Summary
This programme aims to encourage cooperation between companies with business units in Wallonia, Flanders and Brussels.
The BELCOO measure is part of the INTERNATIONAL axis (Encouraging cooperation between Wallonia and its foreign partners) of the research aid reform based on identified needs (Win4Research).
Key points
This programme, formerly BELSME, is open to companies of any size.
In detail
• a company, namely:
- a ‘small company’: any company established as a commercial company, which has at least one business unit in Wallonia, unless otherwise indicated, and which satisfies the definition of a small company or micro-company in the annex to the (EU) Regulation 651/2014 of the Commission of 17 June 2014 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the interior market, in accordance with Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty;
- a ‘medium-sized company’: any company established as a company, which has at least one business unit in Wallonia, unless otherwise indicated, and which satisfies the definition of a medium-sized company in the annex to the (EU) Regulation 651/2014 of the Commission of 17 June 2014 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the interior market, in accordance with Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty;
- a ‘large company’: any company established as a commercial company, which has at least one business unit in Wallonia, unless otherwise indicated, and which is not a small or medium-sized company;
- a ‘small, non-autonomous company’: any company that would satisfy the definition of a small or medium enterprise if it was autonomous, within the meaning of Annex 1 of (EC) Regulation no. 651/2014 of the Commission of 17 June 2014 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the interior market, in accordance with Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty.
The research project must mobilise a company from two different regions (Wallonia and Brussels, Wallonia and Flanders or, on rarer occasions, Wallonia and Brussels and Flanders).
The maximum duration of the research is set at 36 months.
In order for the project to start, a positive agreement is required from each funding agency.
The support consists of granting subsidies or recoverable advances (depending on the type of research conducted).
The amount allocated by PSW Research is capped at €500,000 per project.
The submission procedure involves a single stage:
The detailed proposal is completed and sent to the administration using the online form found on the Walloon research portal (helpdesk-style aid), as well as a so-called ‘dome’ form that also explains the role played by the partner company.
Only the date on which the electronic submission is received on the administration’s IT server shall prevail. In the event of multiple electronic submissions of the same detailed proposal, only the last version submitted before the submission deadline will be considered.
The administration provides the sponsor with confirmation of receipt for the application for the programme. This confirmation of receipt mentions the file number, which must be used in any subsequent correspondence concerning the file.
The assessment procedure for detailed proposals comprises several stages:
Stage 1: the proposal will be assessed in accordance with several criteria (including its innovative nature, excellence and experience, the financial return for the Walloon region, etc.) by an expert from the administration
Stage 2: the same proposal is assessed by the funding agency in Brussels (Innoviris) and/or Flanders (VLAIO)
Stage 3: the assessments are compared and an agreement is reached
Stage 4 : the Minister for Research decides on the funding of the projects
Stage 5 : the relevant project leaders will be notified of the proposals selected for funding.
Mandatory annexes: Financial documents of the companies, Signature of the depositaries, Collaboration agreement, Prior study
Optional appendices: Figures - drawings - diagrams
- Decree of 3 July 2008 concerning support for research, development and innovation in Wallonia
- Decree from the Walloon Government of 18 September 2008 concerning support for research, development and innovation in Wallonia, which was amended on 15 May 2014
- Text concerning the management of State aid for research, development and innovation (2014/C 198/01)
- General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) - State aid (Wallonia.be)
Appeal procedures
How can I contact the department who made the decision?
You may contact the administrative department that made the decision at any time, independently of the appeal procedures outlined below, in order to obtain information about why the application was rejected.
You must contact the following department:
PSW Economy, Employment and Research
Technological Research and Development Department
Boulevard Cauchy 43-45, 5000 NAMUR
Phone no.: +32 (0)81 77 86 85
This free process is not subject to any specific formalities and does not suspend the periods for filing an appeal. The absence of a response from the administration does not constitute acceptance of your request.
How to file an appeal
Unless the dispute can be viewed as relating to a subjective right – in which case only courts of law and legal tribunals have jurisdiction – an appeal may be submitted to the State Council, in accordance with the procedures outlined below.
Request for cancellation
Cancellation of the decision may be requested by filing a request with the State Council, either:
- electronically to https://eproadmin.raadvst-consetat.be ;
- via a signed and dated registered letter to
Conseil d’État
Greffe
Section du Contentieux administratif
Rue de la Science, 33
1040 Brussels
You must submit your request within 60 calendar days from the date of notification for the disputed decision.
In your request, you must indicate the ‘reasons’ for your appeal, that is, the legal rights that have been infringed by the decision and the way in which they have been infringed.
Request for suspension
Sending a cancellation request does not suspend the effects of the decision.
If an emergency arises which is incompatible with the processing of the case, and if a serious argument is manifestly likely to lead to the cancellation, you may file a request to suspend the decision with the State Council.
The request for suspension may be submitted before, at the same time as, or after sending the request for cancellation.
In exceptional cases, and under specific conditions, you may also request the suspension of the decision in cases of extreme emergency.
Practical information
Requests for cancellation and suspension requests are only valid if they contain certain annexes and information. Reference is made to the coordinated laws and decrees mentioned below, which are available at http://www.raadvst-consetat.be (‘Procedure’ section).
Each requesting party must pay a fee of €200 (amount as of 9 January 2017), using a transfer form that will be sent to the party after the appeal is received. Payment is not currently subject to any deadline and the payment of the sum may be made at any time before the closure of the dispute.
Find out more: laws on the State Council, coordinated on 12 January 1973, Regent Decree of 23 August 1948 determining the procedure before the administrative disputes department of the State Council, Royal Decree of 5 December 1991 determining interlocutory proceedings before the State Council, which are available at http://www.raadvst-consetat.be (“procedure” section).