Belgium: French Community

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Introduction

The French Community is generally in charge of fundamental research in university institutions and of applied research in the Hautes Ecoles. Through its scientific policy and the subsidies it grants, for example the funding of the centres of excellence within the framework of concerted research initiatives and the support of the National Scientific Research Fund (FNRS) and its associated funds, the French Community intends to support high quality fundamental research in all areas related to the priorities of university institutions and provide researchers with the opportunity to put their skills into practice.

Policy

The Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the French Community is also the Minister of Research and Technological Development of the Walloon Region. The Minister is in charge of university research and of applied research in the Hautes Ecoles. The other Ministers are responsible for scientific policy initiatives that fall within the context of their respective domains e.g. public health, the socio-cultural sphere, sports and tourism.

Agencies

The Directorate General for non-copulsory Education and Scientific Research (DGENORS) of the Ministry of the French Community caters for planning and implementing the scientific policy of the French Community. Among its various tasks, DGENORS provides funding for university institutions and sets up funds for general scientific research, organises concerted research activities and is responsible for the special fund for research in universities as well as for subsidising the Hautes Ecoles.
Inter-university Council of the French Community of Belgium (CIUF) is composed of the nine universities and university departments of the French Community of Belgium. Its purpose is to organise and develop dialogue and data transfer between the various institutions.

Funding

National Scientific Research Fund (FNRS). The Fund supports researchers personally by providing them with temporary funding (research assistants) or permanent payment (qualified researchers, research managers or research directors). The FNRS also grants subsidies to researchers and provides sums of money aimed at covering the expenses. The fund also financially supports the organisation of colloquia and seminars and promotes the creation of contact groups between researchers of the universities of the French Community and foreign universities.
Inter-university Institute of Nuclear Sciences (IISN)
Fund for Medical Scientific Research (FRSM)
Fund for Collective Fundamental Scientific Research (FRFC). These three associated funds support research programmes undertaken by teams of researchers by covering personnel costs and providing equipment and other material needs.
The Fund for Research Training in Industry and Agriculture (FRIA) grants scholarships to university graduates who wish to work in the fields of research, industry or agriculture.

Organisations

Universities
Schools of Higher Education
Public scientific institutions, research centres (fundamental & applied), including University research centres.
(Semi)-public centres for technological research, technology transfer and innovation, including sectorial collective research centres.
Spin-off companies
Listed below are French speaking universities in Belgium that have spin-off companies in specific areas of research. Click on the link to find a list of their companies.
- from the Catholic University of Louvain-La-Neuve
- from the Free University of Brussels
- from the University of Liège
- from the University of Namur, maintained by the Valorization Department at the University of Namur
Companies involved with biotechnology
Click on the link to go directly to the website of the French speaking company in Belgium that is involved with biotechnology.
- Advanced Technology Corporation (ATC)
- Analis
- Baxter Belgium
- Belovo
- Biochem Europe
- BiocodeHycel
- Biopole
- Biosiris
- BioSource Diagnostics
- Biovallée
- Bio-X Healthcare
- BioXpr
- Blue Medical Investments
- BruCells
- Central Department for Fractionation of the Red Cross (C.A.F.-D.C.F.)
- Centre de développement de l’in vitro (CEDEVIT)
- ChemCom
- Coris BioConcept
- Delphi Genetics
- DNAVision
- D-tek
- Eurogentec
- Euroscreen
- GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals (GSK Biologicals)
- Henogen
- H-Phar
- KitoZyme
- Mithra Pharmaceuticals
- OncoMethylome Sciences
- Probiox
- Quality Assistance
- Quality Partner
- Target Hit
- Unibioscreen
- Unisensor
- Walloon Agricultural Researh Centre (CRA-W)
- ZenTech

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