Development Project (Ontwikkelingsproject)

Development Project (Ontwikkelingsproject)

Funds Flemish firms advancing development-stage prototypes, pilot demonstrations, and commercialization preparation.

The Ontwikkelingsproject (Development Project) subsidy is administered by VLAIO (Agentschap Innoveren & Ondernemen), the Flemish government's innovation agency, and targets companies with legal personality that are carrying out or planning to carry out innovative development activities in the Flemish Region of Belgium. The instrument covers the development of new or improved products, processes, or services — including prototypes, pilot installations, and demonstrators — where significant technical risk and uncertainty still exist. Non-profit organisations and public-law entities that conduct economic activities in Flanders are also eligible.

Support ranges from a minimum of EUR 25,000 to a maximum of EUR 3 million per project. The base subsidy rate is 25% of accepted project costs, rising to 45% for small enterprises (base + 20% SME uplift) and 35% for medium enterprises (base + 10%). A 10% cooperation bonus applies when at least two independent companies collaborate and no partner exceeds 70% of total costs; for interregional or international cooperation within a VLAIO-recognised R&D initiative, the bonus is 15% instead, with a hard cap of 60% of costs (50% otherwise). Project duration is ordinarily capped at 24 months but can be extended up to four years for late-stage activities such as scale-ups or demonstrators that require additional validation before commercialisation. Subsidies awarded under this programme are exempt from corporate income tax under Belgian law.

Applications are submitted on a rolling basis through the VLAIO e-portal using the official application templates, which require a well-substantiated business case. Costs are only eligible from the start date declared in the application document — retroactive support is not possible. VLAIO business advisors are available free of charge to help applicants scope projects and prepare submissions. Companies in financial difficulty are not eligible, and subsidy stacking rules mean that the same eligible cost basis cannot receive support from multiple VLAIO-administered programmes simultaneously.