Introduction
Launching a technological project or an innovation in Brussels represents an ambitious challenge, but also a tremendous opportunity. To support bold companies and start-ups, in 2025 the Brussels-Capital Region is offering a range of grants and subsidies via Innoviris, its public body dedicated to research and innovation. These grants can finance up to 70 % of your R&D project, whether it's a prototype, an innovative technology or experimental development.
In a challenging economic climate, these Innoviris 2025 grants represent a strategic lever to help ambitious technological solutions emerge. Whether you're an SME, a deeptech start-up or an established company, these schemes are designed to boost your competitiveness, encourage applied research and support local employment.
In this article, we explain everything you need to know to benefit from this support: types of projects eligible, funding rates, access criteria, and the steps involved in submitting your application. At the end of the article, we also explain how you can benefit from personalised support to maximise your chances of acceptance.
What is the Innoviris R&D Projects programme?
The Innoviris «R&D Projects» programme is one of the main funding schemes for applied research and experimental development for companies located in the Brussels Region. It aims to support technological innovation in all its forms: new products, processes, services or even organisational methods.
Funding varies according to the size of the company and the type of project. Companies can receive assistance ranging from 15 % to 70 % of the total budget for their project, in the form of a grant or a repayable advance. This rate may increase if the project involves collaboration with other companies or research centres.
The programme mainly supports two types of activity:
- Industrial research, which enables innovative ideas to be tested, prototypes to be designed or the technical feasibility of a concept to be assessed.
- Experimental development, which aims to validate a technology in an environment close to real market conditions.
This scheme is a real growth driver for innovative companies looking to accelerate the time-to-market for their solutions.
What is the Innoviris R&D Projects programme?
The Innoviris «R&D Projects» programme is one of the main funding schemes for applied research and experimental development for companies located in the Brussels Region. It aims to support technological innovation in all its forms: new products, processes, services or even organisational methods.
Funding varies according to the size of the company and the type of project. Companies can receive assistance ranging from 15 % to 70 % of the total budget for their project, in the form of a grant or a repayable advance. This rate may increase if the project involves collaboration with other companies or research centres.
The programme mainly supports two types of activity:
- Industrial research, which enables innovative ideas to be tested, prototypes to be designed or the technical feasibility of a concept to be assessed.
- Experimental development, which aims to validate a technology in an environment close to real market conditions.
This scheme is a real growth driver for innovative companies looking to accelerate the time-to-market for their solutions.
Financing categories offered by Innoviris
The R&D Projects programme covers several categories of project, depending on their level of technological maturity and their purpose. This segmentation means that each company can find a framework tailored to its innovation ambitions:
Industrial research
This category targets upstream projects: exploratory studies, concept development, functional design or advanced prototyping. It is aimed at companies wishing to test a technical hypothesis or validate the feasibility of an innovative idea.
Experimental development
This phase concerns more advanced projects. Its aim is to develop a product, process or service in a real or near-real environment. This may include pilot trials, tests under operational conditions or performance validation before market launch.
Organisational innovation
Less well known but just as strategic, this category supports companies that want to transform their internal model through innovative working methods, intelligent management systems or disruptive digital approaches.
Each type of funding is calibrated according to the technological risk, the economic potential and the company's ability to manage and develop its project. Innoviris also focuses on projects with a strong urban, social or environmental impact, which corresponds to the specific challenges of the Brussels Region.
Who is eligible for Innoviris 2025 grants?
Innoviris R&D grants are open to all companies established in the Brussels-Capital Region, whatever their size or sector, provided they meet certain criteria:
- Headquarters in Brussels The company must have an active head office in Brussels at the time the application is submitted.
- Sound financial position It cannot be considered to be “in difficulty” according to the criteria defined by the European Commission.
- Ability to co-finance The project must be partially financed by the company, from its own funds or from other sources. Innoviris support is complementary.
- Compliance with legal obligations The company must be in good standing with the tax and social authorities, and have no debts to the Region.
- Innovation potential The project submitted must demonstrate real innovation, a level of technological risk and added value for the Brussels region.
Technology start-ups, innovative SMEs and large companies are all eligible, as long as they are developing a project focused on research, development or digital transformation. It is also possible to collaborate with universities or research centres, which increases the chances of obtaining more funding.
How do I apply for Innoviris 2025 Grants?
The procedure for applying for R&D support from Innoviris is designed to be accessible, while ensuring that projects are rigorously assessed. Here are the key steps for submitting an application in 2025:
- Initial contact
First of all, we recommend that you contact an Innoviris advisor to briefly present your idea. This will enable us to validate the eligibility of your company and your project. - Application form
The official submission of the file is continuous, with no strict deadlines. The application includes :- A detailed description of the project
- The work surface
- The provisional budget
- Expected technological and economic spin-offs
- Possible partnerships with other companies or research centres
- File analysis
Once received, your file is analysed by Innoviris experts. You will receive rapid feedback, usually within 2 working hours, confirming that your application has been received and opened. - Assessment and decision-making
An independent committee assesses the innovative nature, feasibility and relevance of the project. The award decision is made within a few weeks, and is followed by a grant agreement. - Starting the project
Once the agreement has been signed, the project can officially begin. Advances or reimbursements are paid progressively, according to the milestones reached.
Structuring your application well and emphasising innovation, local impact and partnerships is essential to maximising your chances of funding.
Tips for maximising your grant
To get the best possible financing rate from Innoviris in 2025, it's not enough to submit a good application: you also need to know how to position it strategically. Here are a few practical tips to help you do just that:
- Promote your innovation
An R&D project must demonstrate a high degree of novelty, whether in terms of technology, organisation or use. Emphasise the novelty of your solution compared with what exists on the market. - Propose a concrete prototype
Producing a proof of concept or prototype significantly increases your chances of obtaining support. It proves your ability to turn your idea into reality and validate its technical feasibility. - Get in touch with Brussels issues
Projects that are in line with regional priorities (mobility, energy transition, health, artificial intelligence, sustainable cities, etc.) are particularly valued. Explain how your project meets these objectives. - Work with local partners
Collaboration with a university, research centre or other company strengthens the credibility of the application. What's more, Innoviris encourages cooperation through bonus funding rates. - Think about commercial exploitation
Describe clearly how the project will generate value for your company: new markets, increased competitiveness, sales growth, job creation, etc. - Request support
You can get help from organisations such as hub.brussels, Enterprise Europe Network or a specialist agency such as ours. This support can help you to structure your application, maximise rates and reduce response times.
Focus on Innoviris' ancillary programmes
In addition to the R&D Projects programme, Innoviris is offering several other schemes in 2025 to support companies at every stage of their innovation process. Depending on the type of project, this support can be used in parallel or as a complement:
- Innovative Starters Award - This programme is specially designed for high-potential young technology companies. It provides a grant to validate the business model, structure a growth strategy and start marketing.
- PATENTS - For companies wishing to protect their inventions, Innoviris' PATENTS programme offers financial support for patent filing procedures. This covers the costs of prior art searches, drafting, translation and filing at European or international level.
- SustAIn.Brussels (EDIH) - This programme specifically supports artificial intelligence and sustainable digital transformation projects. It offers technical support, access to testing facilities and targeted funding.
- Bridge, Team Up and Research2Business - These programmes encourage collaboration between companies, universities and research centres. They enable scientific results to be exploited, technologies to be transferred to the market, and ambitious collective projects to be developed.
- International projects - Innoviris also supports cross-border projects via European or inter-regional calls, enabling Brussels companies to position themselves on the international stage.
All of these measures reflect the Brussels-Capital Region's determination to make innovation a sustainable driver of economic development.
Key steps to a successful application
Submitting an application to Innoviris requires rigour and good preparation. The first step is often a pre-diagnosis with a support organisation such as hub.brussels or Enterprise Europe Network. This validates your eligibility and clarifies the outline of your project.
Then comes the phase of writing the application. It is essential to present a structured project, with clear objectives, a credible technical approach and clearly identified economic benefits. Particular attention must be paid to the work plan and risk management. The application must also demonstrate your company's ability to support the project, both financially and strategically.
The financing plan is another key element of the application. It must reflect a good anticipation of costs, internal resources and the need for subsidies. If partners are involved, the division of tasks and budgets must be consistent.
Finally, the presentation of the impacts, whether technological, economic or societal, must be precise and anchored in the priorities of the Brussels Region. The better you articulate your project around these issues, the greater your chances of obtaining strong support.
Conclusion and personalised support
The Innoviris 2025 grants represent a tremendous opportunity for Brussels-based companies wishing to innovate, experiment and transform their market. Thanks to structuring financial support and financing rates of up to 70 %, it is now more accessible to invest in research, development or digital transformation.
But to take full advantage of these grants, you need to know how to use them at the right time, with a clear strategy and a solid application. That's where our expertise comes in.
At iterates, we support companies at every stage of their technology project: writing the application, technical scoping, planning, filing and administrative follow-up. We combine our knowledge of funding mechanisms with our expertise in developing web and mobile applications and AI solutions to maximise the impact of your project.
Are you planning to submit a project to Innoviris, or are you looking for a technical partner to help you make it a reality? Make an appointment to discuss your project together.
Would you like to explore other sources of funding in addition to the Innoviris grants? The Brussels-Capital Region also offers other subsidies for businesses (training, digitalisation, international development, etc.). We have written comprehensive articles to guide you through these complementary schemes.
🔗 Link to articles and a video :
Brussels-Capital Region (video)
