For whom?

Small, Medium-sized and Large companies investing in the Flemish Community can receive governmental financial support through the premiums of "Strategic Projects".

What?

Please note: The subvention system for strategic projects is being reviewed for the moment. As soon as the new system is available, new applications can be submitted.

Target Investments

• Investments in fixed assets:
  All investments in land (purchase & lease), buildings (purchase, lease, renovation), machinery, material (purchase & lease).
• Investments in intangible assets:
  Purchase of patents, exploration licenses, or licenses of (patented) technological know-how. These purchases must take place from third parties and at market-conform prices.

Criteria

• Subsidizable investments of more than EUR 8,000,000, irrespective of the size of the company;
• Only for regular investments in Flanders (e.g. ecological investments are covered by a specific grant);
• The investment cannot be implemented yet. 

Large Companies

When a company surpasses one of the following criteria, it will be categorised as a "Large Company".

Category # employees (full-time) Turnover OR Balance Sheet Total
Small  < 50 </= € 10 mio  </= € 10 mio
Medium-sized  < 250 </= € 50 mio  </= € 43 mio

It's also possible for Large companies to acquire the premium for strategic projects, on the condition that they are located in one of the EU - development zones.  For 2008 these are:

• Province of Antwerp: Balen, Dessel, Mol
• Province of Limburg:
  As, Beringen, Genk, Leopoldsburg, Heusden-Zolder
  Bree, Lommel, Maaseik, Hechtel-Eksel, Helchteren, Dilsen-Stokkem, Lanaken, Maasmechelen, Tongeren, Herstappe
• Province of East-Flanders: Ronse
• Province of West - Flanders: Wervik, Diksmuide, Lo-Reninge, Ieper, Middelkerke, Oostende

Calculation

The premium is calculated as a percentage of the subsidizable investment, with a maximum amount of 1 million euro.

Maximum percentage of support Investment in a EU development zone Investment outside a EU development zone
SE 10% 10%
ME 10% 7,5%
LE 10% /

How to apply?

All applications can be submitted at any time and downloaded in Flemish. All applications have to be submitted on paper. Flanders Investment & Trade, who will also support you in filling out and filing the documents, can provide an English version of the application.

Not less than one month after the application has been filed, the investment will be put on the ministerial agenda.