Grants8 | The most comprehensive grants search on the web

Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

To provide a one-time fixed premium to innovative Flemish SMEs and non-profits with economic activity. This subsidy helps these organizations implement a well-founded business and export plan, marking their initial steps into internationalization. - Target recipient type and size: Innovative SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) and non-profits (vzw's) with economic activity, conforming to the European SME definition. - SECTOR-AGNOSTIC but with specific exclusions. - Geographic scope: Companies must have an operating seat in the Flemish Region (Belgium). The project activities themselves are focused on international markets. - Key filtering criteria for initial screening: Innovative, SME, never received prior FIT subsidy, based in Flanders, not in excluded sectors/legal statuses, and focused on export development. - Grant frequency: Recurring (four times per year). Specific call periods apply. - Program context: This grant is part of Flanders Investment & Trade's comprehensive support for international entrepreneurship.

Financial Structure

Funding is a one-time fixed premium of €9,000.
The subsidy falls under the European de minimis regulation, meaning the total de minimis aid received by the company over three years must not exceed €300,000.
Eligible costs are those incurred from the day following the application submission date.
The project's cost estimate submitted with the application must be at least the subsidy amount (€9,000).
While no explicit co-financing percentage is required, 'own financial contribution' is an evaluation criterion, implying a need for the applicant's financial commitment.
Approved subsidies are typically paid out within 60 calendar days after the date of approval.

Eligibility Requirements

Organization Type & Status

Must be an innovative kmo (SME) conforming to the European SME definition (fewer than 250 employees AND annual turnover max €50 million OR balance sheet total max €43 million).
Includes vzw's with economic activity.
Must have an operating seat in the Flemish Region (Belgium).
Must never have received a subsidy from Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT) before. This applies to the applicant company and any affiliated companies.
Must not be in legal statuses of dissolution, cessation, bankruptcy, or liquidation.
Must not belong to specific NACE-BEL 2008 codes, which broadly include sectors such as agriculture (01.1, 01.2, 01.3, 01.4, 01.6, 01.7), fishing (03.1), manufacturing of weapons/military vehicles (25.4, 30.4), car trade (45.1), wholesale of agricultural products/live animals (46.2), hospitality and food services (55.1, 55.2, 55.3, 56.1, 56.2, 56.3), financial services (64.1, 64.2, 64.3, 64.9, 65.1, 65.2, 65.3, 66.3), real estate activities (68.1, 68.2, 68.3), temporary employment agencies (78.2), and travel agencies/tour operators (79.1).
Must not be public authorities, associations of public authorities, or companies where more than 50% of the share capital is directly or indirectly held by the government.

Financial & Legal Compliance

Must be in order with social and fiscal legislation.
Must have fulfilled all previous commitments towards FIT.
Must not receive other financial support from any other international, federal, regional, or local government for the same costs covered by this subsidy.
Cannot apply for other FIT support measures in the same calendar year this starter package is awarded.

Project Specifics

The project must relate to activities that promote international entrepreneurship (i.e., the implementation of an export plan).
Products and/or services intended for export do not need to be fully developed at the time of application but must be exportable during the project duration.

Application Process

Applications must be submitted fully digitally through the My FIT customer portal.
Submission is only possible during specific open call periods. For example, the second call was from May 13 to May 16, 2025, and the third call is scheduled for September 2025.
Registration as a FIT client is a mandatory prerequisite for applying.
An application is considered officially submitted once the applicant declares it complete on the online form and receives a unique sequence number via email.
If an application is initially incomplete, applicants have up to 10 calendar days after receiving their sequence number to provide all missing information. Applications remaining incomplete after this period will not be accepted.
The submission date determines the sequence number, which serves as a tie-breaker for priority if multiple applications receive the same evaluation score.

Required Documentation

The fully completed electronic application form.
A presentation of the company and its activities.
A clear description of the project.
A detailed implementation plan for the project, covering a maximum period of 9 months.
A cost estimate for the project that is at least equal to the subsidy amount (€9,000).
For first-time applicants, a combined template for the company presentation, business plan, and export plan may be provided and its use is mandatory.

Post-Award & Reporting

A commercial report must be submitted within 9 months following the approval date of the application.
If requested by FIT, supporting documents such as invoices and other proofs demonstrating the realization of the project must be submitted.
Beneficiaries of the grant are required to cooperate with personal guidance provided by an assigned International Business Advisor from FIT.

Evaluation Criteria

Project Quality & Potential

Potential for international scaling: Assessment of the business's capacity and strategy for growth in international markets.
Innovation: Evaluation of the innovative nature of the products, services, or business model.
Business and Export Plan: Quality, coherence, and feasibility of the submitted business and export plan, including the planned implementation.
Market Fit in Flanders: Evidence of preparatory market research and market study conducted in Flanders.

Organizational Capacity & Impact

Sustainability and Ethically Responsible Entrepreneurship: Consideration of the project's adherence to sustainable and ethical practices.
Employment: Expected impact on job creation or retention.
Available Knowledge: Assessment of the expertise and knowledge base within the applicant organization relevant to the project.
Capital Structure: Review of the organization's financial health and stability.
Realized Turnover and Export: Consideration of the organization's existing track record in terms of turnover and export activities.
Own Financial Contribution: The extent of the applicant's financial commitment and resources dedicated to the project.

Scoring System

Applications are assessed by a selection committee from FIT based on these criteria, using a weighting and scoring table.
Priority for funding is given to applications with a higher score. In cases where scores are equal, priority is given to applications that were submitted earlier.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory & Ethical Compliance

Applicants must demonstrate compliance with all social and fiscal legislation.
Adherence to European de minimis aid regulations is mandatory, ensuring the total de minimis aid received does not exceed €300,000 over a three-year period.
The project activities are expected to align with principles of sustainability and ethically responsible entrepreneurship, which is a key evaluation criterion.
No double funding is permitted: The same costs for which this subsidy is requested cannot simultaneously be covered by financial support from other international, federal, regional, or local government bodies.

Program Specifics

This subsidy is exclusively for innovative SMEs that have never previously received any form of subsidy from FIT.
There is a limited number of grants awarded per call period (e.g., typically a maximum of 50 approved starter packages from up to 100 candidates). Call periods may close earlier than scheduled if the maximum number of candidates is reached.
Personal guidance by a FIT International Business Advisor is an integral part of the support package, and cooperation from the beneficiary is expected and mandatory.
Resubmissions of previous applications are only considered if they have been sufficiently reworked based on the feedback received. It is highly recommended to contact FIT for further guidance before resubmitting.
Companies awarded this Starterspakket Internationalisering subsidy are ineligible to apply for other FIT support measures within the same calendar year.

Grant Details