naXys Workshop Programme – Call for Applications – September 2026
Funding collaborative working groups in complex systems research at the University of Namur
About naXys
The naXys — Namur Institute for Complex Systems at the University of Namur brings together researchers from mathematics, physics, biology, economy, and other disciplines to tackle fundamental questions about complex systems. Complex systems — from the human brain and social networks to financial markets, ecosystems, and the universe itself — are composed of many interacting elements that exhibit emergent phenomena.
naXys approaches these challenges through an interdisciplinary lens, combining rigorous mathematical modeling, data analysis, numerical simulations, and optimization techniques. Our research spans diverse fields including celestial mechanics and space dynamics, mathematical biology, economic complexity, network science, nonlinear dynamics, and system robustness. By putting expertise in complex systems at the service of researchers across all disciplines, naXys fosters innovative collaborations that push the boundaries of scientific understanding.
About the Programme
The naXys Workshop Programme invites applications for funding focused working groups that bring together international researchers to tackle questions at the frontier of complex systems science.
Each workshop brings a small team of experts to Namur for an intensive collaborative session of up to four days, with the explicit goal of producing a concrete, tangible output — such as a joint publication, a policy report, a software tool, or a major grant application.
What We Fund
- Format: A working group of approximately 10 participants meeting at the University of Namur for a maximum of 4 days.
- Topics: Any subject linked to complex systems, whether interdisciplinary or discipline-specific.
- Outputs: The expected deliverable must be concrete — e.g. a scientific publication, a technical report, an application or software tool, or a collaborative project proposal.
- Interactions with naXys: During the workshop, participants will engage with the broader naXys community through dedicated meet-the-expert sessions, a common lunch, reserved discussion slots, and at least one naXys seminar.
Who Can Apply?
- Each proposal must be led by two co-leads: one naXys member (PI or postdoc) and one external researcher (PI or postdoc, from another institution outside UNamur).
- The two lead applicants should be at different career stages (e.g. one senior PI and one early-career postdoc).
- The group should consist of approximately 10 participants, of whom at least 4 are naXys members (including one of the leads).
- A balanced mix of gender and career stages is expected.
Timing
- Deadline for submitting your application: 01/09/2026.
- Communication of results: 01/11/2026.
- Earliest date for starting the workshop: 01/02/2027.
- Between 01/11/2026 and 01/02/2027, the two co-leads will be in contact with the naXys secretary to fix the workshop dates.
Budget
naXys provides funding of approximately € 10,000 per workshop (for a group of ~10 participants) for a total of at most 3 workshops in the 2026 call.
The budget may cover:
- Travel for external participants
- Accommodation for external participants
- Restaurant meals and catering
- Local sightseeing or social activities
- Publication fees
Note: naXys also provides logistical support including hotel and restaurant reservations, meeting room bookings, catering, communication with participants, and accounting.
Selection Process
Proposals will be evaluated by the naXys board on the basis of scientific quality, feasibility of the proposed output, relevance to the field of complex systems, international composition of the group, and diversity and complementarity of the proposed team.
How to Apply
One of the two applicants should complete the naXys Workshop Application Form and submit it by e-mail to: naxys@unamur.be
The other applicant should be in copy of this e-mail.
Contact & Information
naXys — Namur Institute for Complex Systems University of Namur
Rue de Bruxelles 61, 5000 Namur, Belgium
E-mail: naxys@unamur.be | Web: www.naxys.be