Top 10 Government Grants for Startups in Belgium in 2025
Belgium is a thriving hub for innovation, offering a wide range of government grants to support startups.
These grants are designed to foster innovation, sustainability, and economic growth without requiring founders to give up equity.
Below is a detailed guide to the top 10 government grants available in 2025, including eligibility criteria, funding amounts, and application deadlines.
These grants are designed to foster innovation, sustainability, and economic growth without requiring founders to give up equity.
Below is a detailed guide to the top 10 government grants available in 2025, including eligibility criteria, funding amounts, and application deadlines.
Try our AI Grant Finder and Application Writer to quickly find an EU grant that is right for your startup, and have it write a draft of your application.
1. EIC Accelerator
- Funding Amount: Grants up to €2.5 million and equity investments up to €10 million.
- Eligibility: Startups and SMEs with innovative products or services that can create new markets or disrupt existing ones.
- Benefits: Supports high-risk innovations with market disruption potential.
- Application Deadline: Full application deadlines on March 12, 2025, and October 1, 2025.
- Official Website: EIC Accelerator
2. EIC Pathfinder
- Funding Amount: Grants up to €4 million.
- Eligibility: Research teams working on visionary, multi-disciplinary research projects with breakthrough potential.
- Benefits: Funds breakthrough research with high potential for innovation.
- Application Deadline: Check the EIC Pathfinder page for specific deadlines.
- Official Website: EIC Pathfinder
3. EIC Transition
- Funding Amount: Grants up to €2.5 million.
- Eligibility: Projects transitioning research results into market-ready innovations.
- Benefits: Bridges the gap between research and commercialization.
- Application Deadline: Check the EIC Transition page for specific deadlines.
- Official Website: EIC Transition
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4. Horizon Europe – Digital Europe Programme
- Funding Amount: Varies by project.
- Eligibility: SMEs and startups working on AI, cybersecurity, and advanced digital skills.
- Benefits: Accelerates Europe’s digital transformation.
- Application Deadline: Check the Digital Europe Programme page for deadlines.
- Official Website: Digital Europe Programme
5. Horizon Europe – Innovation Fund
- Funding Amount: Varies by project.
- Eligibility: Startups and SMEs working on climate-neutral solutions.
- Benefits: Supports the deployment of innovative net-zero technologies.
- Application Deadline: Check the Innovation Fund page for deadlines.
- Official Website: Innovation Fund
6. EIT Urban Mobility Financial Support for Startups
- Funding Amount: Up to €2 million per company.
- Eligibility: Startups from RIS countries and others working on innovative urban mobility solutions.
- Benefits: Funds innovative solutions for urban mobility challenges.
- Application Deadline: Check the EIT Urban Mobility website for deadlines.
- Official Website: EIT Urban Mobility
7. CBE JU (Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking)
- Funding Amount: €165 million across 13 topics.
- Eligibility: Projects aligning with CBE JU’s strategic priorities, such as urban-industrial symbiosis and bio-based drop-ins.
- Benefits: Supports sustainable and circular bio-based solutions.
- Application Deadline: Check the CBE JU website for deadlines.
- Official Website: CBE JU
8. EIC Challenges 2025
- Funding Amount: €50 million per challenge.
- Eligibility: Startups and SMEs working on advanced materials, low-emission food systems, generative AI, space tech, and future mobility.
- Benefits: Focuses on key areas of technological advancement.
- Application Deadline: Check the EIC Challenges page for deadlines.
- Official Website: EIC Challenges
9. EIC Business Acceleration Services (BAS)
- Funding Amount: Non-financial support, including coaching, mentoring, and access to global partners.
- Eligibility: Startups and SMEs funded under EIC programs.
- Benefits: Provides tailored support to accelerate growth.
- Application Deadline: Continuous access for eligible companies.
- Official Website: EIC BAS
10. EIC STEP Scale-Up
- Funding Amount: €10 to €30 million per company.
- Eligibility: SMEs and small mid-caps (up to 499 employees) in strategic technology sectors.
- Benefits: Equity investments to scale up innovations in digital, clean, and biotechnologies.
- Application Deadline: Applications accepted anytime via the Funding & Tenders Portal.
- Official Website: EIC STEP Scale-Up
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Conclusion
Belgium’s government grants for startups in 2025 provide a robust framework for innovation and growth.
From equity-free funding to low-interest loans, these programs cater to a wide range of industries and project sizes.
Startups are encouraged to explore these opportunities to accelerate their growth and contribute to Belgium’s thriving innovation ecosystem.
From equity-free funding to low-interest loans, these programs cater to a wide range of industries and project sizes.
Startups are encouraged to explore these opportunities to accelerate their growth and contribute to Belgium’s thriving innovation ecosystem.
