What concrete support is the government offering Belgian companies to stimulate innovation?
There is a whole plethora of government funding available. From basic subsidies to coaching, from venture capital and seed capital to co-investments and loans. At the EWI we’re ready to help companies get the combination of financial instruments best suited for their project. However, entrepreneurs don’t consider us upfront when they need funds. Funding for innovative projects in Flanders is at an all-time high of € 1.5 billion. Yet research shows that only 7% of Flemish companies apply for funding. If EWI has so much to offer, why aren’t Flemish companies lining up at your door? Several reasons. However much information we put out, there will always be companies we won’t reach because people are too busy running their businesses. Business leaders have little or no knowledge of how to get access to financial support offered by the State. Another reason is a profound distrust of government institutions. Companies ‘do innovation’ in their little corner, reluctant to disclose confidential
