BEL-COO programme, a joint initiative by VLAIO (Flanders), SPW Recherche (Wallonia), and Innoviris (Brussels).
Funding per Flemish enterprise ranges from €25,000 to €3 million for development projects and €100,000 to €3 million for research projects.
Project duration must be between 12 and 36 months.
Strengthen competitive capacity of enterprises by fostering interregional collaboration.
Support development of new or significantly improved products, processes, or technical services exceeding the state of the art.
Lower economic risks associated with innovation.
Enterprises from at least two different Belgian regions (Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels).
Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs) may participate as subcontractors or research partners but not as direct beneficiaries.
Vzw's with economic activity can participate under VLAIO conditions.
Encourages Belgian companies to collaborate interregionally on R&D projects.
Since April 2025, supports projects with military finality under ethical and regulatory oversight.
Regional public funding agencies provide grants according to their regional rules.
Funding is a subsidy covering a percentage of eligible project costs.
Promotes interregional cooperation and innovation within Belgium.
Supports both development and research projects with significant technical risk.
Continuous submission and evaluation; no fixed deadlines.
Enterprises (including vzw's with economic activity) from Belgian regions.
Research and Technology Organisations as subcontractors or research partners (not direct beneficiaries).
Not explicitly specified.
No explicit size restrictions, but balanced budget participation required (no partner >70% of total budget).
Consortium must include at least two enterprises from two different Belgian regions (Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels).
Each regional partner funded by their respective regional agency.
Not explicitly specified.
Mandatory consortium with at least two enterprises from different Belgian regions.
Consortium Agreement required (draft at submission, signed after funding decision).
No subcontractor role allowed for participating enterprises; all must participate in economic results.
Not explicitly specified.
Not explicitly specified.
Enterprises in difficulty (OIM) are excluded unless a remediation plan is provided and approved before funding decision.
Innovative research and development projects with significant technical risks.
Development of new or significantly improved products, processes, or technical services.
Not sector-specific; open to all sectors with innovative R&D projects.
Enterprises from at least two Belgian regions collaborating on R&D projects.
Research institutions as partners or subcontractors.
Projects must involve partners from at least two Belgian regions: Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels.
No partner may have more than 70% of total project budget.
No subcontractor-only roles for enterprises.
Enterprises in difficulty excluded unless remediation plan is approved.
Research institutions cannot be direct beneficiaries.
Concrete results demonstrating real market potential (longer term for research projects).
Projects must exceed existing state of the art and have good market opportunities.
Since April 2025, projects with military finality are eligible under ethical guidelines.
Economic impact and innovation capacity enhancement.
For Brussels partners, positive impact on economy, employment, environment, or sustainable development is required.
Projects lasting 12 to 36 months.
Can be research or development projects.
Not explicitly specified.
Projects must involve research and/or development tasks with significant technical risks.
Not specified.
Each participant must have a defined role with technical tasks necessary for project success.
Not explicitly specified.
Project outcomes must exceed state of the art.
Consortium Agreement draft required at submission.
Project proposal including umbrella and regional application forms.
Projects must address significant technical risks.
Consortium Agreement regulates IPR ownership, use, and exploitation.
Not specified.
Participation of RTOs as subcontractors or research partners allowed.
Not specified.
Not specified.
Development projects: subsidy 25-50% of project budget, minimum €25,000, maximum €3 million per Flemish enterprise.
Research projects: subsidy 25-60% of project budget, minimum subsidy equivalent to €100,000, maximum €3 million per Flemish enterprise.
Not explicitly detailed; follow regional funding rules.
Not explicitly specified.
Each partner must finance their share; ability to finance must be demonstrated (especially for Brussels partners).
Determined by respective regional agencies.
Technical and financial reporting according to regional rules.
Not explicitly specified.
Not explicitly specified.
Balanced participation required; no partner >70% of total budget.
Not specified.
Not specified.
Not specified.
Continuous submission accepted; no fixed deadlines.
Project duration between 12 and 36 months.
Not explicitly detailed.
Reporting according to regional agency rules.
Not specified.
Projects monitored per regional rules; technical and financial reporting required.
Not specified.
Not specified.
Project proposal must include clear roles and tasks for each partner.
Not specified.
Not specified.
Projects must comply with EU regulations; enterprises in difficulty excluded unless remediation plan approved.
Not specified.
Not specified.
Not specified.
Since April 2025, projects with military finality are eligible subject to ethical review by ESAC.
Research on weapons systems violating international law remains excluded.
Companies from other countries may participate if essential but are not funded by BEL-COO.
Not specified.
Not specified.
Not specified.
Technical and financial reporting per regional agency rules.
Not specified.
Consortium Agreement regulates cooperation and IPR.
Umbrella (interregional) BEL-COO application form.
Regional application form per participating company.
Draft Consortium Agreement (not signed at submission).
Project budget template.
Determination of enterprise size.
Remediation plan for enterprises in difficulty.
Cash flow plan for startups (<3 years) and enterprises in difficulty.
Submit project proposal to each regional funding agency involved.
Flemish part submitted via VLAIO e-portals for development or research projects, indicating BEL-COO project.
Non-Flemish partners do not register via VLAIO portal.
Evaluated by each regional agency according to regional criteria and BEL-COO joint criteria.
Project must be innovative, have technical risks, balanced partner participation, and economic impact.
Continuous evaluation with target maximum period of 4 months.
Positive evaluation by all involved regional agencies required for funding.
Not specified.
Electronic submission via regional agency portals.
See required documentation above.
Not specified.
Contact regional agencies for support; VLAIO provides business advisors.
Not specified.
Interregional collaboration mandatory.
Balanced budget participation among partners.
Since April 2025, inclusion of projects with military finality under ethical oversight.
Complex coordination among regional agencies.
Requirement for consortium agreement and balanced participation.
Supports innovation beyond state of the art with market potential.
Encourages cross-regional R&D networks.
Access to regional funding combined with interregional collaboration.
Higher subsidy rates for interregional projects.
Inclusion of projects with military finality under new guidelines.
No explicit mention of gender or sustainability themes.
Projects must be innovative and exceed existing state of the art.
Research and development tasks with significant technical risks required.
Projects must address significant technical risks.
Focus on Belgian regional collaboration.
Consortium Agreement includes provisions on confidentiality and publications.
Enterprises from multiple Belgian regions collaborating on R&D projects.
Not specified.
Funding amounts range from tens of thousands to millions of euros per enterprise.
Not specified.
Projects involve at least two of the three Belgian regions.
Not sector-specific.
Inclusion of military-related projects since April 2025.
Removal of exclusion for military projects with ethical oversight.
Not specified.
Not specified.