Research is a global endeavour and the research system can only evolve for the better if research funders and organisations join forces to implement change. Our international relations policy aligns with our mission to set up a sustainable world-class research system in Luxembourg, and to increase its international visibility and recognition.
A first pillar comprises funding possibilities for joint research projects encouraging Luxembourg-based researchers to join forces with their peers on international projects. International competition enables for benchmarking with the most successful research consortia/teams. Furthermore, the collaboration allows for a transfer of knowledge between the involved groups.
Read more about our INTER programmeThe latter is further fostered by funding of researchers’ mobility (INTER Mobility), as well as by the FNR’s efforts in attracting established and recognised researchers to Luxembourg (ATTRACT & PEARL).
Discover all of our funding instrumentsThe second pillar is FNR’s active participation in several international associations, for defining international quality standards in research funding, as well as best practices in research. By implementing those in Luxembourg, the FNR builds up trust among the worldwide research community, and has become a valued partner among its peer institutions. Read more about the national and international initiatives we are involved in below.
National initiatives & working groups
Gender Working Group
In order to fight the gender imbalance in research in Luxembourg, the Ministry of Higher Education and Research (MESR) has mandated the FNR to establish a concrete action plan. In 2020, the Luxembourg Gender Working Group (GWG) was set up, bringing together representatives of the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), the Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER), the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), the University of Luxembourg(UL), the Max Planck Institute Luxembourg (MPI) and the FNR (Linda Wampach & Emily Iversen). The Group is coordinated by the FNR’s Linda Wampach.
The GWG aims to promote professional equity between women and men in the Luxembourg research sector, through identifying the main issues of gender inequality in research in Luxembourg and proposing a plan of initiatives to address them. Thereby, these initiatives will contribute to enable the same opportunities for both women and men in the Luxembourg public research landscape on a short- and long-term basis.
Research Culture working group
The Research Culture working group brings together representatives from the FNR (Sean Sapcariu) and the public research institutions in Luxembourg to work on and align policies surrounding research culture in Luxembourg. This working group revolves around:
- Understanding the current research culture in Luxembourg and identifying aspects that require modification or optimisation;
- Sharing of best practices within the institutions and aligning with international initiatives;
- Devising a goal-oriented strategy and action plan on improving the value, reward and incentive system in the Luxembourg research system, with the aim of recognising the full range of outcomes from scientific activities.
Research Luxembourg
Research Luxembourg is a joint initiative of the main actors in Luxembourg public research with the support of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research, including the University of Luxembourg (Uni.lu), Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER), Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR), and Luxinnovation.
Research Luxembourg is a unified agile team of thought leaders working to learn, explore and make an impact to shape a sustainable future. By connecting players in Luxembourg and abroad, Research Luxembourg aims to become a leader in research and innovation focusing on four research priority areas (1) Industrial and Service Transformation, (2) Personalised Healthcare, (3) Sustainable and Responsible Development, and (4) 21st Century Education.
Learn more on researchluxembourg.org.International initiatives & working groups
Science Europe
Science Europe is an association of major research funding organisations and research performing organisations. It was established in October 2011 and is based in Brussels. Science Europe currently brings together around 40 research and research funding organisations from 28 countries, representing approximately €24 billion invested annually in the public research sector. Its main objective is to strengthen collaboration between national research organisations across Europe and to drive European research policy.
FNR Secretary General Marc Schiltz was re-elected as President of the Board of Science Europe in 2021, marking his third term in the position.
In addition, the FNR is involved in several Science Europe working groups:
- Open Science (Tom Jakobs)
- Green and Digital Transition (Christiane Kaell)
- Research Culture (Sean Sapcariu)
- Communication (Didier Goossens)
- Science Europe Working Group on EDI (Linda Wampach) – read the 2024 Practical Guide to Supporting Diversity in Research Environments
- High-level policy network on ERA and cross-border collaboration (Helena Burg)
- Horizon Europe (Richard Nakath)
The FNR is also a member of the following Science Europe task forces:
- Monitoring Cross-Border Collaboration (Tom Jakobs & Helena Burg)
- Recognition Systems (Sean Sapcariu & Helena Burg)
- Multilateral Lead Agency Procedure (WEAVE) (Helena Burg)
- Research Integrity (Asael Rouby)
Global Research Council
The Global Research Council (GRC) is a virtual organisation, comprised of the heads of science and engineering funding agencies from around the world, dedicated to promoting the sharing of data and best practices for high-quality collaboration among funding agencies worldwide. In his capacity as President of Science Europe, the FNR’s Secretary General Marc Schiltz is a member of the Governing Board of the Global Research Council (GRC), to which he was re-elected in 2023.
International Science Council
The FNR is a member of the International Science Council, which catalyses and convenes scientific expertise, advice and influence on issues of major concern to both science and society, through a unique global membership of natural and social sciences and humanities.
COST
COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a European cooperation measure in the field of scientific and technical research. It does not fund research itself but provides a platform for European scientists to cooperate on a particular project and exchange expertise. These projects are called “Actions”. COST Actions help connect research initiatives across Europe and beyond and enable researchers and innovators to grow their ideas in any science and technology field by sharing them with their peers. COST Actions are bottom-up networks with a duration of four years that boost research, innovation and careers.
The FNR’s Helena Burg is the COST National Coordinator for Luxembourg.
Learn more about COSTDORA
The FNR is a signatory and financial supporter of the DORA declaration, which consists of a set of recommendations to improve the assessment of scientific output. As a signatory of DORA, the FNR fully supports the declaration’s practices in research assessment, and has updated its own peer review guidelines accordingly. Our Secretary General Marc Schiltz is a member of the DORA steering committee, and we participate on the Funder’s exchange group.
The FNR and DORA have released a jointly crafted resource for research assessment: ‘Balanced, broad, responsible: A practical guide for research evaluators’ is a short, educational video that provides a ‘checklist’ of six concrete suggestions for research funders seeking to improve responsible assessment of funding applications. These recommendations have been summarised in an accompanying briefing document.
Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA)
The FNR was one of the initial signatories of the Agreement on Advancing Research Assessment, and is currently a member of the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA). As a member, the FNR is active in the initiatives of the coalition, with involvement in each general assembly. In the current call for Working Groups, the FNR is participating in four proposals, one of which FNR has coordinated and is co-chairing.
Other international initiatives with FNR involvement
- European Open Science Cloud (EOSC)
- Covid Therapeutics Accelerator (CTA)
- Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)
- cOAlition S