FAQ

Through innovative research, the Moonshot initiative seeks to develop breakthrough technologies by 2040. With these technologies, the Flemish industry will be able to implement new climate-friendly processes, develop new climate-friendly products and reduce CO₂ emissions. This reduction is critical to avert a climate crisis and meet the Flemish (and European) climate commitment of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80-95% by 2050, compared to 1990. You can learn more about the high-level targets here.

For each Moonshot Research Path, a number of concrete quantitative goals and KPIs have been formulated. These goals and KPIs are academic ambitions. They do not include specific reduction targets for CO2 emissions. You can learn more about these goals and KPIs on the dedicated Path page in the Moonshot Research Paths section of this website.

Within the Moonshot initiative, there are Early-Stage Innovation (ESI) and Later-Stage Innovation (LSI) projects. You can learn more about the these two project types in the project procedure section of this website.

In principle, all experts from Flemish universities and Strategic Research Centres (Strategische OnderzoeksCentra or SOCs) can submit project proposals within the Moonshot initiative. There are, however, two important caveats. First, applicants must be independent from the sector and/or spearhead cluster relevant to the research topic. Second, project pre-proposals must be discussed by the Scientific Advisory Board (WAR) and external scientific experts before they can be further developed into full project proposals. You can learn more about project ideas and project proposals in the Project Procedure section of this website.

Project ideas must be developed into a pre-proposal using the Moonshot template. After submission, the Moonshot Team forwards all pre‑proposals to the Scientific Advisory Board (WAR), which assesses their alignment with Moonshot objectives and provides advisory input. These pre-proposals, together with the WAR’s advice, are then submitted to a committee of external industrial experts. This committee decides whether the project idea can be further developed into a full project proposal.

You can learn more about the submission of project proposals in the Project Procedure section of this website.

You can learn more about the evalution of project proposals in the Project Procedure section of this website. 

The Moonshot Research Paths are closely connected and interrelated pathways that support the overall Moonshot targets. Breakthrough technologies, for example in Biobased chemistry (Path 1), Circularity of Carbon in Materials (Path 2) or Electrification & Radical Process Transformation (Path 3), can only deliver significant CO₂ reductions for the Flemish industry if they are supported by affordable, carbon‑free energy made possible through Energy Innovation (Path 4).

You can learn more about the the different trajectories in the Moonshot Research Paths section of this website.

The Moonshot budget of €15 million a year is divided flexibly between the four Moonshot research trajectories, depending, amongst other considerations, on the scientific quality and the expected impact of the submitted project proposals.

Support from the industrial community is essential for the Moonshot initiative to be succesful. This is why the Moonshot initiative conducted a strategic survey among industrial partners to map their needs, identify 5 core competencies and determine the Moonshot Research Paths. This approach ensures industries will be able to effectively and efficiently implement business-driven breakthrough technologies from 2040 onwards.

Moonshot project proposals, however, are the remit of the knowledge partners. Yet, companies can join the user group or advisory board of a Moonshot project through a letter of intent (LOI). This way, companies can participate in regular project meetings, give feedback and guide the research that is being pursued.

Via the user group/advisory board of a project, companies are aware of the project results from an early stage. When strategic basic research grows and develops to a higher TRL, companies will have to be closely involved. This can be achieved, for example, through bilateral cooperation or a larger consortium like in an ICON project in the regular operation of Catalisti or any other spearhead cluster. This approach guarantees fast implementation of breakthrough technologies by the Flemish industry.

As the Moonshot initiative is a collaborative and community-wide programme that includes governmental, industrial and academic partners, support from all stakeholders is key. A Moonshot Day will be organised once a year, will provide an information platform to highlight the activities and ambitions of the Moonshot initiative, and will spark, through constructive dialogue, broad support for the current Moonshot research paths.