Prix Francqui | the winners from the University of Liège


The Francqui Prize - sometimes also called the "Belgian Nobel Prize" - is awarded annually by the Francqui Foundation to scientists from the exact sciences, the humanities and the biological and medical sciences. Several Francqui laureates have gone on to win international prizes, including the Nobel Prize. Many researchers from the University of Liège have been awarded the prize.

Prix francqui 

  • Veerle ROTS - 2022
    Human Sciences - Traceolab - Learn more 
  • Michaël GILLON  - 2021
    Exact Sciences - Exoplanetology & Astrobiology
  • Steven LAUREYS - 2017
    Biological and Medical Sciences - coma
  • Michel GEORGES - 2008
    Biological and Medical Sciences - Animal Genomics
  • Pierre PESTIEAU - 1989
    Humanities - Economics - Mathematical Economics
  • Jacques NIHOUL - 1978
    Biological and Medical Sciences - Theoretical Physics
  • Jules HORRENT -1968
    Humanities - Romance Philology
  • Paul LEDOUX - 1964
    Exact Sciences - Theoretical Astrophysics
  • Jules DUCHESNE - 1961
    Exact Sciences - Molecular Physics (Gold Medal Francqui Foundation)
  • Louis REMACLE - 1956
    Humanities - Romance Philology
  • Florent Joseph BUREAU - 1952
    Exact Sciences - Algebraic Geometry
  • Paul HARSIN - 1950
    Humanities - Political and Social Sciences - Philosophy and Letters
  • Léon ROSENFELD - 1949
    Exact Sciences - Nuclear Sciences
  • Zénon-M. BACQ - 1948
    Biological and Medical Sciences - Physiopathology
  • Pol SWINGS - 1948
    Exact Sciences - Physical Sciences - Spectroscopy
  • Marcel FLORKIN - 1946
    Biological and Medical Sciences - Biochemistry - Physiological Chemistry 
  • Pierre NOLF - 1940
    Biological and Medical Sciences - Pathology - Biology

About the Francqui Prize

The Francqui Prize is sometimes also called the "Belgian Nobel Prize", which is explained by the rich history and international character of this prize. The Francqui Foundation was established in 1932 by the Belgian diplomat Emile Francqui and the then American President Herbert Hoover. After the First World War, both invested in various scientific organisations to stimulate research in Belgium. Today, the Foundation's multidisciplinary board of directors is chaired by the Honorary President of the European Council and Minister of State Herman Van Rompuy and the Managing Director and Professor Pierre Van Moerbeke, himself a former former former Francqui Prize winner.

Each year, the Francqui Foundation awards 250,000 euros to a scientist from the exact sciences, the humanities and the biological and medical sciences. Several Francqui laureates have received international awards, including the Nobel Prize. For example, the Belgian Nobel Prize winners in chemistry, medicine and physics Ilya Prigogine, Christian de Duve and François Englert won the Francqui Prize in 1955, 1960 and 1982.

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