Wallonia's new point-based investment grants system

Since July 2025, Wallonia evaluates investment projects on innovation, jobs, and sustainability rather than sector alone.

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After 21 years, Wallonia has transformed how it supports business investments. Since July 1, 2025, companies need to demonstrate quality across innovation, employment, and environmental performance to access grants. Here's what changed and how it affects your investment plans.

For organisations planning to invest in Wallonia, the rules of the game just shifted. The region replaced its previous sectoral eligibility system with a points-based approach that rewards companies for bringing innovation, creating jobs, and reducing their environmental footprint.  

From sectors to scores

The old system was simple. If a company operated in an eligible sector and invested at least €25,000, it qualified for support. The new system asks a different question: does the investment make Wallonia more innovative, more prosperous, and more sustainable? 

Companies now need to score at least 30 points out of 100 across three distinct categories, and must be active in at least two different categories. 

How are the 100 points spread out?

  • Economy (40 points maximum)
    • Innovation: 10 points for R&D activities, patent applications, or high-risk technology implementation
    • Regional strategy contribution: 15 points for alignment with S3 innovation strategy or Digital Wallonia
    • Business creation: 15 points for creating a new company or establishing your first Walloon location
  • Employment (30 points maximum)
    • Job maintenance: 10 points for preserving existing employment (mandatory for large enterprises)
    • Job creation: 20 points for meaningful employment growth based on company size
  • Eco-performance (30 points maximum)
    • Decarbonisation: 20 points for achieving minimum 15% greenhouse gas reduction
    • Circular economy: 10 points for implementing at least two of nine circular economy principles

Your score determines your grant rate, with location playing a crucial role. Here's how it works for SMEs & large enterprises:


Small and Medium Enterprises

Professionele Tabel
Company score Small Enterprise (outside zones) Small Enterprise (in development zones) Medium Enterprise (outside zones) Medium Enterprise (in development zones)
30-49 points 6% 11% 4% 9%
50-59 points 10% 15% 8% 13%
60-100 points 13% 18% 10% 15%

Large Enterprises

Professionele Tabel
Company score Outside development zones Development zones (Brabant Wallon) Development zones (Namur/Liège) Development zones (Hainaut/Luxembourg)
30-49 points 0% 5% 10% 12%
50-69 points 0% 8% 13% 15%
70-100 points 0% 10% 15% 17%

The system rewards thoughtful preparation. Companies that score their projects against the criteria before applying, consider development zone locations when site flexibility exists, and document their innovation, employment, and environmental impacts thoroughly will be best positioned to access this support. 

Planning an investment in Wallonia and wondering how the new system affects your project?

BDO expert Nicolas Depreester can help you navigate these changes, assess your qualification potential, and optimise your application strategy.  

Reach out to understand what these new rules mean for your specific situation.