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New calls for projects within ERDF Flanders launched

Grants and Incentives alert

New calls for projects within the Flemish European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) programme were launched in September 2023, aiming to support projects with a strategic investment approach in Flanders that translate the objectives for a smart and sustainable Flanders into practice. 

About the new calls

Scope of the calls

Project proposals can be submitted within one of the four open calls:

  • Developing skills for smart specialisation, industrial transition, and entrepreneurship;
  • Strengthening research and innovation capacity;
  • Renewable energy; and
  • Sustainable multimodal urban mobility.

The first call is looking for projects that contribute to strengthening skills through training and investment in digital education infrastructure and demonstration infrastructure, and development and implementation of technology innovations.

The second call is seeking projects that contribute to strengthening the research and innovation capacity in Flanders by investment in new or existing knowledge centres, innovation ecosystems, living labs, pilot lines, and demonstration capacity.

The third call is looking for projects related to sustainable urban mobility such as bicycle highways, green mobility constraints and preconditions, or multimodal infrastructure projects.

The fourth call is seeking projects that are committed to an accelerated increase in renewable energy in Flanders. The emphasis is mainly on investment projects in innovative pilot and demonstration facilities.

Furthermore, specific calls have been launched to support projects that are committed to promote similar themes within the region of GTI Kempen (district of Turnhout).

Further details can be found on the VLAIO website.

ERDF support

ERDF supports a maximum of 40% of the total eligible costs, namely:

  • Investment costs;
  • Personnel costs;
  • Operating costs;
  • Overhead costs; and
  • External costs.

Depending on the call, there is a maximum amount of support per project:

  • Developing skills for smart specialisation, industrial transition, and entrepreneurship: EUR 4 million available budget with a maximum of EUR 1.5 million support per project;
  • Strengthening research and innovation capacity: EUR 8.5 million available budget with a maximum of EUR 2 million support per project;
  • Renewable energy: EUR 5 million available budget with no maximum support per project; and
  • Sustainable multimodal urban mobility: EUR 5.5 million available budget with a maximum of EUR 1.8 million support per project.

The maximum duration for projects submitted under the ERDF calls is three years for investment projects and two years for operating projects. Projects that consist of more than 50% of investment costs are considered as investment projects.

Call deadline

The application process has two stages. A preliminary application containing a short summary of the project idea must be submitted by 17 November 2023. A fully detailed project proposal must be submitted by 9 February 2024.

How can we assist?

If you are looking for opportunities to fund your project, Deloitte Belgium’s experienced Gi³ team can provide complete assistance from project evaluation and feasibility analysis to full support in proposal preparation, submission, and reporting. Do not hesitate to reach out to the contacts below for further information.