R&D feasibility study: brief explanation

This study should at least and to a significant degree investigate challenging technical and/or scientific aspects in an experimental manner. Additionally, topics such as business model innovation, service innovation and potential issues relating to intellectual property may be addressed as well.

Furthermore, the study needs to support the decision-making process of the follow-up project by objectively identifying the strengths and weaknesses (opportunities and risks). Projects solely aimed at generating ideas or a market study or short-term problem solving are therefore not eligible.

This study should at least and to a significant degree investigate challenging technical and/or scientific aspects in an experimental manner. Additionally, topics such as business model innovation, service innovation and potential issues relating to intellectual property may be addressed as well.

Furthermore, the study needs to support the decision-making process of the follow-up project by objectively identifying the strengths and weaknesses (opportunities and risks). Projects solely aimed at generating ideas or a market study or short-term problem solving are therefore not eligible.

R&D feasibility studies may be submitted at any moment throughout the year and are independent of the call system for other projects. Proposals for feasibility studies may be submitted at any meeting of the steering committee, which convenes once every 6 weeks. Once a proposal has been approved, it can be developed into a full proposal to be submitted to VLAIO.

If you have been authorised to develop a full proposal, you have minimum 6 weeks and maximum 6 months for submission to VLAIO. Under normal circumstances, you will be notified whether or not the feasibility study has been approved within 6 to 8 weeks after submission to VLAIO.

If you wish to submit a feasibility study to Blue Cluster, you need to take the following conditions into consideration: 

• The duration of the feasibility study is between 3 and 12 months;
• You may submit only one feasibility study a year;
• You can apply for a maximum amount of € 50,000 per partner;
• The total amount of financial support for all partners together is maximum € 500,000;
• At least 3 Flemish business partners need to be involved in the study.

For further information, please contact Kristien Veys.