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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

This is a comprehensive overview of various support opportunities in Flanders aimed at helping businesses and organizations with water saving and drought combating efforts. It covers financial aid, expert advice, and tax benefits for projects ranging from water consumption analysis to innovative technology development and large-scale ecological investments. - Primary objective: To stimulate enterprises to invest in water-saving measures, develop innovative solutions for water management, and enhance resilience against drought. - Target recipients: Primarily SMEs and enterprises of varying sizes, including non-profit organizations with economic activity, self-employed individuals, and in some cases, consortia and local residents. - SECTOR-SPECIFIC: This collection of measures is highly SECTOR-SPECIFIC to environmental sustainability, water management, and related innovative technologies. - Geographic scope: All measures are applicable within the Flanders region of Belgium, with some local initiatives specific to provinces like Limburg and East Flanders, or cities like Gent and Antwerp. - Key filtering criteria: Businesses actively seeking to reduce water consumption, implement water-efficient technologies, develop new water-related innovations, or mitigate drought impacts.

Financial Structure

The financial structure is highly varied, as this is an umbrella overview of multiple instruments: - Funding Types: Includes direct subsidies (grants), subordinated loans, tax deductions, and exemptions from levies. - Waterscan: First-line waterscan is 100% free. Extensive waterscan is 80% subsidized, with the enterprise contributing 20% of the real cost. - KMO-portefeuille: Subsidies for external advice: 30% for small enterprises, 20% for medium-sized enterprises. Maximum support per year is €7,500. - Ecoboostlening: A subordinated loan ranging from €15,000 to €150,000, with an interest rate of 3%. - Requires a minimum 20% own contribution of the total investment need. - Public financing (including this loan) cannot exceed 50% of the total financing. - Ontwikkelingsproject (VLAIO): Subsidy rates from 25% to 50% of accepted costs, with a minimum support of €25,000. - Onderzoeksproject (VLAIO): Subsidy rates from 25% to 60% of accepted costs, with a minimum support of €100,000. - Innovatieve starterssteun: A financial subsidy of €50,000. - Strategic Ecology Support: Subsidy percentages range from 20% to 55%, depending on technology performance and company size. Limited to a maximum of €500,000 per three years, based on a minimum investment of €1.5 million. - Droogte Innovatie Fonds (Limburg): Subsidies from €30,000 up to €250,000. - Emma Leclercq Fonds (East Flanders): Amounts between €100,000 and €1,000,000 in the form of subordinated loans or capital participation. - Local Subsidies (Gent/Antwerpen): Up to €50,000 per plot, or fixed amounts per intervention (e.g., €10,000 for depaving, €2,000 for rainwater tank in Gent). - De-minimis rule: Several subsidies mentioned (Ecoboostlening, KMO-portefeuille, Waterscan, Droogte Innovatie Fonds, local initiatives) fall under the European de-minimis regulation, meaning total de-minimis aid received by a company over three years cannot exceed €300,000.

Eligibility Requirements

Organizational Type and Size

SMEs (KMOs): Defined by European KMO definition (<250 FTEs, and either <=€50M turnover OR <=€43M balance sheet total). Eligible for most measures including Waterscan, Ecoboostlening, KMO-portefeuille, Ontwikkelings-/Onderzoeksproject, Strategische Ecologiesteun, and Innovatieve starterssteun.
Small enterprises: Specifically for Innovatieve starterssteun (must be < 2 years old) and KMO-portefeuille (receive higher support rates).
Medium-sized enterprises: Eligible for KMO-portefeuille and Strategic Ecology Support.
Large enterprises: Eligible for Strategische Ecologiesteun.
Enterprises (Ondernemingen): General term for businesses, eligible for Ecologiepremie+, Investeringsaftrek, Ontwikkelings- or Onderzoeksproject.
Non-profits (VZW's): Eligible if they conduct economic activities, applicable for Waterscan, Ecoboostlening, Ontwikkelings- or Onderzoeksproject, and Innovatieve starterssteun.
Self-employed individuals (Zelfstandigen): Eligible for Ecoboostlening if in main profession and operational for at least 18 months.
Farmers and horticulturalists: Eligible for Droogte Innovatie Fonds (Limburg), but excluded from the VLAIO Waterscan.
Residents: Eligible for certain local subsidies (Gent, Antwerp) alongside businesses.

Geographic Location

All applicants must be based in Flanders, Belgium.
Some measures are geographically restricted to specific provinces (e.g., Droogte Innovatie Fonds in Limburg, Emma Leclercq Fonds in East Flanders) or cities (e.g., Gent, Antwerp).

Specific Qualifications and Conditions

Waterscan: Annual water consumption of at least 500 m³ at the business location. Excludes primary agricultural/horticultural activities.
Ecoboostlening: Operational for at least 18 months.
Investeringsaftrek: Non-profits only eligible if subject to corporate tax.
Strategic Ecology Support: Minimum investment of €1.5 million required.
Circular Wastewater Exemption: Requires a written agreement for water exchange, annual measurement, and analysis of wastewater composition (model agreement provided).

Exclusion Criteria

Ecoboostlening: Excludes activities in fisheries, aquaculture, primary agricultural production (unless processing is also involved), arms trade, tobacco, gambling, pornography, illegal activities, and certain distilled spirits production (<75% in Flanders). Cannot be combined with Ecologiepremie+ or GREEN.

Application Process

The application procedures and timelines are diverse, reflecting the various support instruments: Application Channels

Waterscan: Contact one of the selected study agencies directly, who perform the scan on behalf of VLAIO.
KMO-portefeuille: Apply via the e-loketondernemers or the VLAIO-app, after selecting a registered service provider.
Ecoboostlening: Applications can be submitted directly to PMV via their online application, or through partner institutions (banks, microcredit providers, business angels, consultants).
Strategic Ecology Support: Applications typically submitted through the VLAIO e-loketondernemers.
VLAIO Innovation Support (Ontwikkelings-/Onderzoeksproject, Innovatieve starterssteun): Specific application procedures apply, usually involving detailed project proposals.
Local Initiatives: Procedures vary by municipality or provincial authority (e.g., Gent, Antwerp, Limburg). Inquire with the specific local government.

Deadlines

Waterscan (Extensive): Latest application deadline is June 30, 2025.
Waterscan (First-line): Latest application deadline is September 10, 2025.
Local Subsidy (Gent): Applications can be submitted until November 15, 2025.
Local Subsidy (Antwerp): Applications can be submitted until October 1, 2025.
Droogte Innovatie Fonds (Limburg): The last call mentioned had a deadline of September 30, 2024 (already passed).
Emma Leclercq Fonds (East Flanders): This is a rolling fund with no strict application deadline.
For other VLAIO innovation and investment grants, applications are often ongoing or have specific call-based deadlines not specified in this overview.

Required Documentation and Materials

Waterscan: Information regarding water consumption and business operations will be required by the study agency.
Ecoboostlening: Requires a detailed investment plan. Other documentation as per PMV's checklist.
Circular Wastewater Exemption: Requires a written agreement (model available from VMM) outlining exchange modalities and water composition.
General requirements for financial support often include:
Company details and legal structure
Financial statements and projections
Project description, objectives, and expected outcomes
Budget breakdown and financing plan
Evidence of economic activity and operational duration (where applicable)

Reporting and Monitoring Obligations

Financial Reporting: Required for most funding schemes, ensuring proper use of funds.
Progress Reports: Expected for innovation and project-based grants, tracking milestones and deliverables.
Waterscan: A report with a detailed water balance and concrete suggestions is provided by the study agency.
Circular Wastewater Exemption: Annual measurement and analysis of exchanged wastewater volume and composition are required.
Audit requirements: May apply for larger grants or loans.

Evaluation Criteria

Evaluation criteria vary significantly across the different support instruments, but generally focus on environmental impact, innovation, and financial viability: Environmental and Climate Impact

Water saving potential: Projects demonstrating significant reduction in water consumption or improved water efficiency are highly valued.
Drought resilience: Measures that directly contribute to making agriculture, horticulture, or other sectors more resilient to prolonged drought.
Circular economy principles: Projects promoting water reuse, recycling, and reduced discharge, especially for circular wastewater initiatives.
Ecological benefit: For ecological investment subsidies, the direct positive environmental impact of the technology or project.

Innovation and Project Quality

Novelty and technological advancement: For innovation and R&D grants, the degree of new knowledge creation, the innovative character of the product/process/service, or pioneering role in a market/sector (for starters).
Feasibility and robustness: Technical and economic viability of the proposed project.
Scalability and replicability: Potential for the solution to be scaled up or applied in other contexts.
Quality standards: Adherence to relevant quality and technical standards for technologies and processes.

Economic and Strategic Factors

Financial viability: For loans, the applicant's financial health, investment plan, and ability to repay.
Cost-efficiency: The efficiency with which water savings or environmental benefits are achieved relative to the investment.
Strategic alignment: How well the project aligns with the funder's (VLAIO, PMV, local authorities) strategic priorities for sustainability and economic development.
Regional impact: For local initiatives, the benefit to the specific province or city.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Compliance and special requirements are crucial for eligibility and ongoing obligations across the various support instruments: Regulatory Compliance

European KMO-definition: Adherence to this definition is a hard requirement for eligibility for many SME-focused measures.
Waterwetboek: For circular wastewater exchange, thorough knowledge and compliance with Article 4.2.2.1.12 of the Water Actbook is essential.
De-minimis regulation: Adherence to the European de-minimis rule (maximum €300,000 aid over three years) is mandatory for several listed subsidies. Applicants must track all de-minimis aid received.

Non-Cumulation Rules

Ecoboostlening: Cannot be combined with Ecologiepremie+ or GREEN subsidies.
Ecologiepremie+: Cannot be combined with other aid such as Ecoboostlening or Investment Deduction.
Strategic Ecology Support: Cannot be combined with Ecoboostlening, Ecologiepremie+, or Investment Deduction.
This implies careful planning and choice of support instrument to avoid disqualification.

Specific Project and Investment Requirements

Waterscan: Exclusion of primary land or horticulture as main activity. Water consumption of at least 500 m³ per year.
Ecoboostlening: Investments must fall under specific categories related to sustainable practices as per the InvestEU Sustainability guarantee program, including water supply (modernization, run-off reduction, irrigation management, ICT for smart water management).
Strategic Ecology Support: Focus on non-standardizable, company-specific ecological technologies that are not on the 'Limitative Technology List' for Ecologiepremie+.
Circular Wastewater Exemption: Only for circular wastewater exchange (not untreated rainwater). Requires a formalized written agreement, annual measurement, and analysis.

Risk Management and Guarantees

Ecoboostlening: Few to no guarantees are typically required, but specifics depend on credit risk and project elements. Solitary guarantees are limited to active partners. The subordinated nature of the loan means it's considered junior to other financial institution debts.

Special Considerations

Advice and Guidance: Beyond funding, access to expert advice (LED H2O, Waterscan) and business case guidance (Innovatieve starterssteun) is a key benefit.
Innovation Focus: Several grants specifically target R&D and innovative projects, encouraging new solutions for water challenges.
Local Adaptations: The inclusion of local initiatives highlights regional priorities and specific local challenges related to water management and climate adaptation.

Grant Details