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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

– Core objective: To fund academic research projects that generate new knowledge on societal problems impacting the Brussels-Capital Region, with the goal of informing public policy and political debate by exploring alternatives to existing systems. – Target recipient: Primarily research institutions, including universities, research institutes, and other research-oriented entities. – Type/Size: Targets research institutions of varying sizes, as defined by their primary objective of conducting independent research and disseminating results. – SECTOR-SPECIFIC: This grant is SECTOR-SPECIFIC, focusing on societal challenges, strategic innovation domains, and regional competencies relevant to the Brussels-Capital Region. – Geographic scope: Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium. – Key filtering criteria: Academic research focus, direct relevance to the Brussels-Capital Region's urban challenges, contribution to public policy and debate, and an approach that explores possibilities and alternatives. – Grant frequency and program context: This is a recurring grant program, with a new edition launched annually.

Financial Structure

Funding rate: The Brussels-Capital Region's intervention rate is 100% of the total project budget.
Duration of funding: The grant covers the entire project period, which is a maximum of 3 years of research plus an additional 3 months exclusively dedicated to the valorization and dissemination of results.
Eligible costs: Funding covers salaries of researcher(s), costs for instruments and material, other operating costs (working costs), subcontracting costs, and general costs.
Detailed eligible costs: For a comprehensive overview of 'eligible costs', applicants are directed to the 'Richtlijnen 2024' or 'directives 2024' document available on the Innoviris website.
Maximum funding: No maximum amount is imposed for other operating and personnel costs; the requested budget should be proportionate to the project's workload.
Financial reporting: Rules regarding the submission of financial reports will be specified in the grant agreement.

Eligibility Requirements

Organizational Type & Location

Eligible entities: 'Research institutions' as defined by the EU State Aid Framework for R&D&I (entities like universities, research institutes, technology transfer agencies, innovation intermediaries, and research-oriented collaborative entities, regardless of public/private legal status or funding method) whose primary objective is independent fundamental research, industrial research, or experimental development, or broad dissemination of results through teaching, publications, or knowledge transfer.
Operational base: Must have at least one operational base in the Brussels-Capital Region.
Qualification: If the applicant is not a university, higher education institution, or collective research center, they must attest their research institution status using the specific 'qualification form for research organization' provided by Innoviris.
Previous obligations: Applicants must have fulfilled all obligations related to any previous aid granted by the Region.

Individual & Team Requirements

Researchers: The identified researcher(s) must hold at least a Master's degree at the commencement of the research project.
Promoters/Supervisors: The promoter(s) must be a professor, accredited researcher, or research director at a Brussels research institution.
Promoter limit: A promoter is restricted from being involved in more than two projects submitted under this call.
Team structure: Projects can be undertaken by an individual researcher or, preferably, by multiple researchers and/or multidisciplinary research groups collaborating on the project.
Consortium Coordinator: If the project is submitted by a consortium of research groups, a promoter-coordinator must be designated.

Project Requirements

Project start: The project cannot have commenced prior to the submission of the grant application.
Regional link: The project must demonstrate at least an indirect link to regional competencies of the Brussels-Capital Region.

Application Process

Application Submission

Deadline: The definitive application deadline is 15 October 2025.
Submission method: Applications must be submitted digitally via email to [email protected] (with [email protected] in CC).
Signature: Submissions should preferably include a qualified electronic signature; if not possible, a scanned signature is acceptable.
Form: Applicants are required to use the specific application form provided in the toolbox on the Innoviris Prospective Research webpage.
Completeness: The application must be complete and adhere to all formal requirements, including specified page limits and criterion-based responses.
Research Institution Interface: Projects must be submitted via the Research Institution's Interface by the deadline; early contact with this service is strongly advised.
Resubmission: Projects that were rejected in a previous edition of the Prospective Research program may be resubmitted up to two times. A mandatory appendix must explain how the new version addresses shortcomings identified in the prior evaluation. Contacting Innoviris before resubmitting is recommended.

Evaluation Process

Initial check: Innoviris conducts an admissibility analysis of all submitted proposals.
Evaluation: Admissible proposals undergo evaluation by a multidisciplinary evaluation committee comprising academic experts, prospective research specialists, and Innoviris representatives. This involves assessment of submitted documents and an interview.
Timeline: The admissibility analysis occurs in November 2025; the evaluation by ad hoc juries runs from end November to early May 2026; the funding decision by the Government is expected in July 2026.

Project Implementation & Reporting

Project Start: Selected projects are expected to commence between 1 October and 1 December 2026.
Duration: Project duration is a maximum of 3 years for research, followed by an additional 3 months dedicated solely to valorization and dissemination of results.
Mid-term Evaluation: A critical GO/NO GO evaluation is conducted after 18 months by an ad hoc expert committee. Project continuation is contingent upon a positive outcome from this evaluation.
Reporting Schedule:
- After 9 months: An oral presentation to an Innoviris follow-up committee (covering project progress, initial results, changes, and regional perspectives).
- After 18 months: Submission of a written report for the mid-term evaluation (including a non-confidential summary, activity report, valorization description, regional application prospects, and renewal request form).
- After 27 months: An oral presentation to a follow-up committee (detailing progress, valorization efforts, regional application prospects, and a closing/valorization plan for the final 3 months).
- After 36 months (end of research period): Submission of the final research report, a 'Policy Brief', and a plan for various dissemination activities during the subsequent 3 months.
- After 72 months (ex-post): An analysis of the societal, economic, and environmental impact of the project on the Brussels-Capital Region.
Dissemination Requirements: A 'policy brief' summarizing key results and recommendations must be produced and distributed to policy actors, with potential discussion in the Brussels Parliament. A publication proposal stemming from the research should also be submitted to Brussels Studies.

Evaluation Criteria

Scientific Quality and Feasibility

Originality: The project's originality and innovative nature in relation to the current state of the art.
Clarity: The clarity of the research field, theoretical framework, problem statement, objectives, research questions, and methodology.
Approach to Possibilities: The chosen approach for exploring 'possibilities' (whether it's an investigation of alternatives, projections and access to possibilities, or a prospective method/future studies) must be clear, justified, well-developed, and relevant to the research topic.
Work Program Coherence: The coherence and relevance of the proposed work program in alignment with the research objectives.
Field Understanding: Demonstrated understanding of the on-the-ground situation, specifically through the deployment of a relevant participatory, multidisciplinary, and intersectoral research model.

Societal, Economic, and Environmental Impact on Brussels-Capital Region

Contribution: The potential for expected results to contribute to the social, economic, and/or environmental development of the Brussels-Capital Region.
Policy & Debate Influence: The ability of the project's results to inform political debate and engage stakeholders directly concerned by the subject matter.
Accessibility of Results: The presence of a plan to make the project results accessible to various stakeholder groups, including through popularization efforts.
Implementability: The extent to which long-term results and recommendations are envisioned and could realistically be implemented by the Region and public authorities.

Team Expertise, Complementarity, and Cohesion

Expertise: The possession of appropriate expertise by the researchers and promoter(s) for the execution of the research.
Multidisciplinarity: The research team's commitment to ensuring the multidisciplinary and intersectoral nature of the project, enabling a systemic analysis of the research subject.
Cohesion: The degree of cohesion, collaboration, and complementarity among project partners (if applicable).
Budget Adequacy: The alignment of the requested budget with the project's workload and proposed activities.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory & Ethical Compliance

Data Protection: Compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is required, particularly concerning the collection and processing of personal data for funding applications and evaluations.
Conflict of Interest: Project partners are mandated to implement all necessary measures to prevent any situations that could compromise the impartial and objective execution of the project, including situations that constitute conflicts of interest. Any potential or actual conflict of interest arising during project implementation must be immediately reported to Innoviris in writing.
Responsible Research & Innovation (RRI): Projects must adhere to criteria for responsible research and innovation, encompassing:
- Diversity & Inclusion: Actively considering a broad spectrum of actors involved in the research theme, from the least heard to the most visible voices.
- Vulnerability: Paying careful attention to the potential vulnerability of individuals who provide personal or intimate data/narratives during surveys or research.
- Results Communication: Planning how research results will be effectively communicated back to participants.
- Anticipation: Reflecting on and anticipating the political, social, economic, environmental, and other impacts, as well as ethical considerations, presuppositions, values, and goals of the research.
- Negative Consequences: Assessing potential negative consequences of the research outcomes.
- Bias Mitigation: Considering various strategies and methods to limit research biases.
- Openness & Transparency: Ensuring transparent communication of methodologies, results, conclusions, and implications to facilitate public debate and dialogue, thereby enhancing visibility and understanding of the research.

Unique Project Aspects

Participatory Approach: Projects are required to mobilize networks of concerned actors to ensure a participatory methodology, engaging professionals, stakeholders, volunteers, and users to better identify the needs of Brussels residents.
Policy Orientation: A core objective is to inform public action and enrich political debate with concrete recommendations.
Future-Oriented Research: Research should critically analyze societal challenges by focusing on 'possibilities' and 'alternatives' to current systems, rather than solely mapping existing realities.
Dedicated Dissemination: An additional 3-month period after the research phase is specifically allocated for broad valorization and dissemination of results across various media channels and through significant public events.
Strategic Alignment: Projects must demonstrate a clear link to the Strategic Innovation Domains (SID) of the Regional Innovation Plan and/or competencies of the Brussels-Capital Region.
Exclusions: The grant does not fund contract studies solely intended to map social realities or produce regional strategic plans.
Funding Cumulation Check: Innoviris will analyze links with other funded projects to prevent any cumulative funding from Innoviris or other bodies.

Grant Details