Review of info session on eighth project call
The eighth project call of Blue Cluster has been open since 12 March. In response to this call, we organised an online info session on 10 March for companies and other organisations that are interested in submitting a project proposal. Approximately 50 participants were present.
During the info session, we explained the different project types eligible for financial support and the criteria which proposals need to meet. In addition, the various steps in the procedure were also covered and we explained how our innovation managers can help you during the process.
Afterwards, the more than 50 participants could listen to an interesting testimony of Niko Fierens, managing director of Multi Engineering, who came to explain his experience with submitting projects to Blue Cluster. Following the info session, 13 project ideas will be discussed bilaterally with the innovation managers.
Were you unable to attend? Watch the info sessie.
Novelties
Some novelties were announced during the info session. Recently, Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship (VLAIO) has created the feasibility study as a new instrument for the clusters. This allows companies to experimentally analyse the feasibility of an important and ambitious supportable innovative follow-up project at interesting support conditions.
For cSBR projects, the basic characteristics of high urgency, demand-driven character and cooperation with companies will be monitored more strictly in the future. These are typically short-term projects of around 2 years with an average budget of €1 mio.
Foreign partners
The question was raised whether foreign organisations are allowed to participate as partners or subcontractors in projects funded by Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship (VLAIO). The answer is yes, but these organisations can never receive direct subsidies from the Flemish government. Financial support may be possible through European subsidy programmes such as ERANET.
If a foreign organisation acts as a subcontractor in a project for a Flemish party, the latter can claim financial support for this on the condition that a maximum of 50% of that support relates to activities outside Flanders.
