National Fund for Scientific Research

The National Fund for Scientific Research (NFSR) (Dutch: Nationaal Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NFWO), French: Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique (FNRS)) was once a government institution in Belgium for supporting scientific research until it was split[when?]

into two separate organizations: The task of the FWO and F.R.S.–FNRS is to stimulate the development of new knowledge in all scientific disciplines.

The means to achieve this, is to finance excellent scientists and research projects after an inter-University competition and with an evaluation by foreign experts.

On 1 October 1927, in a speech at Cockerill in Seraing, King Albert I strongly emphasized the importance of scientific research to the economic development of Belgium.

Financial support initially came from the public, and from the Solvay family that gave 100 million Belgian francs.