Flemish Minister of Economy Hilde Crevits will allocate ninety million euros over the next four years to stimulate entrepreneurship and innovation in Flanders. The money goes to Unizo, Voka and Agoria, among others.
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In total, eleven organizations were selected to help entrepreneurs over the next four years. “It will be all hands on deck in the coming months to avoid bankruptcies,” says Crevits. Six percent of the companies fear bankruptcy.
“Sharing corona experiences will be relevant,” said the minister. ‘Think of the entrepreneur who switched quickly during the crisis and, for example, brought new products to the market. These are educational experiences for other entrepreneurs. ‘
The money must initially be used to promote innovation, with a focus on digitization, artificial intelligence, the circular economy and climate, among others. In addition, attention is also paid to social entrepreneurship. For example, there will be a specific project to increase innovation in social enterprises.
In addition to Unizo, Voka and Agoria, NSZ, Sirris, Starterslabo, Scale-ups.eu, Network Entrepreneurship, Network for Innovation Acceleration in Construction, Verso and Syntra West were also selected. Most of them were also already part of the previous call for projects. With Verso there is a partner from the social economy for the first time.
“Helping thousands of companies”
Voka, the Flemish network of companies, reacts positively. According to the ‘entrepreneurship program’, Voka will support at least 8,000 entrepreneurs in all life phases of their company over the next four years.
‘We thank the Flemish Agency for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (VLAIO), Minister of Economy and Work Crevits and the Flemish government for the approval today and the confidence for the next four years,’ says managing director Hans Maertens.
Agoria announced on Saturday that it will be working with imec and Sirris on an ambitious coaching program, including coaching programs, master classes, international missions and matchmaking events.
‘Agoria and Sirris have built a partnership that covers the entire Flemish industry with specific expertise. Thanks to this contract with VLAIO, which we call the Industry Partnership, we will be able to help thousands of companies further with digitization, sustainability and industry 4.0 ‘, says Peter Demuynck, general manager of Agoria Flanders.
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