Fransaer will succeed Thomas Kallstenius, who was in charge of the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) for the past five years.

The Belgian previously led the Flemish research institute VITO for 20 years. Before that he was a professor at Ghent University, specialising in the area of hydraulics.

According to a LIST statement, the search for a new general director will go on while Fransaer takes over as interim director.