CrossRoads Flanders-Netherlands

CrossRoads Flanders-Netherlands stimulates cross-border cooperation between SMEs in Flanders and the southern Netherlands (Zeeland, North Brabant, Limburg and South Holland). The project supports companies in finding a partner across the border and subsidizes product or process innovations with a focus on sustainable entrepreneurship, renewable energy, industry 4.0 and health.

The network of small and medium-sized entrepreneurs unfortunately still too often stops at the border. When an entrepreneur wants to innovate and looks for complementary partners, opportunities across the border are often missed. With CrossRoads, Interreg Vlaanderen-Nederland, Vlaio Team Bedrijfstrajecten, Economische Impuls Zeeland, REWIN, the Brabantse Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij, LIOF and InnovationQuarter want to give the existing potential in the border region a big boost by supporting SMEs and SMBs in their search for the perfect partner across the border and subsidizing their joint innovations.

CrossRoads Flanders-Netherlands builds on the success of predecessors CrossRoads, CrossRoads2 and CrossRoads2 Sustainable Energy. Through those projects, dozens of innovations were realized by Flemish and Dutch companies. In CrossRoads2 alone (2016-2020), in which 202 companies participated in 118 innovation projects, the total investment of €7 million in subsidy led to an economic added value of an estimated €16 million per year! CrossRoads2 Sustainable Energy delivered an estimated CO2 reduction of 375,000 tons of CO2 for the period 2023-2027.

Matchmaking, grant and guidance

Do you have an innovative and technically feasible project idea focused on one of the societal transitions? And would you like to collaborate across borders with other companies? CrossRoads supports cross-border collaboration through

• Matchmaking: finding partner(s) across the border
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• Subsidies for innovation projects
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• Support during and after the innovation project

Tackling societal challenges

CrossRoads Flanders-Netherlands focuses on innovations addressing societal needs. The added value of the innovations for Flemish and Dutch people is central. The focus is on the social transition priorities that are at the top of the agenda in both countries:

• Sustainable business
• Sustainable energy
• Industry 4.0
• Health

The foreseen innovation tracks will run for up to two years, with a maximum awarded grant of €250,000 ERDF, which covers 50% of the total eligible costs. The ambition is to select at least 50 innovation projects containing at least 125 companies.

Results call 2

Two companies from Limburg were selected: Femly & DenimX. You will soon read more about the projects on the CrossRoads website. Tip: subscribe to the CrossRoads newsletter and you will receive more details about the selected projects in your mailbox.

Oproepkalender 2023-2024

• Call 1: September 1 - October 13, 2023
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• Call 2: March 1 - April 26, 2024
• Call 3: Aug. 26 - Oct. 4, 2024
• Call 4: spring 2025

Would you like to help make an impact and submit an application? In every province, advisors are ready to guide you and put you in touch with possible cooperation partners on the other side of the border.

CrossRoads Flanders-Netherlands is made possible with support from: