Research & Development
Do you want to innovate with your company? Take advantage of the VLAIO grants for innovation. Venture Campus takes the application entirely off your hands so the file is submitted correctly and in full, and your project obtains the maximum grant.
no pay
Two VLAIO grants, one trajectory.
At Venture Campus we guide companies and SMEs through the application for two VLAIO grants.
Grant for Development Projects
For companies that want to develop innovative products, processes or services.
Grant for Research Projects
For companies doing groundbreaking research to develop new knowledge.
Accepted costs for the development:
Examples of grant applications
Prototype development
An SME developing a prototype for a new type of electric bicycle with advanced battery technology.
Software research
A software company researching AI-based algorithms to analyse medical images faster and more accurately.
Sustainable production
A food company testing a new packaging process to cut plastic use by 50%.
… and more.
All sectors, products and services are eligible.
Many companies leave grants on the table because they are not sure whether they qualify. That is a missed opportunity!
We will assess your project's chances free of charge and without obligation. So get in touch and discover the possibilities.
Get in touch →Venture Campus supports you with
Evaluation
We check free of charge whether your project qualifies.
File preparation
We help you complete the grant form correctly and in full, saving you as much time as possible.
Submission
We guide you through the application procedure at VLAIO.
Follow-up
We support you with reporting and compliance with the grant conditions.
From first meeting to payment
Introduction
We discuss your project and assess its feasibility.
Brainstorm
We walk through the entire process and go deeper into the innovation.
Filling in the template
We help you step by step to fill in a template that gives us the information to build your file.
File preparation
Together we build a strong file with all the required documents.
Submission
We submit the grant application to VLAIO together.
Assessment
VLAIO analyses your application and gives feedback.
Approval and follow-up
After approval we help with the administrative follow-up and reporting.
How much does our guidance cost?
We work no cure, no pay. This means that if the grant is refused, you owe us nothing. The effective cost is always a percentage of the grant awarded.
What you get out of it
High chance of success
We pay attention to the details of your grant application.
Start-up friendly
Also suitable for starters.
All sectors
Both IT and non-IT.
Growth opportunities
For example towards a European Horizon grant.
What our clients say
We were not sure whether we qualified for government grants for our newest project. Venture Campus did the research and made sure we were successfully subsidised!
Venture Campus turned our concept into a successful grant application. On top of that the collaboration was entirely no cure, no pay. For us a real no-brainer.
Focus on what matters, we take care of the rest
A free grant scan!
More than 10 years of experience in providing grant advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a research project and a development project at VLAIO?+
It comes down to one question: are you building new knowledge, or applying a combination of new and existing knowledge within the project? In a research project the scientific challenge is central; you push the international state of the art. That high risk is rewarded with base support of 50% (from €100,000 in grant). A development project focuses on the translation into a prototype or scalable product, with base support of 25% (large company) up to 45% (small company). Combining both? You submit it as a research project and VLAIO calculates a weighted support percentage.
May I start my project before the grant is approved?+
Yes, but the start date is always the first day of the month following your application. Submit in March and your costs are only eligible from 1 April; anything before that falls outside the grant. During the interim you work at your own risk: if the grant is refused, you carry those costs yourself.
Which costs exactly qualify for an R&D grant?+
The budget rests on four pillars: your own staff costs, operating costs (direct and indirect), external work by subcontractors or research institutions, and the depreciation of investments in equipment or pilot installations. Note the rules: intellectual-property costs are only eligible for SMEs within development projects, and at most 50% of the budget may go to activities outside Flanders. The clock only starts from the official start date.
When is a proposal innovative enough for grants?+
A project is only innovative if you take a genuine step forward compared with what already exists. In research you build new, boundary-pushing knowledge where success is not certain; in development you use that knowledge to make a new product or process, but the technical execution must remain a real challenge. Standard updates, installing existing software or technology, or the final step towards sales fall outside.
How long does VLAIO take to decide on my R&D application?+
Expect roughly three months between submission and decision. VLAIO analyses the file, often asks written questions and usually invites you to present in person before the advisory committee decides. Because you may already start from the first day of the month after submission, you do not lose that period: your costs are eligible while the assessment runs. We prepare the question round and the presentation with you.