Research Project (Onderzoeksproject)

Research Project (Onderzoeksproject)

Funds Flemish companies with industrial-research grants for project-driven innovation and applied commercial development.

VLAIO (Agentschap Innoveren & Ondernemen) is the Flemish Agency for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the primary public body in Flanders responsible for subsidising private-sector research, development, and innovation. The Onderzoeksproject (Research Project) subsidy is VLAIO's flagship industrial-research instrument, supporting companies that want to build fundamentally new technical or non-technical knowledge as the foundation for significant future change in their business. The programme funds knowledge-building activities — described as systematic, critical accumulation of new insights and skills — that clearly deviate from the company's normal operations and incremental improvement processes. There is no thematic focus or sector preference; applications from any industry are accepted on a rolling basis through VLAIO's e-loket platform (e-loketondernemers.be). A 2025 update confirmed that the Flemish Defence Plan now also permits military-related project applications under this instrument.

Eligible applicants are enterprises with legal personality operating or clearly planning to operate in the Flemish Region, including non-profit organisations and public-law bodies with economic activity in Flanders. Companies in financial difficulty are explicitly excluded. The subsidy ranges from 25% to 60% of accepted project costs, with a minimum award of EUR 100,000 and a maximum of EUR 3 million per project. The base rate is 50% for research-phase activities and 25% for development-phase activities within a mixed project; bonuses are available for SME size (small companies +20%, medium companies +10%), collaboration between at least two independent companies including at least one SME (+10%), and participation in a VLAIO-recognised interregional or international R&D initiative with at least two independent partners (+15%). The combination of bonuses can push the rate to 60% (or 70% for interregional or international cooperation). Maximum project duration is 36 months unless a substantiated exception is granted. The subsidy is exempt from Belgian corporate income tax under provisions in force since 1 January 2007.

Applications are submitted using VLAIO's official invuldocumenten (application templates) before any eligible project costs are incurred; the earliest eligible cost date is the first working day of the month following the month in which the complete application is filed. VLAIO business advisers (bedrijfsadviseurs) provide pre-application consultation and assist in scoping whether a project qualifies as an onderzoeksproject versus a lighter ontwikkelingsproject. Applicants should note that personnel whose costs are already claimed under the partial withholding-tax exemption for young innovative companies (YIC) cannot be included in the project budget since 1 January 2022. VLAIO evaluates proposals on the degree to which the project pushes beyond existing knowledge, the scientific and commercial risk involved, and the long-term positive impact for both the company and the Flemish economy.