1) SME Development Grant (Strategic Advisory / Recruitment on Development Trajectories)

The SME Development Grant provides financial support for the acquisition of knowledge in order to achieve a growth trajectory through transformation, innovation and / or internationalization.

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The acquisition of this knowledge can be done by hiring a strategic partner to strengthen the company in areas where the company does not have the knowledge to implement the growth trajectory.

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SMEs can also choose the advice of a service provider to seek to acquire the missing skills. To be eligible for a grant, the advice provided by the service provider must refer to the current or future performance of one or more SME business processes.

The support rate is set at 50% of the cost of counseling and / or work . The grant has a maximum amount of € 25,000 per consulting procedure with one external service or recruitment per year.

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The eligible costs are:

• Invoices for services purchased from an external consulting service

• the labor costs for the additional recruitment of the appropriate person for the implementation of the project and for the maintenance of knowledge in the company for the follow-up of further processes.

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2) Innovation Scholarships

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Companies in the Flemish Region can receive a grant of up to 60% (co-financing of staff and operating costs for 1 to 3 years) for basic research by a postdoctoral researcher (employedby the company or research institute) in close collaboration with the company.

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An innovation mandate in Phase 2 can last from 1 to 3 years and provides for the financing of staff costs, operating costs, equipment costs and fixed costs in relation to an employee, the total cost (excluding staff) may reach € 40,000 for each human year.

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The amounts of aid:

• 50% of the budget for a large company

• 60% of the budget for an SME .

The first call for proposals for 2017 opened with a submission deadline of Monday 27 March 2017 .

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3) Buckland Orders

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Companies can receive a grant from the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Agency as they consent to the conduct of a doctorate by a researcher (whether employed or not) in close collaboration with the company. The Buckland Orders provide co-financing of staff costs and operating costs for an employee.

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Projects should have a dual purpose:

• research that, if successful, has a clear financial focus and adds value to the company in question,

• The research focuses on a doctorate and meets the standard criteria for doctoral research value.

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A Buckland mandate usually lasts four years and offers funding for staff costs, operating costs, equipment costs and fixed costs in relation to an employee , thetotal cost (excluding staff)can reach€ 40,000for each man-year.

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The amounts of aid:

• 50% of the budget for a large company

• 60% of the budget for an SME .

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The first call for proposals for 2017 opened witha submission deadlineofMonday 27 March 2017.

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4) SME innovation sustainability studies

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SMEs with (future) activities in the Region of Flanders can receive a 50% subsidy (on eligible costs with a maximum support of € 25,000 or € 50,000) for the implementation of certain innovation feasibility studies.

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Definition: a study in preparation for a further upcoming activity with a specific goal of innovation

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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 approved costs with a maximum grant of € 25,000

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

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Quantity: up to two SME viability studies can be subsidized annually per enterprise.

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5) SME innovation

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SMEs with (future) activities in the Region of Flanders can receive a grant of 35% to 55% (on approved expenditure, with a maximum subsidy of € 250,000) for the implementation of certain SME innovation elements.

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Definition: The project focuses on the specific implementation of an innovation

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Duration: up to 24 months

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Budget: minimum amount € 50,000

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Basic Support: 35% (45% for a small business) of the approved costs, with a maximum subsidy of € 250,000 .

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Extras: the base rate of financing can be increased by 10% through cooperation with other independent companies or through international cooperation (as long as no company has a share of more than 70% of the cost)

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

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6) Support for projects for innovations in the field of agriculture

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This measure is aimed at recognized farmers who meet the following conditions:

• the beneficiary is a farmer and the farm to be invested is located in the Flemish region,

• the recipient keeps accounting books of the project,

• the beneficiary is the legal administration for innovation,

• the beneficiary makes a final report,

• after notification of approval, start an investment

Eligible costs are:

• Material and intangible investments of innovation,

• Software and control programs required for these investments,

• Project-related overheads, such as research, study and supervision costs and measurement of results (limited to 20% of the total project costs).

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The aid will be provided in the form of a capital contribution plus 4 0% of the eligible investment costs .

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The eligible costs have a maximum of € 500,000 or € 200,000 grant .

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Eligible investment costs must be at least € 25,000 .

The deadline for submission of proposals is March 31, 2017 .

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