Hilde Nuyts

Currently, I serve as a European and International Projects Advisor at KU Leuven Research & Development (LRD), where I support researchers throughout the full lifecycle of externally funded research projects. While my portfolio covers a broad range of European and international funding programmes, I have developed particular expertise in defence and security research funding, including the European Defence Fund (EDF) and European Defence Agency (EDA) calls. Working alongside a team of 14 colleagues, I assist more than 7,000 KU Leuven researchers on the administrative, legal, and financial aspects of project development and management. My role includes advising researchers on the specific requirements associated with defence funding, such as eligibility rules, consortium building, security considerations, intellectual property management, contractual negotiations, and financial compliance. Through this work, I help researchers and institutional stakeholders navigate the unique chall