Types of projects

The implementation and steering of collaborative “cluster” projects is one of Skywin’s main objectives.  These projects must include one or more of the following components:

  • research and development (R&D),
  • investment,
  • training

Main eligibility criteria

Collaborative projects must aim to help to relaunch the Walloon economy by generating new activities and creating jobs. This relaunch includes closer links between large, medium and small companies.

From now on, a project must be supported by:

  • at least two companies, including one Walloon SME,
  • and two research units from different structures (universities, research centres).

It must also meet the following conditions:

  • have an innovative character (expansion of the range of products and/or services, new production methods);
  • generate significant potential for regional competitiveness and create jobs in Wallonia;
  • correspond to one or more of the Skywin cluster’s technological and strategic areas.

Accredited collaborative projects are supported financially by public funds awarded by the Walloon government.

These public “cluster” grants are generally in the form of subsidies benefiting from bonuses compared with more traditional mechanisms. As an example, in the case of a research project, the subsidy awarded to an SME may reach 80% of the total budget.

Research units associated with the projects are also largely financed by public funds.

The public funds awarded to support collaborative projects are managed by the Walloon administration (SPW -DG06).

The vade-mecum of calls for projects for competitiveness clusters corresponds to the general questions project owners ask themselves

Vademecum DG06