Grant name: Innovative Starters Award (ISA)
Funding organization: Innoviris (Brussels R&D Funding Agency)
Total funding amount: Up to €500,000 per project
Duration: Maximum 3 years
Primary objective: Support innovative start-ups in Brussels to implement their Strategic Innovation Plan (SIP)
Key beneficiaries: Small innovative start-ups in Brussels
Program context: Part of the Regional Innovation Plan, certified under the EU Plug In scheme to EIC Accelerator
Funding source: Regional government funding with EU certification
Grant frequency: Recurring call, next deadline 11 July 2025
Eligible organizations: Small companies (SMEs) with fewer than 50 employees and turnover or balance sheet under €10 million
Company must be unlisted and founded on or after 1 January 2021
Company must not be a spin-off or takeover of another company
Head office and at least one place of business must be in the Brussels-Capital Region
Must not be in financial difficulty according to EU legislation
Must not have previously received ISA or RISE awards
Must have fulfilled obligations under previous regional aid
Must comply with definitions of innovative enterprise and start-up per GBER and regional orders
Projects must align with one or more of six strategic innovation domains: advanced digital technologies, climate and sustainable infrastructure, optimal resource use, sustainable urban space and flows, health and personalized care, social and government innovation
SIP must demonstrate strong innovation ambition and high economic development potential
SIP must have positive social, environmental, or ecosystem impact in Brussels
SIP is a comprehensive plan covering RDI, finance, business development, and internal organization
SIP must address key strategic issues such as social inequality reduction, sustainability, and regional R&D ecosystem impact
SIP must be concrete and contribute to technical and commercial development
Applicants must demonstrate innovation via external expert evaluation or R&D expenditure of at least 10% of operating costs
Compliance with national, community, and international legislation on R&D
Ownership of results and intellectual property rights must be retained by the company
Maximum grant amount: €500,000
Grant covers staff costs, operating costs, investment costs, subcontracting costs
No co-financing or other public aid allowed for the same costs
Beneficiary must report any other aid applied for or received during the 3-year grant period
Application deadline: 11 July 2025, 4 pm
Evaluation by jury: September 2025
Award decision: November - December 2025
SIP implementation start: Between 1 December and 31 December 2025
Grant duration: Up to 3 years
Monitoring includes periodic activity and accounting reports and a valorization report 3 years after completion
Company must not be in difficulty as per EU State aid guidelines
Must comply with tax and social obligations
Project must not contravene the Code of Ethics for Scientific Research in Belgium
Must implement cost monitoring and audit mechanisms
Must notify Innoviris of any substantial changes during the project
Applications must be submitted electronically via the official form to [email protected]
Deadline strictly enforced, no late submissions accepted
Application must include all required documents and signed regulations
Preselection based on eligibility and criteria from the order of 27 July 2017
Shortlisted candidates invited to pitch to a multidisciplinary jury
Evaluation criteria include innovation, team competence, strategy coherence, financial health, and impact
Innoviris provides assistance throughout the process
Winners receive the ISA label and access to the Economic Coordination Council for personalized support
Laureates can apply directly to the EIC Accelerator full proposal phase after successful completion
Laureates expected to act as ambassadors for innovation in Brussels during and after the project
Program certified under EU Plug In scheme to EIC Accelerator, facilitating further EU funding opportunities
Applicants must not have previously received ISA or RISE awards
Previous winners form an alumni network promoting innovation in Brussels