Evaluation of the Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO) and systemic evaluation of academic research funding

In this assignment IDEA Consult evaluates the functioning of the Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO) on behalf of the EWI Department of the Flemish government. This evaluation provides input for the drafting of a new cooperation agreement for the period 2019-2023. An extensive range of methodologies is used to support the analysis, namely desk research, in-depth interviews with stakeholders of the FWO, an international benchmark analysis and a large-scale survey among researchers and expert panel members. The findings will result in a SWOT that will be used as a basis for a series of policy recommendations addressing both policy makers and the FWO.

In addition, we also examine how the FWO positions itself within the broader system of the 2nd flow of funds (i.e. government funding for fundamental and scientific research). This systemic evaluation involves looking at the funding of research in Flanders and its contribution to the career of individual researchers.