Grants for Mental Health and Wellbeing Startups in Belgium

Mental health and wellbeing have become policy priorities across Belgium at every government level. Post-pandemic demand for digital mental health tools, employer wellbeing platforms, and accessible therapy solutions has created a clear market need that public funders are actively supporting.

Belgium's healthcare system is undergoing a structural shift toward prevention and digital care delivery. Federal, regional, and European programmes are all channelling resources into health innovation, and mental health sits squarely within that focus area.

For startups building products in this space — whether digital therapeutics, AI-powered screening tools, workplace wellbeing platforms, or teletherapy solutions — the grant landscape is broader than most founders expect. The key is knowing which programmes match your project stage and regional base.

For Brussels-based mental health startups, Innoviris is the primary regional funding agency. Their innovation grants support R&D projects with a strong health and social impact dimension, including digital health tools, patient-facing applications, and wellbeing platforms.

Innoviris offers several relevant instruments. The Explore programme supports early-stage feasibility research, while the Innovate programme funds full development projects. Both can cover staff costs, subcontracting, prototyping, and clinical validation activities.

Brussels also benefits from a growing mental health ecosystem. Proximity to EU institutions, international NGOs, and university hospitals such as ULB and VUB creates collaboration opportunities that strengthen grant applications. Innoviris actively encourages partnerships between startups and research institutions.

The innovation grants overview covers eligibility requirements and application windows for these programmes.

Flanders-based startups should look at VLAIO for digital health innovation support. VLAIO's O&O (Research and Development) projects programme supports companies developing new digital health products, including mental health applications, AI-driven diagnostic tools, and remote patient monitoring systems.

VLAIO can fund 25-50% of eligible R&D costs depending on company size and project type. For smaller companies and startups, the funding percentages are typically at the higher end. Feasibility studies exploring the viability of new mental health concepts can also receive support.

Beyond direct R&D funding, VLAIO also supports digital transformation projects through its KMO-groeisubsidie. Mental health startups looking to scale their platform, integrate with healthcare IT systems, or expand their commercial model can apply for up to €25,000 in strategic advisory support.

Flanders has also positioned itself as a hub for e-health innovation, with initiatives like imec.istart providing additional acceleration and funding for health tech ventures.

Brussels offers a particularly strong ecosystem for mental health startups. The city's bilingual, multicultural population creates demand for culturally sensitive mental health tools — a differentiator that resonates with both funders and users.

Several Brussels-based organisations run mental health innovation challenges and accelerators. These include hospital-linked innovation labs, social impact incubators, and public-private partnerships focused on preventive care. Participating in these programmes can strengthen your grant applications by demonstrating ecosystem integration.

The Brussels Health Network and related public health bodies are actively seeking digital solutions for mental health triage, patient follow-up, and crisis intervention. Startups that can demonstrate alignment with public health priorities often find smoother paths through the grant application process.

At the European level, Horizon Europe's Health Cluster funds collaborative research and innovation projects in digital health, including mental health interventions, population health tools, and AI applications in healthcare delivery.

The EIC Accelerator also supports high-potential health tech startups with blended finance — combining grants of up to €2.5 million with equity investments of up to €15 million. Mental health startups with scalable, technology-driven solutions and a clear European market strategy are well-positioned for EIC consideration.

EU4Health, the EU's dedicated health programme, funds projects focused on mental health promotion, crisis preparedness, and health system resilience. While this programme targets larger consortia, Belgian startups can participate as partners.

The innovation grants page includes details on European funding instruments accessible from Belgium.

At the federal level, Belgium's RIZIV/INAMI (National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance) has been piloting digital mental health interventions, including reimbursement pathways for online therapy and digital therapeutics. Startups whose products align with these pilots may access funding indirectly through partnerships with licensed healthcare providers.

The federal government also provides R&D tax incentives — including partial exemption from wage withholding tax for research staff and innovation income deduction — that apply to health tech companies developing qualifying mental health products.

Who qualifies? Generally, you need a Belgian-registered company (or Belgian branch) with a genuine operational presence. There is no sector restriction on most regional grants — a mental health startup qualifies the same way any tech startup would, provided the project involves genuine innovation rather than routine service delivery.

Early-stage founders who are unsure where to begin should use the BelGrant assistant to identify the best-fit programmes based on their specific profile, region, and project stage.