The Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS) at the University of Luxembourg has cancelled its 2025 call for projects under the Audacity category following the selection process controversy widely reported by the Luxembourgish press. The university informed participants of the decision in an email.
Vice-rector for research Simone Niclou and IAS head Claus Vögele wrote: “In light of continued media coverage and scrutiny towards the University of Luxembourg, including the selection process for IAS Audacity projects, it has become necessary to cancel the 2025 Audacity call. As a result, the awarded projects will not proceed.”
In mid-February 2026, RTL reported that a researcher secured Audacity funding while also serving on the selection jury as a member of the IAS Scientific Council. According to RTL’s information, while the researcher was not involved in the evaluation of her own project, she did take part in the assessment and ranking of competing research proposals.
According to the IAS statutes, the researcher should not have been a member of the jury. Initially, the researcher declined to respond to questions, while the university vehemently denied any allegations against her. She also cited a code of conduct that was no longer in force.
Despite these reported facts, Niclou and Vögele insisted that the university had adhered to its rules: “We would like to confirm that throughout the selection process, the IAS has consistently and strictly adhered to the selection rules as defined in its statutes. Nevertheless, the IAS and the vice-rectorate for research consider this step necessary to protect the University and the future of the IAS programme in light of continued criticism.”
RTL asked those responsible on what basis last year’s call for projects was cancelled if the allocation of research funding had, according to the university, complied fully with the applicable rules. The university did not respond to this question. However, it stated that the decision was intended to protect the reputations of academics who had been subjected to a continuous barrage of criticism.
A new call for projects will be launched this year, according to the institute’s press release. These projects will be evaluated by a new Scientific Council made up of ten external members who are not affiliated with the university.
