REID, in cooperation with regular partners IDEA Consult and Claire Nauwelaers, carried out an evaluation of portfolio of research funding instruments to provide an evidence base to the BELSPO management for deciding on how to optimise their future intervention in support of Belgian science.  Three types of instruments were examined: research funding programmes (excluding the ESA funding); the funding of participation in international and European programmes and partnerships and the funding of research infrastructures (e.g. the Princes Elisabeth Antarctic station, the Research Vessel Belgica) and platforms (including the Belgian Biodiversity Platform, the BCCM, etc.).  

Following an initial stage of desk research and mapping the funding instruments, the evaluation was highly participatory with four thematic focus groups mobilising over 80 participants drawn from the Federal Public Services, Federal Scientific Institutes and the scientific community.  A final workshop brought together a group of 30 participants to help validate and finalise the recommendations.

The evaluation concluded that it is necessary to refocus the portfolio and available funding on strong and differentiating themes in which BELSPO has succeeded in supporting a critical mass of expertise over the last decades and which provide a basis for future development of research platforms that are open to the entire Belgian research community. Three themes were proposed: climate (earth sciences and observation, sea and oceans), Biodiversity & environment-related health and Heritage science

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