Via the SME growth subsidy, you could receive up to €50,000 of VLAIO support for hiring a knowledge profile or buying advice from an external service provider. You had to use this additional knowledge for digitalization, innovation, internationalization or sustainable entrepreneurship.
In a news release dated 25/09, VLAIO announced that the SME growth grant will be discontinued with immediate effect. The already announced end-2025 project call is also no longer going ahead.
The abolition is a measure under the Flemish government's September declaration, which announced sweeping cuts in all policy areas to eliminate the budget deficit by 2027.
Specifically, what does this mean?
- It is no longer possible to submit new applications for the SME growth grant.
- Applications already submitted are still being processed and reviewed.
- Ongoing approved applications continue to be monitored and disbursed by VLAIO.
What subsidies are still possible, though?
Digitization
For training related to digitalization, Flemish SMEs can still use the SME portfolio, which provides a discount of 20 to 30% on the training bill. For training or consulting on cybersecurity an increased discount of 35 to 45% can be applied.
Innovation
Flemish SMEs who want to innovate can still count on a wide range of support measures from VLAIO:
- Innovative start-up support: a mix of financial support (€50,000), external expert guidance and business case advice for innovative startups
- Scale-ready: annual call for young innovative companies to make the transition to scale-up (up to €350,000 support)
- R&D feasibility study: up to € 50,000 support for investigating the technical and/or scientific feasibility of an innovative follow-up project
- VLAIO Development Project: up to € 3,000,000 support for the development of an in-novative idea (a new or improved product, process or service)
- VLAIO Research Project: up to €3,000,000 support for expanding or strengthening research and development activities.
Internationalization
Flanders Investement & Trade (FIT) has a wide range of grants for Flemish SMEs spreading their wings abroad. There are interventions for:
- SMEs who want to start exporting
- Prospecting trips outside the EEA
- Establishment of a prospecting office outside the EEA
- Digital commercial business communications (website, video, social media,...)
- Participation in international trade shows or niche events
- International custom projects
Sustainable business
For energy efficiency training, you can go through the SME portfolio receive a 35-45% discount on the training bill.
Three types of VLAIO support can be used for investments with ecological added value:
- Ecology Premium+: up to €1,000,000 support for investment in cutting-edge ecological technologies.
- GREEN investment support: 20% to 40% support for investments in greening or energy efficiency that are not on the limitative list of the Ecology Premium+ (application still possible for the time being until the end of 2025).
- Strategic ecology support (STRES).: 20% to 70% support for large ecological investments (> €1,500,000) with a unique company-specific character.
Through the Greening scan, with a VLAIO intervention of up to €10,000, you can have research done in advance to see if the investments you want to make are technically and economically feasible.
Want to know more about one of these support measures or about the further handling of your ongoing SME growth grant?
If so, please contact our grant advisor at subsidies@titeca.be.