On a proposal from the Federal Minister of Energy, Mathieu Bihet, the Council of Ministers approved the granting of almost €11 million to eight research projects selected under the 10th call for projects of the Energy Transition Fund (ETF). The selected projects concern nuclear energy applications.
In total, 41 proposals were submitted in 2025 by Belgian universities, research centres and companies. Following a rigorous evaluation carried out by the Directorate-General for Energy, eight projects were selected for total support of €10,793,392.66.
The selected projects were chosen for their scientific quality, their relevance to Belgium's energy priorities and their impact on innovation, security of supply and decarbonisation.
“With this tenth and final call for projects, we are closing a mechanism that, over ten years, invested almost €200 million in 140 energy research projects in Belgium. These investments have helped to bring about cutting-edge innovations, strengthen our scientific expertise and support the excellence of our research,” stresses the Minister of Energy.
Nuclear energy at the heart of this 10th call for projects
This edition focused on nuclear energy applications, in line with the Government's determination to restore this technology to its full place in our country's energy mix. The selected projects cover Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), fusion, advanced materials, robotics, research infrastructure and the integration of nuclear power into industry, among others.
“Belgium has recognised expertise in the field of nuclear energy. By supporting these projects, we are investing in technologies that will contribute to decarbonised, safe and competitive energy, while consolidating our position among the countries that matter in nuclear research,” stresses Mathieu Bihet.
This selection also reflects the Government's determination to prioritise investment in high-value projects capable of strengthening our energy security, accelerating decarbonisation and preparing the technologies that will shape our energy system.
« Over ten years, the Energy TransiETF 2026_ENtion Fund has fostered unprecedented collaborations between academia and industry, while helping to structure a genuine research ecosystem. This is a valuable legacy on which we will continue to build so that Belgium remains a European benchmark in the nuclear technologies of tomorrow ,” concludes the Minister.
The eight winners, as well as all the other applicants, have been officially informed of the decision.
The 8 selected projects:
