VLAIO (Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship)

Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship (Agentschap Innoveren en Ondernemen - VLAIO) is an agency of the Government of Flanders, Belgium. VLAIO is the contact point for entrepreneurs in Flanders.

VLAIO encourages and supports innovation and entrepreneurship, and contributes to a favourable business climate. VLAIO does this in close collaboration with local actors and supported by our international commitments in EUREKA, E.E.N. and H2020.

VLAIO focuses on:

• Stimulating growth and innovation
  VLAIO supports businesses through grants so they continue to grow, transform and innovate. Examples include the SME growth subsidy, SME innovation- and R&D-projects. 
• Promoting entrepreneurship
  VLAIO works together with strong partners that assist SMEs through start, growth and takeover. It also encourages networking focused on growth companies. 
• Supporting clusters
  VLAIO supports organisations that catalyse cooperation and dynamics within a group of enterprises and knowledge institutions. 
• Improving environmental factors
  We facilitate the development of industrial areas.

To boost interest in science and technology across Flanders, the Flemish Government has tasked VLAIO with coordinating STEM efforts.​

VLAIO acts on three strategic fronts:​

1. Policy Coordination​
   Leading cross-sector collaboration on the STEM Agenda 2030​
2. Business Engagement via STEMhub ​(Impact op talent | VLAIO)
   Guiding and encouraging companies to invest in STEM talent development.​
3. STEM in (in)formal education ​(De visie van STEM in de vrije tijd | VLAIO)
   Supporting a diverse and high-quality STEM ecosystem​