What Innoviris does

Innoviris is the public institute for the encouragement of scientific research and innovation of the Brussels-Capital Region, established by ordinance on 26 June 2003. It is classified as a government state entity (organisme d'intérêt public / instelling van openbaar nut), headquartered at Chaussée de Charleroi 112, Brussels, Belgium, with 11-50 employees. Its mandate is to finance and support research, development, and innovation activities conducted by Brussels-based enterprises, research centers, non-profit organizations, and public sector entities. Innoviris does not develop or sell technology products; its outputs are funding programmes (grants, vouchers, co-financing instruments) and facilitation services.

Its core offering is structured around the Innovation Journey framework - a three-stage pathway (ideation, validation, development) operationalized through a portfolio of funding programmes: Innovation Vouchers (IVO), Social Innovation Vouchers (Innovate), Feasibility Studies (FST), Proof of Business (PoB), Circular Innovation (GIS), R&D Project (RDI), Joint R&D (JRDIC), Innovative Starter Award (ISA), Prove Your Social Innovation (PYSI), and the Test Your Idea facilitation service. In 2025, Innoviris committed €43.7M to 406 new projects serving 258 unique beneficiaries, against €117M in processed applications. Underlying technology consists of administrative infrastructure (IRISbox.brussels platform for application processing), communications tooling (Flexmail for email campaigns, Google Analytics for web monitoring), and beneficiary-facing support tools (Communication Kit, General Accounting Directives). There is no proprietary AI, software, or data product.

Its business model is regional government funding: Innoviris receives its budget from the Brussels-Capital Region and redistributes it through competitive open calls and structured programmes. It does not generate commercial revenue, charge fees, or sell products. Its go-to-market is event-driven: open project calls, the Innoviris.brussels website, newsletters, social media, events, and direct engagement through the Test Your Idea service. Strategically, Innoviris acts as Brussels's gateway to European R&I frameworks - it holds memberships in Taftie (since 2018), Eureka (and its five clusters: ITEA 4, EUROGIA2030, Xecs, CELTIC-NEXT, SMART), Horizon Europe (€93.5B EU framework, 2021-2027), the DUT Partnership, CHIPS Joint Undertaking, and NetZeroCities - enabling Brussels actors to access transnational funding and credibility from EU-level selection.

Name

Innoviris

Legal name

INNOVIRIS

Website

https://innoviris.brussels

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Innoviris is the public institute of the Brussels-Capital Region that finances and supports research, development, and innovation through grants and facilitation services targeting Brussels-based enterprises, research centers, non-profits, and public sector entities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public R&D Funding

NAICS

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

National Development Banks & State Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) (BPADACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Development Finance, Guarantees & Blended Finance Programs (BPADABAM), Private Sector & Blended Finance Arms (IFC-type) (BPADACAJ), Green/Climate Development Banks & Funds (FSABAKAH)

Keywords

• Research funding programs
• Innovation financing
• Science promotion
• Regional R&D grants
• Public innovation agency

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Regional Government Funding: Innoviris is a public institute established by the Brussels-Capital Region to finance and support research and innovation. Funding comes from the regional budget and is distributed to approved projects through grants and subsidies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Innoviris finances and supports research, development, and innovation in the Brussels-Capital Region through grants, co-funding, and facilitation services. It guides beneficiaries through an Innovation Journey spanning ideation, validation, and development stages via programmes such as R&D co-funding (RDI, JRDIC), feasibility studies (FST), proof-of-business (PoB), innovation vouchers (IVO, Innovate), circular innovation (GIS), start-up awards (ISA), and social innovation validation (PYSI). It also represents Brussels in European and international R&D networks (Horizon Europe, Eureka, Taftie, DUT Partnership, Mission Cities, CHIPS JU).

Product overview

Innoviris is the public organization financing and supporting research and innovation in the Brussels-Capital Region. Its offering consists of a portfolio of funding programmes, support tools, and communication resources — not a unified software product. The core instruments include the Innovation Journey (a guided pathway through ideation, validation, and development), co-funded R&D programmes (JRDIC, RDI), the Test Your Idea facilitation service, Innovation Vouchers (IVO), Feasibility Studies (FST), Proof of Business (PoB), Circular Innovation (GIS), Social Innovation Vouchers, and the Innovative Starter Award (ISA). Innoviris also facilitates participation in European frameworks including Horizon Europe, the DUT Partnership, Mission Cities, CHIPS JU, and international networks (Taftie, Eureka). Beneficiary-facing tools include a Communication Kit, General Accounting Directives, and access via the IRISbox.brussels platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Innovation Journey A guided three-stage framework (ideation, validation, and development) that supports Brussels-based innovators through funding, advice, and training as they bring ideas from concept to market.
• Test Your Idea A facilitation service offering a 30-minute advisory exchange with Innoviris staff to assess whether an idea fits Innoviris funding programmes, followed by a formal application. Intended for Brussels-based innovators.
• Innovation Voucher (IVO) A voucher-based funding instrument supporting small companies in Brussels to access innovation advice and services.
• Social Innovation Voucher (Innovate) A voucher instrument supporting social innovation projects that improve the well-being of the Brussels community.
• Feasibility Studies (FST) A programme funding feasibility studies to assess the technical and commercial viability of innovative projects.
• Proof of Business (PoB) A funding programme helping companies validate the commercial potential of an innovative concept through proof-of-business activities.
• Circular Innovation (GIS) A funding instrument supporting innovative projects that deploy circular economy approaches, reusing raw materials, recycling, or reducing resource use.
• R&D Project (RDI) A programme co-financing research and development projects in companies, research centres, non-profit sectors, and public sector entities in Brussels.
• Joint R&D (JRDIC) A programme supporting joint R&D projects between enterprises and researchers, fostering collaborative innovation in Brussels.
• Innovative Starter Award (ISA) An award-based funding instrument for innovative start-ups in the Brussels-Capital Region.
• Prove Your Social Innovation (PYSI) A programme helping social innovators prove and validate the social impact of their projects.
• Horizon Europe Support Innoviris represents the Brussels-Capital Region in the EU's Horizon Europe programme (2021-2027, 93.5 billion euro budget), supporting Brussels actors in accessing EU funding, networks, and credibility through Pillar I (Excellent Science), Pillar II (Global Challenges), and Pillar III (Innovative Europe).
• Driving Urban Transitions (DUT) Partnership A Horizon Europe European Partnership supporting transnational research and innovation projects on urban challenges across three pathways: Positive Energy Districts, 15-Minute City, and Urban Circular Economy. Annual calls are launched September 2022-2028.
• Mission Cities — Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Brussels' participation in the EU Mission for Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities (100 EU cities plus 12 associated countries), supporting the city in becoming climate-neutral by 2030 through Climate City Contracts, NetZeroCities platform access, and EU Mission Label certification.
• Chips for Europe / ECS Programme (CHIPS JU) The Chips for Europe Initiative supporting pilot lines for advanced semiconductor technologies. Brussels partners can apply for the European ECS programme of CHIPS JU; Innoviris provides supplementary regional funding covering 100% for research institutions and 40-80% for companies.
• International Networks (Taftie & Eureka) Innoviris' participation in Taftie (European network of national innovation agencies, member since 2018) and Eureka (the world's largest intergovernmental R&I network spanning 47 countries), including its five clusters: ITEA 4 (software), EUROGIA2030 (energy), Xecs (electronics), CELTIC-NEXT (communications), and SMART (manufacturing). Annual project calls target SMEs, large companies, and research institutions.
• Climate City Capital Hub Platform providing tailored financial advice in cooperation with the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, connecting Mission Cities with investors. Launched in June 2024.

Quantifiable outcome

• 406 projects funded in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• TaftiecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Taftie is the European network of major national innovation agencies. Members share information and best practices, with combined staff of over 8,000 technology and innovation specialists managing more than 10 billion euros in innovation budgets. Innoviris has been a member since 2018.
• EurekacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEureka is the world's largest intergovernmental network supporting international research, development, and innovation. It brings together ministries and funding agencies from 47 countries, providing businesses, universities, and research institutions access to funding, business acceleration tools, and expert advice. Brussels companies can access Eureka cluster funding for market-oriented technology innovation projects.
• Driving Urban Transitions (DUT) PartnershipflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Partnership under Horizon Europe framework program supporting transnational research and innovation projects addressing urban challenges. Between 2022 and 2028, annual project calls are launched in September focusing on Positive Energy Districts, 15-minute city, and Urban circular economy themes.
• CHIPS Joint Undertaking (CHIPS JU)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerChips for Europe Initiative fostering technological capacity and innovation through pilot lines for advanced semiconductor technologies. Brussels partners can access 40-80% funding for companies and 100% for research centers through this European semiconductor initiative.
• NetZeroCitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium of 34 partners providing tools, resources, and expertise to help cities develop strategies for climate neutrality. Brussels participates in the EU Cities Mission aiming for climate neutrality by 2030 through the Mission Cities approach.
• ITEA 4 (Eureka Cluster)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEureka cluster focused on software innovation. Annual project calls primarily target SMEs but also large companies and research institutions.
• EUROGIA2030 (Eureka Cluster)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEureka cluster focused on sustainable energy solutions. Annual project calls primarily target SMEs but also large companies and research institutions.
• Xecs (Eureka Cluster)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEureka cluster focused on electronic components, systems, and applications. Annual project calls primarily target SMEs but also large companies and research institutions.
• CELTIC-NEXT (Eureka Cluster)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEureka cluster focused on next-generation communications systems. Annual project calls primarily target SMEs but also large companies and research institutions.
• SMART (Eureka Cluster)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEureka cluster focused on advanced manufacturing. Annual project calls primarily target SMEs but also large companies and research institutions.
• Shifting EconomycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative encouraging forward-looking thinking, exploration of innovative solutions, creative experimentation, and development of new models in Brussels. Beneficiaries of certain Innoviris programs must include the Shifting Economy logo in their communications.
• EcodynminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrussels eco-dynamic enterprise initiative. Partner organization in the Brussels innovation ecosystem.
• Council for Science Policy (CPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent advisory body to the regional government bringing together research and innovation experts. The Council provides critical and constructive eye on regional science policy and offers a forum for discussions and collaborations among Brussels stakeholders.
• European Commission - Horizon EuropeflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU's main research and innovation funding program (2021-2027) with indicative budget of 93.5 billion euros. Innoviris represents Brussels in Horizon Europe and helps Brussels actors access European funding, networks, and credibility from EU-level selection.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Swedish Vinnova: Sweden's innovation agency, government-funded, that finances R&D and innovation projects with a focus on sustainable growth. Operates a comparable portfolio of funding instruments and is a fellow Taftie member alongside Innoviris.
• CDTI (Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico Industrial): Spanish public entity under the Ministry of Science and Innovation that funds R&D projects for Spanish companies. Directly comparable in mandate of co-financing R&D and innovation, and fellow Taftie member.
• Bpifrance: French national innovation and development finance agency. Closest direct analog to Innoviris — public funding body that co-finances R&D, innovation vouchers, feasibility studies, and proof-of-business programs for French companies and research institutions. Directly comparable mandate, instrument mix, and beneficiary segments.
• German Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation (SPRIND): German federal innovation agency focused on disruptive and high-risk innovation. Comparable public-sector innovation funding body, though operating at federal scale rather than regional like Innoviris.
• Innovate UK: UK's national innovation agency, part of UK Research and Innovation. Runs R&D grant competitions, innovation vouchers, feasibility studies, and growth programs for UK businesses. Directly comparable structure, scale, and program portfolio to Innoviris at national rather than regional level.
• Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO): Dutch government agency implementing innovation, sustainability, and international programs. Comparable mandate of administering public grants and subsidies for R&D and innovation, with similar program structures.
• Enterprise Ireland: Irish state development agency focused on helping Irish enterprises start, develop, and scale. Runs co-financing programs for R&D, innovation, and internationalization comparable to Innoviris's mandate. Fellow Taftie member.
• ANI (Agência Nacional de Inovação): Portuguese national innovation agency responsible for funding and supporting R&D and innovation. Fellow Taftie member with comparable public mandate to fund research and innovation projects at national level.

Regional players

• Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship (VLAIO): Flemish regional innovation and entrepreneurship agency. Peer institution operating in Belgium's neighboring Flanders region with similar mandate to fund R&D, provide innovation vouchers, and support startups — directly comparable mission, but serving a different Belgian region.
• hub.brussels: Brussels-Capital Region's agency for economic development and support to Brussels-based companies. Local ecosystem partner to Innoviris within the same region, providing complementary business support services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Innoviris
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCUZbdA8HSW4xpIXUWbKkrOg
• Facebookfacebook.com/innoviris
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1869588
• Instagraminstagram.com/innoviris.brussels

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments4 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Innoviris