Grant Eligibility in Belgium — How to Know If Your Business Qualifies
Eligibility is not binary. Most Belgian businesses qualify for SOME grants. The question is which ones. It depends on 4 factors per programme.
Check my eligibilityThe 4 eligibility factors
Region
Where is your exploitation unit registered?
- Flanders → VLAIO
- Brussels → Innoviris / hub.brussels
- Wallonia → SPW
- Anywhere → federal programmes
- Key: exploitation unit location matters more than registered office address.
Sector (NACE code)
Most sectors qualify. Exceptions exist.
- Agriculture has its own system
- Financial services often excluded
- Holdings without real activity often excluded
- Find your NACE code on your CBE extract.
Company size
SME = <250 employees AND <€50M turnover.
- Most grants target SMEs
- Micro companies (<10 employees) often get higher rates
Project type
Different grants fund different project types.
- Innovation / R&D → Innoviris / VLAIO O&O
- Training / consulting → KMO-portefeuille
- Hiring → Activa / KMO-groeisubsidie
- Export → FIT / AWEX / hub.brussels
- Digital → KMO-portefeuille digital
- Sustainability → Ecologiepremie / SPW green
Common exclusions
Outstanding social security or tax debts
Activity in an excluded sector
No active exploitation unit in Belgium
Application submitted after project start
The fastest eligibility check
BelGrant's 4-question quiz takes 30 seconds and identifies programmes you likely qualify for. No signup required.
Related resources
Frequently asked questions
My company is in Brussels but I work across Belgium. Which grants can I access?
Brussels grants (Innoviris, hub.brussels) based on your Brussels registration, plus federal grants. For VLAIO you need an active exploitation unit in Flanders.
Does company age affect eligibility?
Some programmes require 2–3 years of accounts. Others like Innoviris PoC are designed for early-stage companies. Startups under 1 year should focus on programmes for new companies.
What if I'm self-employed?
Many grants are available to independents with a KBO number. KMO-portefeuille covers training, SPW Chèques-Entreprises covers consulting for independents.
Can a non-Belgian company receive Belgian grants?
Generally no. Belgian grants require Belgian KBO registration. However, a foreign company with a Belgian subsidiary and active exploitation unit can typically access Belgian programmes.
Check your eligibility now
Take our 30-second quiz or chat with Lucas, our AI grant advisor, to find out what you qualify for.