperation projects

As academics strengthen their international R&I projects and networks, a powerful yet often underused opportunity emerges: extending these collaborations into education-focused cooperation projects. Such projects enable the co-creation of innovative curricula through the integration of research results into teaching, developing evidence-based tools and methods, and strengthening the societal relevance and valorisation of research. In their turn, education projects often outlive their initial scope, creating pathways for new joint research and other initiatives. With their flexibility, accessibility, and high potential for impact, international cooperation projects offer a valuable complement to large R&I frameworks. This session explores how such projects can deepen R&I collaboration and build sustainable bridges between research, education, and society.

Speakers: Dr. Maaike Grammens, , Klaas Portier (EU-projectadvisor), Steven Schoofs (head Global Outreach), Prof. Lieva Van Langenhove and Andries Verspeeten (policy advisor)

Session 1D — How to avoid killer mistakes in grant applications

In this session, research (support) staff will strengthen their core grant writing skills to better convince evaluators. By examining real examples from approved and rejected proposals, we will showcase five frequent grant writing pitfalls and offer concrete insights on how to prepare for a successful application.

Speakers: Dr. Margo Baele (EU accountmanager Excellent Science, EU-team) and Dr. Frederik Vandecasteele (EU accountmanager Excellent Science, EU-team)

Session 1E — What are Core Facilities and how could they strengthen your research funding application?

Core Facilities are virtual or real units that bring together specialised and indispensable scientific expertise, services and research infrastructure. In this format they are able to deliver excellent related research output on the long term in a cost-effective manner. At the moment there are 30+ Core Facilities formally recognized at Ghent University. In this session, a full overview will be given of the current Core Facility landscape installed at our university across the alpha, beta and gamma science domains. Testimonials from both the viewpoint of the Core Facilities as well as funding applicants/users will be included to demonstrate the added value of conducting high-end research within our Core Facility ecosystem.

Speakers: Frédéric Clement (Faculty Core Facility Manager for the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences) and Philip Van den Heede (policy officer)

11:15–11:25

Short break

11:25–12:30 — Parallel sessions (choose one)

Session 2A — Impact: buzzword or bottom-line?

Second run of session 1A. Understanding research impact is becoming essential for navigating today's scientific landscape. This session equips researchers with an understanding of the main components of impact literacy — what research impact is, who plays a role in planning and delivering it, and how to embed it across their work and proposals. Through concise guidance, practical resources, and two expert testimonials, you will gain a grounded understanding of how impact thinking can benefit you.

Speakers: Nathan De Geyter (business developer BIOREFINED), Esther De Smet (senior research policy advisor) and Alexis Dewaele (associate professor and research coordinator PSYNC)

Session 2B — As open as possible, as closed as necessary: balancing Open Science and valorisation in your funding proposal (Focus: FWO)

Second run of session 1B, this time with focus on the FWO context. Funders increasingly expect researchers to combine Open Science practices with thoughtful valorisation strategies. This session offers a helicopter view of how to address both Open Science and intellectual property/valorisation requirements effectively in your proposal and throughout your research project.

Speakers: Karen Curé (expert valorization advisor), Stefanie De Bodt (Data Steward (Bioscience) Engineering) and Inge Van Nieuwerburgh (policy officer Open Access)

Session 2C — Expanding your R&I cooperation into education: the potential of international cooperation projects

Second run of session 1C. As academics strengthen their international R&I projects and networks, a powerful yet often underused opportunity emerges: extending these collaborations into education-focused cooperation projects. This session explores how such projects can deepen R&I collaboration and build sustainable bridges between research, education, and society.

Speakers: Dr. Maaike Grammens, , Klaas Portier (EU-projectadvisor), Steven Schoofs (head Global Outreach), Prof. Lieva Van Langenhove and Andries Verspeeten (policy advisor)

Session 2D — How to avoid killer mistakes in grant applications

Second run of session 1D. In this session, research (support) staff will strengthen their core grant writing skills to better convince evaluators. By examining real examples from approved and rejected proposals, we will showcase five frequent grant writing pitfalls and offer concrete insights on how to prepare for a successful application.

Speakers: Dr. Margo Baele (EU accountmanager Excellent Science, EU-team) and Dr. Frederik Vandecasteele (EU accountmanager Excellent Science, EU-team)

Session 2E — How to optimally tailor your research funding application to the Core Facility model?

Companion to session 1E, focusing on practical application writing. Research funding applicants are strongly advised to already consult the envisaged Core Facilities in the writing phase of their project proposal. Core Facilities can offer help to improve the quality of your project proposal in terms of related technical background, feasible outlines of the experimental programs, and realistic budget estimations. Good practices will be shared via successful researcher–Core Facility partnership testimonials.

Speaker: Philip Van den Heede (policy officer)

12:30–13:30

Networking lunch and market on funding channels

Objectives

This course will give participants the opportunity to

• Improve your grant writing by identifying common pitfalls and learning what evaluators look for.
• Get an overview of funding opportunities for PhD students, postdocs, and professors, including local, European, and global programs.
• Network with funding experts and experienced researchers to find the right opportunities and collaborators.

Registration and fee

• Follow this link for the registration module. Once you have chosen a workshop, it is not possible to change your choice. 

• The no show policy applies.

Free of charge for Ghent University staff and students.

Number of participants

Maximum 180

Language

English

Evaluation method

After successful participation, the Doctoral School Office will add this course to your curriculum of the Doctoral Training Programme in Oasis. Please note that this can take up to one to two months after completion of the course.