Accreditation of R&D centres - Innovation Vouchers

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Are you active in an expertise centre and want to help Brussels-based companies with their innovative project through your services? Become an accredited centre for Innovation Vouchers.

Centers with automatic accreditation: call open all year round

Conventional approval: call open from 2 February to 31 March 2026

Since 2012, the Innovation Vouchers action has enabled small and medium-sized enterprises in Brussels to access the competencies of an expertise centre quickly and inexpensively. This allows them to validate an innovative idea or make use of specific expertise to support their innovative project.

Innoviris wants to expand the number of participating expertise centres to better meet the needs of Brussels companies.

What are the conditions for recognition?

the best practice of the expertise centre which
- has analytical accounting and internal control procedures to ensure that the accounts are kept correctly
- publishes an annual activity report
- meets the essential quality standards in the sector. This covers, for example, ISO certifications or the recognitions which are necessary to ensure the quality of services in a given field.
the skills of the expertise centre which
- carries out research, development and innovation activities which are sufficiently general to interest companies with the same needs in the sector of activity in question
- is aware of the latest scientific and technical developments, and makes them known to companies, on top of the results of their research activities
- has the human and material resources to carry out technological guidance activities, including technological audits of problems related to processes or products, or orientation advice regarding technological competencies.
The sustainability of the expertise centre which
- has sufficient financial resources
- is willing to deliver the services on a sustained and regular basis

How do I submit an application?

Your status entitles you to automatic recognition if you are:

a centre at a Belgian college or university;
a De Groote centre;
or a foreign centre in your country with an accreditation equivalent to that of the research units of universities and colleges recognised by the Federal State, the French Community, the Flemish Community or the German-speaking Community.

You can attach the information sheet available at the bottom of the page, concerning the services you are able to provide, to your first joint application for an Innovation Voucher with a Brussels SME at any time of the year.

If you do not fall into the above categories, Innoviris launches an annual call for Innovation Vouchers service providers.

Check out the rules below and submit your application, including the form and all requested supporting documents.

Centres that meet the conditions for approval are included in the list of approved centres and can provide services to Brussels companies once approval is granted.

For more information, visit the Innovation Vouchers and the Start AI pages.