Koninklijke Vlaamse Academie van België voor Wetenschappen en Kunsten

The Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts (, or KVAB) is one of an independent learned society of science and arts of the Flemish Community in Belgium. It is one of Belgium's numerous academies and traces its origin to 1772 when the Imperial and Royal Academy of Brussels was founded by empress Maria Theresia. The academy is headquartered in the Academy Palace (Paleis der Academiën), Hertogsstraat 1, 1000 Brussels. Mission and goals The mission and goals of the society is the practice and promotion of science and arts in Flanders. To achieve that goal a number of scientific and cultural activities is organized. Also the academy enhances and encourages the collaboration between the Flemish universities, it attracts and encourages foreign scholars to develop research activities and delegates representatives to international organisations and meetings. In addition, it advises on matters of social importance on behalf of the government, industry, educational establishments and research centres and finally the academy awards prizes to talented and promising researchers and artists.