Generet Award for Rare Diseases is a grant from the King Baudouin Foundation, on behalf of the Generet Fund, that funds a four-year research project in the field of rare diseases in Belgium. Awarded for the ninth consecutive year in 2026, the award totals €1,250,000 over four years, with a first installment of €750,000 for two years and a second installment of €500,000 subject to a positive mid-term evaluation.

Rare cancers and rare adverse drug events are not eligible. Eligible applicants are internationally established researchers with outstanding scientific achievements and a minimum of PhD plus 10 years of scientific seniority, affiliated with a Belgian university, university hospital, or eligible research institute, with expertise in rare diseases or common diseases with demonstrated added value for rare disease research.

The 2026 deadline was April 20, 2026.

Generet Award for Rare Diseases 2026 | FNRS Generet Award for Rare Diseases 2026 Research project in the field of rare diseases.

Awards & Philanthropic Funding Permanent research status (R3) and Senior research position (R4) On the initiative of the Generet Fund, managed by the King Baudouin Foundation, the prestigious Generet Award will be granted in 2026, for the 9th time in a row, to support a 4-year research project in the field of rare diseases in Belgium. The Award amounts to €1,250,000 over 4 years.

A first installation of €750,000 will be credited for 2 years. The second installation of 500,000 € will be subject to the positive evaluation of a mid-term scientific, financial and communication report. Rare diseases are considered to be life threatening or chronic conditions which affect no more than 1 person out of 2,000.

Rare cancers and rare adverse drug events research projects are not eligible for this call. Proposals will undergo a two-step application procedure encompassing a pre-proposal phase (open to all) and a full proposal phase (accessible to shortlisted applicants from the first stage). Applicants submitting a pre-proposal must fill in a administrative brief form, provide a letter of intent of max.

3 pages focusing on the scientific proof of concept of the research project and attach a relevance core bibliography and a short CV.

Applicants must be internationally established investigators, with outstanding scientific achievements and multiple seminal contributions in: the field of rare diseases common diseases, but who can demonstrate that their research will have a substantial added value for rare diseases and can accelerate research in this particular field. Applicants must have a scientific seniority of min.

PhD + 10 years at the deadline of the call (career breaks, such as maternity leave or long-time illness, not included) . Applicants must be affiliated to a Belgian University, a Belgian University Hospital or an eligible Research Institute , until December 31, 2030 and not reach the retirement age limit during the project timeframe.

Former laureates cannot reapply to the Generet Award as Principal Investigator but can be partners in other applications (at the earliest 4 years after being laureate). Eligible research project The research project must be conducted in Belgium in the field of rare diseases.

The research project should aim at a better understanding of the processes underpinning rare diseases and translating fundamental discoveries into better prevention, diagnosis or treatment for patients. Research can encompass all internships from bench to bedside. Eligible expenses encompass personnel costs, running costs and equipment.

A maximum of 10% in overheads may be applied to this amount. These overheads are included within the Prize money and are not added on top of it. Up to 30% of the Award's amount can be outsourced for supporting international or intranational expenses (personnel and running costs) including the private sector if they charge at cost price.

Opening of the call: February 16, 2026 Pre-proposals deadline: April 20, 2026 First Panel meeting: May 27, 2026 Invitation for full proposals: Following the first Panel meeting Full proposals deadline: 6 July 2026 Second Panel meeting: November 17, 2025 Start of the research: 1 January 2027 Pre-proposals, written in English, must be submitted via the online application system available on www. generetaward.

be we april 20, 2026 at the latest. The complete regulations of the Generet Award 2026 are available here . The list of the previous laureates is available here .

Questions about the Award should be addressed via email to prix@frs-fnrs. be . The complete regulations of the Generet Award 2026 are available here .