Schaalklaar
Schaalklaar is a VLAIO grant programme that supports young, innovative companies in Flanders in their transition to scale-up. It targets companies that have been active for between 1 and 5 years and have the ambition and potential to scale quickly.
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Key features of Schaalklaar
Target group
Small companies with legal personality, established in Flanders, at least one year and at most five years old.
Grant amount
Up to 70% of the accepted project budget, with a maximum of €350,000 over a period of up to three years.
Project requirements
A minimum project cost of €500,000, aimed at activities such as building a competent team, investing in production capacity, market development and automation of business processes.
What is the application procedure for Schaalklaar?
Pre-registration
Mandatory and possible from 7 April to 30 April 2026. Early closure is possible. On this basis VLAIO carries out a screening. VLAIO also advises on developing a full project proposal.
Final submission
With a positive opinion, a full project proposal can be submitted between 1 June and 20 August 2026.
Evaluation
A jury of independent experts assesses the projects on criteria such as team quality, innovativeness, growth potential, approach, societal impact and the incentive effect of the grant.
In the first call of 2024, 20 projects were selected for a total grant amount of €7 million.
This underlines the importance and impact of this programme. Venture Campus was able to guide several projects in it.
For the most up-to-date information on the Schaalklaar 2026 call, including deadlines and details of the application procedures, get in touch.
Get in touch →For start-ups
Schaalklaar is aimed at young, ambitious companies.
Tight deadlines
The application procedure has tight deadlines.
Several applications already handled by Venture Campus
We have guided a number of Schaalklaar applications in the past.
Maximise the chances of approval
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Frequently asked questions
What exactly does the 'Schaalklaar' grant involve?+
Schaalklaar is a support measure for young, small and innovative companies that want to move to professional, scalable operations. Rather than subsidising technology alone, it helps you build your team, structure sales and marketing, and automate internal processes. The aim is to remove the obstacles standing in the way of rapid international growth.
Who exactly is this grant intended for?+
You qualify if your small Flemish company is between 1 and 5 years old and has an innovative product or service on the market. It is not for early starters with only an idea, but for companies with initial market validation that are ready to make their organisation "big" — with strong growth ambition and a need for extra oxygen to strengthen their foundations.
Which costs are covered by Schaalklaar?+
The grant covers up to 70% of the costs of your scale-up leap, capped at €350,000 — so your project must reach at least €500,000. This includes the wage costs of new or existing staff working on scalability, but also external experts: consultants for an international sales channel, improving your software architecture or implementing a high-performing ERP system.
What is the difference between Schaalklaar and a development project?+
A development project focuses on the technical construction of your product; Schaalklaar focuses on building your company. In a development project you prove you are solving a technical puzzle; with Schaalklaar you show you are making a commercial and organisational leap. The two can sometimes be linked.
How does the application procedure work and what are the deadlines for Schaalklaar?+
The procedure runs in two phases. First a mandatory pre-registration — scheduled for 7 to 30 April 2026, with possible early closure — on which VLAIO runs a screening and advice. With a positive opinion you submit a full project proposal between 1 June and 20 August 2026. A jury of independent experts assesses team quality, innovativeness, growth potential, approach, societal impact and the incentive effect. The deadlines are tight: starting on time is decisive.