Funding opportunities in Belgium

1) SME growth subsidy (strategic consulting / recruitment in growth trajectories).

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With SME growth grant a financial support is to acquire knowledge in order to realize the growth trajectory through transformation, innovation and / or internationalization.

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Acquiring this knowledge can be done by the recruitment of a strategic collaborator for strengthening the company in the areas in which the company lacks knowledge for realizing the growth trajectory.

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SMEs can also opt for the advice of a service provider to seek to purchase the missing skills. To be eligible for support should the advice provided by the service provider, refer to the present or the future performance of one or more business processes of SMEs.

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The support rate will be set at 50% of the consulting and / or labor costs. The subsidy amounts to a maximum of € 25,000 per advisory process with an external service or by recruiting a year.

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The eligible costs are:

• invoices for services purchased from an external service which provides advice on the route;

• labor costs for the additional recruitment of a suitable person for the realization of the project and to knowledge retention in the enterprise for further follow-up process.

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2) Innovation Fellowships (IM).

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Companies in the Flemish Region can receive a subsidy of up to 60% (co-financing of personnel and operating costs for 1 to 3 years) for basic research by a postdoctoral researcher (employed by the company or research institution) in close cooperation with the company.

 

An innovation mandate in Phase 2 can take 1 to 3 years and provides for the financing of staff costs, operating costs, equipment costs and fixed costs in relation to one employee the total of non-personnel costs up to € 40,000 may reach every human year.

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The aid amounts:

• 50% of the accepted budget for a large company;

• 60% of the accepted budget for an SME.

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The first call of 2017 was opened with deadline on Monday, March 27th, 2017 at 12pm.

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3) Baekeland mandates.

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Companies can receive a subsidy of Agency Innovation & Entrepreneurship as they are an investigator (whether salaried or not) consent to carry out a doctorate in close cooperation with the company. The Baekeland mandates provide for co-financing of personnel and operating costs in relation to one employee.

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Projects should have a double objective:

• research that in case of success has a clear economic focus and adds value to the company in question;

• Research is focused on a doctorate and meets the standard criteria for doctoral worthy research.

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A Baekeland mandate normally lasts four years and provides for the financing of staff costs, operating costs, equipment costs and fixed costs in relation to one employee the total of non-personnel costs up to € 40,000 may reach every human year.

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The aid amounts:

• 50% of the accepted budget for a large company;

• 60% of the accepted budget for an SME.

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The first call of 2017 was opened with deadline on Monday, March 27th, 2017 at 12pm.

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4) SME innovation feasibility studies.

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SMEs with (future) activities in the Flemish Region may Agency of Innovation & Entrepreneurship receive a subsidy of 50% (on the accepted costs with a maximum support of € 25,000 or € 50,000) for the implementation of certain innovation feasibility studies.

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Definition: study in preparation for a further follow-up process with a specific innovation target

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Duration: up to 12 months

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Budget: minimum € 10,000

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Basic Support: 50% of the accepted costs with a maximum support of € 25,000

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Extra: The basic aid can be increased up to € 50,000 with relevant knowledge contributions of third parties (at least 25% of the budget for research, knowledge, independent companies, ....)

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Quantity: up to two SME feasibility studies can be supported per year per company.

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5) SME innovation.

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SMEs with (future) activities in the Flemish Region may Agency of Innovation & Entrepreneurship receive a subsidy of 35% to 55% (on the accepted costs with a maximum support of € 250,000) for the implementation of certain SME innovation.

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Definition: The project focused on the concrete realization of an innovation

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Duration: up to 24 months

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Budget: minimum € 50,000

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Basic Support: 35% (45% for a small enterprise) of the accepted costs with a maximum support of € 250,000

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Extra: the base funding rate may be increased by 10% for cooperation with other independent companies or international cooperation (as long as no company has more than 70% share of the costs)

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Quantity: up to two SME innovation projects can be supported per year per company.

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6) Project Support for innovations in agriculture.

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This measure is aimed at by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries identified farmers who meet the following conditions :

• the recipient is a farmer and the farm where the investment is located in the Flemish Region;

• the recipient maintains a project bookkeeping;

• the beneficiary is the legal administration for innovation;

• the beneficiary makes a final report;

• after the selection notification is initiated investment

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Costs eligible are:

• Innovation tangible and intangible investments;

• Software and control programs necessary for these investments;

• General expenses associated with the project such as research, study and supervision costs and outcome measurement (limited to 20% of the total project cost).

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The aid will be provided in the form of a capital contribution and 40% of eligible investment costs.

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The eligible cost is capped at €500,000 or €200,000 grant.

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The selected eligible investment costs amount to at least €25,000.

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The deadline for submission is March 31, 2017.

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Calls are open from January 2, 2017.