The Francqui Prize is a Belgian scholarly prize awarded by the Francqui Foundation for significant contributions to science or scholarship. Established in 1933 and named after Émile Francqui, the award is made in recognition of the achievements of a scholar who at the start of the year who at the start of the award is under 50. The prize is awarded in a rotation of the exact sciences, social sciences or humanities, and biological or medical sciences. The prize amount is currently 250,000 euros, of which 80% is directed to the support of the recipient's research program, and the remainder goes to the individual.
Candidates must be associated with a Belgian academic institution, and foreign candidates must have been associated with such an institution for at least ten years. The laureate is selected by an international jury whose members may not be affiliated with a Belgian scientific institution or university at the time of nomination or award.
Laureates The laureates listed by the Francqui Foundation include:
Year Laureate Institution Field or area 2026 Patrice Cani UCLouvain Francqui-Collen biomedical sciences; gut microbiota and metabolism Diether Lambrechts KU Leuven Francqui-Collen biomedical sciences; cancer genomics 2025 Ine Van Hoyweghen KU Leuven Humanities; social sciences of biomedical innovation 2024 Veronique Van Speybroeck Ghent University Exact sciences; applied physics 2023 Sarah-Maria Fendt KU Leuven Francqui-Collen biomedical sciences; fundamental biomedical research Philippe Lemey KU Leuven; Rega Institute Francqui-Collen biomedical sciences; clinical and translational research 2022 Veerle Rots University of Liège Humanities; prehistory 2021 Michaël Gillon University of Liège Exact sciences; astrobiology 2020 Cédric Blanpain Université libre de Bruxelles Francqui-Collen biomedical sciences; fundamental biomedical research Bart Loeys University of Antwerp Francqui-Collen biomedical sciences; clinical and translational research 2019 Laurens Cherchye KU Leuven Kulak Humanities; business and economics Bram De Rock Université libre de Bruxelles; KU Leuven Kulak Humanities; economics and business Frederic Vermeulen KU Leuven Humanities; economics 2018 Frank Verstraete Ghent University; University of Vienna Exact sciences; mathematical physics and astronomy 2017 Steven Laureys University of Liège; Liège University Hospital Biological and medical sciences; coma 2016 Barbara Baert KU Leuven Humanities; medieval art and history of Christian art 2015 Stefaan Vaes KU Leuven Exact sciences; mathematics 2014 Bart Lambrecht Ghent University Biological and medical sciences; immunology and pulmonary disease 2013 Olivier De Schutter UCLouvain Humanities; governance theory and human-rights law 2012 Conny Aerts KU Leuven; Radboud University; Hasselt University Exact sciences; astronomy and astrophysics 2011 Pierre Vanderhaegen Université libre de Bruxelles Biological and medical sciences; neuroscience 2010 François Maniquet UCLouvain Humanities; economics 2009 Eric Lambin UCLouvain Exact sciences; geography 2008 Michel A. J. Georges University of Liège Biological and medical sciences; animal genomics 2007 François de Callataÿ Royal Library of Belgium Humanities; history 2006 Pierre Gaspard Université libre de Bruxelles Exact sciences; statistical mechanics 2005 Dirk Inzé Ghent University Biological and medical sciences; plant systems biology 2004 Marie-Claire Foblets KU Leuven Humanities; anthropology 2003 Michel Van den Bergh Hasselt University; Vrije Universiteit Brussel Exact sciences; algebra and geometry 2002 Peter Carmeliet KU Leuven Biological and medical sciences; transgenic technology and gene therapy 2001 Philippe Van Parijs UCLouvain Humanities; social justice philosophy 2000 Marc Henneaux Université libre de Bruxelles Exact sciences; theoretical physics 1999 Marc Parmentier Université libre de Bruxelles Biological and medical sciences; molecular biology 1998 Mathias Dewatripont Université libre de Bruxelles Humanities; economics 1997 Jean-Luc Brédas University of Mons-Hainaut Exact sciences; materials chemistry 1996 Etienne Pays Université libre de Bruxelles Biological and medical sciences; molecular biology 1995 Claude d'Aspremont Lynden UCLouvain Humanities; economics 1994 Eric G. Derouane UCLouvain Exact sciences; chemistry and catalysis 1993 Gilbert Vassart Université libre de Bruxelles Biological and medical sciences; pathological biochemistry 1992 Géry van Outryve d'Ydewalle KU Leuven Humanities; experimental psychology 1991 Jean-Marie André University of Namur Exact sciences; applied theoretical chemistry 1990 Thierry Boon UCLouvain Biological and medical sciences; immunotherapy 1989 Pierre Pestieau University of Liège Humanities; economics and mathematical economics 1988 Pierre van Moerbeke UCLouvain Exact sciences; algebraic geometry 1987 Jacques Urbain Université libre de Bruxelles Biological and medical sciences; immunology 1986 Marc Wilmet Université libre de Bruxelles Humanities; Romance philology and French linguistics 1985 Amand Lucas University of Namur Exact sciences; theoretical physics 1984 Désiré Collen KU Leuven Biological and medical sciences; biochemistry and molecular biochemistry 1983 Alexis Jacquemin UCLouvain Humanities; political and industrial economics 1982 François Englert Université libre de Bruxelles Exact sciences; theoretical physics 1981 André Trouet UCLouvain Biological and medical sciences; cellular and molecular pathology 1980 Jozef IJsewijn KU Leuven Humanities; humanist Latin literature 1979 Jozef Schell Ghent University Exact sciences; genetics 1978 Jacques Nihoul University of Liège Biological and medical sciences; applied mathematics and theoretical physics 1977 Jacques Taminiaux UCLouvain Humanities; history of philosophy and philosophy of art 1976 Walter Fiers Ghent University Exact sciences; molecular biology 1975 René Thomas Université libre de Bruxelles Biological and medical sciences; chemistry and molecular genetics 1974 Raoul Van Caenegem Ghent University Humanities; medieval history and legal history 1973 Pierre Macq UCLouvain Exact sciences; experimental nuclear physics 1972 Jean-Edouard Desmedt Université libre de Bruxelles Biological and medical sciences; human neurophysiology 1971 Georges Thines UCLouvain Humanities; experimental psychology and animal psychology 1970 Radu Balescu Université libre de Bruxelles Exact sciences; theoretical and mathematical physics 1969 Isidoor Leusen Ghent University Biological and medical sciences; human physiology 1968 Jules Horrent University of Liège Humanities; Romance philology 1967 José J. Fripiat Catholic University of Louvain Exact sciences; physical chemistry and surface chemistry 1966 Henri G. Hers Catholic University of Louvain Biological and medical sciences; biochemistry and physiological chemistry 1965 Roland Mortier Université libre de Bruxelles Humanities; French and comparative literature 1964 Paul Ledoux University of Liège Exact sciences; theoretical astrophysics 1963 Hubert Chantrenne Université libre de Bruxelles Biological and medical sciences; molecular biology 1962 Chaïm Perelman Université libre de Bruxelles Humanities; philosophy 1961 Jules Duchesne University of Liège Exact sciences; chemistry and molecular physics Adolphe Van Tiggelen Catholic University of Louvain Exact sciences; spectrochemistry and physical chemistry 1960 Christian de Duve Catholic University of Louvain Biological and medical sciences; physiological chemistry and biochemistry 1959 Gérard Garitte Catholic University of Louvain Humanities; Christian Orientalism and classical philology 1958 Léon Van Hove Utrecht University Exact sciences; mathematical sciences and theoretical physics 1957 Lucien Massart Ghent University Biological and medical sciences; organic chemistry 1956 Louis Remacle University of Liège Humanities; Romance philology 1955 Ilya Prigogine Université libre de Bruxelles Exact sciences; chemistry and molecular physics 1954 Raymond Jeener Université libre de Bruxelles Biological and medical sciences; animal physiology and biology 1953 Etienne Lamotte Catholic University of Louvain Humanities; classical philosophy and Oriental studies Claire Préaux Université libre de Bruxelles Humanities; classical philology 1952 Florent Bureau University of Liège Exact sciences; mathematics and algebraic geometry 1951 Henri Koch KU Leuven Biological and medical sciences; physiology 1950 Paul Harsin University of Liège Humanities; political and social sciences 1949 Léon Rosenfeld University of Liège Exact sciences; theoretical physics and nuclear sciences 1948 Jean Brachet Université libre de Bruxelles Biological and medical sciences; biology and biophysics Pol Swings University of Liège Exact sciences; physics and spectroscopy Zénon-M. Bacq University of Liège Biological and medical sciences; physiopathology Marc de Hemptinne Catholic University of Louvain Exact sciences; physical and chemical sciences Léon H. Dupriez Catholic University of Louvain Humanities; economics and economic philosophy 1946 Marcel Florkin University of Liège Biological and medical sciences; biochemistry and physiological chemistry Frans-H. van den Dungen Université libre de Bruxelles Exact sciences; applied sciences François-L. Ganshof Ghent University Humanities; medieval history 1940 Pierre Nolf University of Liège Biological and medical sciences; pathology and biology 1938 Jacques Errera Université libre de Bruxelles Exact sciences; nuclear sciences 1936 Franz Cumont University of Liège Humanities; classical philology 1934 Georges Lemaître Catholic University of Louvain Exact sciences; astrophysics 1933 Henri Pirenne Ghent University Humanities; philosophy and letters
See also University Foundation Belgian American Educational Foundation (BAEF) List of general science and technology awards List of social sciences awards
References
External links Francqui foundation Laureates of the Francqui Prize