CORE is the central programme of the FNR, aimed at strengthening the scientific quality of public research in Luxembourg, in line with the research priorities adopted by the government on 20 December 2019.
Objectives and criteria
CORE projects must be innovative and of high scientific quality. All projects are evaluated by international experts.
The National Research and Innovation Strategy identifies four priority research areas, which have proven to be particularly important for the country’s societal, ecological and economic development. These domains are not seen as separate and independent from each other, but as mutually influencing domains, so the sub-themes that define each domain may also have ramifications in other domains. The implementation of the research strategy will therefore put particular emphasis on interdisciplinary projects, which take into account that each of the four main research priority areas will benefit from results and projects located in one or more other areas. The four research priority areas chosen should ensure that, in addition to developing its GDP, Luxembourg can ensure a continuous and sustainable development of the well-being of its population, including in particular health, environmental and educational factors.
- Transformation of industry and services (trusted data economy and critical systems, space telecommunications, earth observation and space resources, etc.)
- Personalised healthcare (Complex biomedical systems – data and models, data-driven healthcare…)
- Sustainable and responsible development (energy efficiency and smart energy management, sustainable urban development and smart cities…)
- 21st century education (innovative and digitally enhanced learning and assessment environments, digital learning and human-machine interaction…)
What's new for 2024
Faced with the increase in applications and budgets requested, candidates must now justify human resources if the financial contribution of the FNR for staff exceeds 2 full-time equivalents (FTEs). The majority of previously funded projects requested between 1 and 2 FTEs. The bibliography is divided into two sections: the major publications of the consortium and the general bibliography of the proposal. Bilateral projects with Quebec FRQ (Canada) can now be submitted.
Duration and Funding
CORE projects last between 2 and 3 years, with competitive funding. The NRF allocates a maximum of EUR 25 million for the CORE 2024 call.
Submission Information
The deadline for submission is 17 April 2024 at 14:00 CET. Funding decisions will be communicated to applicants at the end of October 2024. New applicants are encouraged to contact the FNR for advice before submitting a proposal.
Support for International Collaborations
Bilateral and trilateral projects with partners from DFG (Germany), SNF (Switzerland), FWF (Austria), FWO (Belgium), FNRS (Belgium), GACR (Czech Republic), NCN (Poland), Formas (Sweden) and new Quebec FRQ (Canada) may be submitted under the principle of the lead agency. Further bilateral collaborations are possible with researchers funded by the Autonomous Province of Bolzano – South Tyrol (Italy). Proposals must be submitted as “CORE International” and comply with all the requirements of the CORE call.
For additional opportunities for joint projects in cross-border collaborations, consult the FNR's INTER programme, such as Weave.