+ More Filters

Reset Filters

Title

Funding Organization

Funding Type

Eligible Country

Deadline

Other (Select all that apply)

Show Expired Programs

Show Verified Programs

Not Verified

FNR ATTRACT Programme

Fonds National de la Recherche Luxembourg - FNR

The ATTRACT programme is designed for researchers not yet established in Luxembourg, who demonstrate the potential to become leaders in their field of research. The scheme offers promising junior researchers the opportunity to set up their own research team within one of the country’s research institutions and national research priorities.

Researchers are eligible between 2 and 8 years after their PhD, they must have an outstanding track record in their field which has to fit strategically to the research agenda of the Luxembourg host institution.

Host institutions offer candidates the prospect of developing an own research line. ATTRACT fellows are offered individual coaching and a career track towards a tenured position.

Same as in previous ATTRACT calls, gender parity is the rule for institutions submitting more than one proposal. Nevertheless, in order to give consideration to institutional strategies in matters of gender equality, a possibility for derogation from the gender parity rule is outlined in the present call.

DURATION

ATTRACT grants have a lifespan of 5 years.

FUNDING SPECIFICS

The financial contribution by the FNR can be up to 1.5 MEUR for Starting Investigators or 2 MEUR for Consolidating Investigators. In the 2026 Call, the FNR expects to be able to fund 1 – 2 projects.

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Interested candidates must check well in advance whether the Luxembourg host institution for their ATTRACT grant has an internal deadline prior to the FNR deadline.
The ATTRACT programme has 1 Call per year
The candidate must have 2 – 8 years proven experience in the R&D context, following the successful completion of a doctoral degree.
Research proposals must be submitted jointly by the candidate and host institution (candidates should contact their intended host institution well ahead of the FNR deadline to align with the institutions internal deadlines).
All applications must be submitted via the FNR Online Grant Management System.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

🧪 1. Scientific Excellence

FNR is committed to funding excellent research. Competitive proposals:

Clearly articulate a strong scientific question or hypothesis

Demonstrate novelty and potential to advance knowledge

Provide robust justification of methods and feasibility

Why this matters: FNR’s core mission is to raise Luxembourg’s research quality and international competitiveness, so proposals are judged first on scientific quality. FNR

📊 2. Clear Alignment With Luxembourg’s Research Priorities

For project funding (especially CORE), proposals must align with national research priorities, which are periodically updated by the Ministry of Research and Higher Education. Projects outside these areas are typically ineligible. FNR

Tips:

Refer to the latest National Research Priorities in your narrative

Frame your work within the relevant strategic priority area

🤝 3. Strong International Collaboration

Many FNR programmes encourage or require international cooperation:

INTER supports collaborative projects with foreign partners

CORE International allows bilateral/trilateral projects submitted jointly with other agencies

International mobility schemes promote researcher exchange

Successful collaborative applications demonstrate balanced contributions from partners, shared objectives, and clear plans for coordination. FNR

👩‍🔬 4. Feasibility, Planning and Impact

Across instruments (whether CORE, ATTRACT, PEARL, or fellowships):

Projects should include clear aims, milestones, and deliverables

Budgets should be justified and proportional to the work

Expected scientific, societal or economic impact must be articulated

For advanced career awards like ATTRACT, showing feasibility of establishing a research line and integration into a Luxembourg research institution is critical. FNR

🎓 5. Investigator Track Record & Potential

FNR evaluates both past accomplishments and future potential:

Strong publication record and research outputs

Evidence of capacity to deliver the project (for PIs)

For early-career schemes, potential for independence and leadership is emphasized

In junior schemes like CORE Junior Track, reviewers consider supporting evidence of feasibility even if preliminary data is limited. Gov.pl

🪪 6. Narrative CV & Structured Presentation

FNR encourages (and in some programmes requires) the use of a narrative CV, allowing applicants to contextualize achievements and highlight contributions beyond metrics like publication counts. Clear, structured narratives improve reviewer understanding and scoring.

🌍 7. Ethics, Responsible Research & Open Science

FNR has explicit policies that funded research must:

Comply with ethical standards (e.g., human research requires proper approval)

Respect data protection (e.g., GDPR)

Publish outputs open access where possible

Demonstrate integrity and responsible conduct

Projects that proactively address ethics and open science often make a stronger impression. FNR

🪶 Key Programme-Specific Predictors

Below are highlights from major FNR programmes and what success tends to look like in each:

📍 CORE (Central Project Funding)

Scientific excellence & relevance to national priorities are mandatory.

Proposals must fit within the defined funding range and show clear feasibility.

International (“CORE International”) projects must credibly integrate partners and meet joint evaluation standards.

A PI can generally lead only one project per call, so prioritizing the strongest case is strategic. FNR

Predictor: Well-defined hypothesis, integrated collaborators, clear milestones, and strategic alignment.

🧑‍🔬 ATTRACT (Advanced Career Grants)

Designed to attract promising researchers to Luxembourg with independent research teams.

Applicants must demonstrate both a strong research track record and fit with host institution priorities.

Gender parity is considered in institutional submissions. FNR

Predictor: Strong evidence of leadership potential plus a compelling case for establishing a research line in Luxembourg.

👩‍🎓 AFR (PhD & Postdoc Fellowships)

Projects must offer strong training value and scientific quality.

Applicants should show that the project advances their career trajectory.

Host institutions’ support strengthens proposals.

Predictor: Clear training components, achievable goals within the fellowship period, and mentoring plans.

🧠 Additional Success Factors

📌 Early Engagement With FNR

FNR encourages applicants to contact programme officers ahead of submission to confirm fit and clarify guidelines — especially for large or strategic calls.

📌 Balanced Budget with Justification

All funding instruments require detailed, realistic budgets with justifications directly tied to proposed activities.

📌 Institutional Support

Letters of support from host institutions (for ATTRACT, PEARL, fellowships) strengthen proposals by demonstrating readiness and commitment.

🧠 Summary: Top Predictors of FNR Funding Success

Predictor	Why It Matters
Scientific excellence	Central evaluation criterion in all FNR schemes. FNR
Alignment with national priorities	Required for many project grants like CORE. FNR
Feasibility & clear plan	Demonstrates deliverability within timeline and budget.
Track record & potential	Assesses capability to execute and future impact.
International collaboration	Improves competitiveness in collaborative schemes. FNR
Ethics & open science compliance	Meets FNR’s responsible research policies. FNR
Host institution support	Particularly for person-focused awards like ATTRACT.

🧠 Final Tips

Read the specific call text carefully, as eligibility, evaluation criteria, and submission requirements differ by instrument.

Use the FNR Online Grant Management System for proposal submission and follow internal institutional deadlines.

Draft concise, structured narratives that speak directly to quality, relevance, feasibility and impact — the pillars of FNR review.

Specialties

Data Science

Eligibility Requirements

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Fonds National de la Recherche Luxembourg - FNR

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: Maison du Savoir, 8th Floor 2, place de l'Université L-4365 Esch-sur-Alzette Luxembourg

Legal & Affiliation Disclaimer

Affiliation Disclaimer: Trialect operates independently and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or supported by any sponsors or organizations posting on the GrantsBoard platform. As an independent aggregator of publicly available funding opportunities, Trialect provides equal access to information for all users without endorsing any specific funding source, content, organization, or sponsor. Trialect assumes no responsibility for the content posted by sponsors or third parties.

Subscription Disclaimer: Upon logging into Trialect, you may choose to SUBSCRIBE to GrantsBoard for timely notifications of funding opportunities and to access exclusive benefits, such as priority alerts, reminders, personalized recommendations, and additional application support. However, users are advised to contact sponsors directly for any questions and are not required to subscribe to engage with funding opportunities.

Content Ownership and Copyright Disclaimer: Trialect respects the intellectual property rights of all organizations and individuals. All content posted on GrantsBoard is provided solely for informational purposes and remains the property of the original owners. Trialect does not claim ownership of, nor does it have any proprietary interest in, content provided by third-party sponsors. Users are encouraged to verify content and ownership directly with the posting sponsor.

Fair Use Disclaimer: The information and content available on GrantsBoard are compiled from publicly accessible sources in alignment with fair use principles under U.S. copyright law. Trialect serves as an aggregator of this content, offering it to users in good faith and with the understanding that it is available for public dissemination. Any organization or individual who believes their intellectual property rights have been violated is encouraged to contact us for prompt resolution.

Third-Party Posting Responsibility Disclaimer: Trialect is a neutral platform that allows third-party sponsors to post funding opportunities for informational purposes only. Sponsors are solely responsible for ensuring that their postings comply with copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. Trialect assumes no liability for any copyright or intellectual property infringements in third-party content and will take appropriate action to address any substantiated claims.

Accuracy and Verification Disclaimer: Trialect makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided by sponsors. Users are advised to verify the details of any funding opportunity directly with the sponsor before taking action. Trialect cannot be held liable for any discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies in third-party postings.

Notice and Takedown Policy: Trialect is committed to upholding copyright law and protecting the rights of intellectual property owners. If you believe that content on GrantsBoard infringes your copyright or intellectual property rights, please contact us with detailed information about the claim. Upon receipt of a valid notice, Trialect will promptly investigate and, where appropriate, remove or disable access to the infringing content.

View Funding Opportunity