Accelerate your innovation projects in chemistry, agri-food and biotechnology
In the sectors of chemistry, agri-food, and biotechnology, innovation is no longer an option; it is an essential lever for remaining competitive. It enables compliance with regulatory requirements, access to new markets, and tackling environmental challenges that directly impact your business. For Walloon SMEs and start-ups, the need is clear: to transform an innovative idea into a solid, operational, and funded R&D project capable of generating real added value.
However, this journey faces concrete obstacles. On one hand, it is necessary to structure and frame an innovation by assessing its technical feasibility and its alignment with market needs. On the other hand, funding mechanisms such as the SPW, Horizon Europe, or FEDER can be real assets, provided that a rigorous application is prepared and the eligibility criteria are clearly understood.
Furthermore, identifying competent technical partners—whether they are laboratories, research centres, or specialised start-ups—often remains a complex and time-consuming step. In addition, managing internal resources to carry out an R&D project can quickly prove to exceed the capabilities of an SME.
What you need is personalised support that transforms these challenges into opportunities. It is about obtaining concrete solutions tailored to your reality in order to structure your innovation project, secure appropriate funding, and mobilise the strategic partners that will enable you to move from idea to implementation.
🔍 Are you an innovative SME or start-up in Wallonia? Here are the common problems you encounter:
Structuring an applied research project requires starting from a precise analysis of your objectives, technical needs, and commercial strengths. It is essential to clarify the problem to be solved from the outset, define a detailed roadmap, and mobilise internal and external expertise to build a coherent and convincing case.
Responding to a regional call for projects, such as those from the SPW, or to a European call like Horizon Europe, EIC or FEDER, requires a thorough understanding of the eligibility criteria and administrative requirements. It involves preparing a robust application that demonstrates both the scientific relevance and the economic impact of your project, while adhering to the deadlines and formalities expected by public funders.
Identifying public or private funding suitable for your sector involves analysing the available schemes, whether they are institutional aids or funding from private partners. This entails cataloguing the schemes, assessing your situation against the eligibility criteria, and compiling files that highlight the added value and viability of your innovation project.
Finding reliable technology partners — whether they are research centres, laboratories, or universities — involves activating a network of recognised experts in your field. An effective collaboration with these partners will allow you to benefit from complementary expertise, enhance the credibility of your project, and accelerate its technical development.
Attracting the right scientific or technical talent to strengthen your team is also crucial. It is important to value the specific skills necessary for the success of your projects, by highlighting a culture of innovation and demonstrating the potential of your initiatives to stimulate the engagement of experts.
Finally, showcasing your research results or innovations to investors or clients requires clear and impactful communication. It involves presenting the concrete benefits of your project, illustrating its economic and societal impacts, and convincing stakeholders that your initiative represents a genuine growth opportunity and an asset in the market.
This journey, although complex, is achievable with the right support and a structured approach that transforms your ideas into solid, funded projects ready to be deployed in the field.
🧪 Support for innovation: turn your ideas into funded R&D projects
Companies active in the sectors of chemistry, agri-food, and biotechnology benefit from a particularly dynamic environment in Wallonia. Between competitiveness clusters, funding portals, research centres, and incubators, the regional ecosystem offers numerous opportunities to transform an idea into a concrete project.
To fully leverage it, it is essential to structure your ideas by aligning them with a real market need, developing a robust technical plan, and defining measurable performance indicators. This helps to enhance the credibility of your project and attract the attention of funders and partners more easily.
It is also crucial to identify the funding mechanism best suited to your stage of technological development (defined by the TRL level), your status, and the scale of your ambitions. Every project deserves to be directed towards the most appropriate support, whether it be regional or European public funding, or private support.
Furthermore, forming a coherent consortium that brings together the right technical, scientific, or industrial partners is an essential asset. A fruitful collaboration between complementary stakeholders enhances the quality of the project and facilitates the achievement of its objectives.
It is also necessary to anticipate the administrative burden inherent in the preparation, management, and reporting of projects. Mastery of this aspect allows for increased efficiency and reduces delays related to complex formalities.
Finally, it is essential to align technological innovation with a clear business strategy. The success of your project depends on the ability to combine technical advancements with a commercial perspective, in order to ensure sustainable growth and a strong competitive position.
In summary, in a rich ecosystem like that of Wallonia, transforming your ideas into structured and funded projects relies on the clarity of your strategy, the alignment between your needs and the support mechanisms, as well as the establishment of a network of strong and complementary partners.
⚙️ Areas of innovation supported in Wallonia
In these sectors, innovation takes multiple forms to address current economic and environmental challenges. For example, in chemistry, the transition to green chemistry, circular chemistry, and sustainable processes aims to reduce environmental impact while valuing resources and minimising waste. Companies are adopting these approaches to design environmentally friendly products, prioritising renewable raw materials and energy-efficient processes.
In the field of agri-food, transformation involves the development of new ingredients and a focus on functional food. The challenge is to offer innovative products that meet consumer expectations in terms of health and nutrition, while also improving the quality and sustainability of agricultural practices.
Industrial biotechnology, on the other hand, focuses on processes such as fermentation, contributing to the development of a genuine bioeconomy. These techniques enable the transformation of raw materials into high value-added products, while integrating sustainable and environmentally responsible practices.
Innovation does not stop at the processes themselves; smart packaging, advanced traceability, and the integration of sensors play a key role in ensuring quality and safety throughout the production and distribution chain. These technologies provide complete visibility into the condition of products, thereby improving stock management and enhancing consumer trust.
At the same time, the digitalisation of production brings powerful tools such as digital twins and artificial intelligence applied to research and development. These technologies enable the optimisation of processes, the anticipation of defects, and the streamlining of production in order to increase the competitiveness of companies.
Finally, in an increasingly strict regulatory environment, safety, toxicological and environmental assessment have become essential issues. Companies must comply with current standards to ensure product safety and protect the environment, while also ensuring their economic sustainability.
In summary, these areas of innovation – from green chemistry to the digitalisation of production, including agri-food transformation and biotechnology – address a crucial need: to structure robust, funded, and operational innovation projects, while aligning a high-performing technical strategy with economic and environmental objectives.
💶 Grants and funding for your R&D projects in Wallonia
Innovative projects can benefit from numerous funding opportunities, provided they are well supported in choosing the scheme best suited to their needs. For example, the SPW Research & Innovation offers various supports such as technology vouchers, as well as programmes focused on digitalisation, circularity, and the Win²Wal scheme. On their part, the FEDER Wallonia funds promote collaborative projects carried out with partner research centres, thereby adding a collective and enhanced dimension to your initiatives.
For larger-scale projects, Horizon Europe offers calls for projects in the fields of health, bioeconomy, or through the EIC Accelerator, allowing companies to access significant European funding. Other schemes such as EIT Food, Eurostars, LIFE, or Interreg, offered according to the theme, also represent interesting avenues to explore. Furthermore, specific support for the recruitment of researchers and engineers in R&D exists to strengthen your teams and accelerate the development of your innovations.
It is essential to direct your search for funding according to your stage of development, the maturity of your project, and the composition of your consortium. The challenge lies in choosing the right mechanism at the right time, in order to maximise your chances of success and to transform an idea into a concrete and impactful project.
🧠 Tailored support to maximise the chances of innovative SMEs and start-ups
To successfully carry out your innovation projects, it is essential to have comprehensive and personalised support at every stage of the process. Start with a thorough audit of your projects and ideas to precisely identify the most relevant innovation levers to transform your concepts into concrete and profitable projects.
Next, the preparation and drafting of robust funding applications play a crucial role in accessing public or private schemes suited to your stage of development. A well-structured application significantly increases your chances of success in response to regional, European, or other project calls.
The success of your project also relies on the human and collaborative factor. A strategic connection with technical, academic, or industrial partners allows you to bring together complementary expertise and benefit from a recognised network of skills, which is essential for enhancing the credibility of your project.
At the same time, showcasing your results through high-quality scientific and technical communication helps you to disseminate your successes, attract investors, and convince your future partners. Finally, the identification and recruitment of specialised scientific profiles are essential levers for equipping your team with the specific skills necessary to achieve your ambitions.
In summary, a tailored support that combines strategic auditing, funding arrangements, targeted networking, value-enhancing communication, and strengthening your teams is the key to transforming your innovative ideas into successful and funded R&D projects.
📍 For Walloon companies that want to take action
This service is aimed at industrial and technological companies that wish to transform their ideas into innovative projects. It is designed for those who want to de-risk their R&D by taking advantage of public funding, who have a project in mind but lack the time to structure it rigorously, and who wish to access the regional innovation ecosystem quickly and effectively. Furthermore, it offers effective support that is perfectly tailored to the realities on the ground, ensuring that each project receives bespoke assistance to overcome obstacles and achieve its objectives.