Thinking about applying for the Strategic Basic Research (SBO) program from FWO? Join us on June 11, 2026, for a session to get tips & tricks for your SBO application.
The SBO program funds innovative research which, if scientifically succesful, will create prospects for economic or societal applications. This program offers two distinct tracks based on your project's primary goal: SBO Economic (SBO-E) or SBO Societal (SBO-M). Since the "utilisation" section of the proposal requires a completely different approach depending on the track, choosing the right one is crucial for your success.
To help you navigate this choice and strengthen your proposal, we are hosting two dedicated Tips & Tricks sessions. We will dive into how to prepare the "valorisation" section of your proposal, share insider tips, and open the floor for discussion and questions.
This session is aimed at researchers from VUB, UZB and EhB.
Practicalities
📅 Thursday, June 11, 2026
📍 Room M.1.56, Braem Building, VUB Main Campus (Pleinlaan 2, Etterbeek) + online.
You will receive the link to the online session via e-mail, a few days before it takes place.
Schedule
- 13:00 – 14:30 SBO-E session: Focus on economic & spin-off finality
- 14:30 – 15:00 Discuss your project idea with TechTransfer officers Liesbeth Bosman & Mieke De Volder
- 15:00 – 16:30 SBO-M session: Focus on societal finality
SBO-E vs. SBO-M: Which one fits?
Not sure which track to choose? Use this quick guide:
- Choose SBO-E if your research results are mainly intended to be used by economic actors.
- Choose SBO-M if your work mainly involves social stakeholders.
Still in doubt? Reach out to us with a brief summary of your project idea, and we will help you determine the best fit for your application. Contact Liesbeth Bosman (liesbeth.bosman@vub.be) & Mieke De Volder (mieke.de.volder@vub.be).
Registration
Registration is free and required.