Applying for an investment allowance (SME or large company)

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Summary

You are a company (either a natural person or a legal entity, including non-profit organisations carrying out economic activities);
AND your company has, or will create, an establishment unit in Wallonia.

Wallonia may grant you investment aid, the amount of which will depend on the following criteria:

the size of the company;
the location of the investment;
the assessment criteria met;
the aid scheme applied for.

Under certain conditions, you may also benefit from an exemption from property tax.

Key points

You must submit an application form requesting authorisation to start an investment programme before entering into any initial commitments related to the investments (purchase orders, contracts, etc.).

In detail

Target audience - details

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) and large companies (LC)

Benefits

Depending on the nature of your project, different investment aid schemes may be available.

Standard investment aid supports projects involving the creation or expansion of infrastructure, with aid rates ranging from 4% to 18%.
Certain projects may also benefit from European co-funded aid, with aid rates ranging from 15% to 35%.
Finally, GREEN aid supports investments that help reduce environmental impact, with aid rates of up to 40%.

Which aid is right for your project?

By answering a few targeted questions, you can quickly obtain an initial indication of the aid scheme most likely to match your project and check whether it meets the basic eligibility requirements.

Take the test (only available in French)

Procedure

Below are the different steps required to ensure that your application is valid:

Submit an application form requesting authorisation to start an investment programme via "Mon Espace".
The date on which the application is submitted to the Administration is important, as it determines the date from which work related to the investment programme may begin.
You must first apply for a "Company Passport" before completing the investment aid application form.
Your "Company Passport" application must be completed using the online form available on "Mon Espace". Once your application has been validated, you will receive an acknowledgment of receipt by email, including a reference number.
Complete the investment aid application form no later than six months after receiving authorisation to start the investment programme.You must indicate the reference number or decision relating to your "Company Passport".
Your application will then be examined by the Administration. Once the assessment has been completed, you will receive the decision by post.
You may then submit a request for payment of the grant using the documents enclosed with the decision.

To assist you with your administrative procedures, you may contact the Administration's departments directly.

All applications for aid may be submitted in French or German.

Délais

Every effort is made to process applications within a reasonable timeframe. This timeframe may vary depending on the complexity of the application, any requests for additional information, any required opinions or assessments, and the budget available under the aid scheme.

There is no mandatory deadline for submitting an investment aid application.

The deadlines provided are guidance deadlines (see procedure), meaning they are intended to enable the administration to process applications efficiently. Failure to comply with these deadlines does not automatically render the application inadmissible or result in the loss of eligibility for the aid.

Nevertheless, applicants are encouraged to respect these deadlines in order to facilitate the assessment of their application and avoid delays in processing.

Conditions

To be eligible for standard investment grants, you must meet at least all of the following conditions:

Submit your application before entering into any binding commitments related to the investments (purchase order, contract, etc.), while indicating the amount of aid required for the project;
Have or create an establishment unit (operating site, business premises, branch office, etc.) in Wallonia;
Carry out an activity in one of the eligible sectors;
Present an eligible investment programme reaching the required thresholds, which vary according to the company's category;
Your investment programme must meet several assessment criteria from at least two different categories and obtain a minimum score of 30 out of 100 points to qualify for aid. For large enterprises, the “job retention” criterion must be met in order to be eligible for support;
Ensure at least 25% of the financing of the investment programme through own resources or external financing that is not supported by public funding;
Not be an undertaking in financial difficulty;
For large enterprises: your project must be located in a development area.