CrossRoads Flanders-Netherlands

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CrossRoads Flanders-Netherlands is a project within the European program Interreg Flanders-Netherlands and stimulates cross-border cooperation between Flemish SMEs and southern Dutch SMEs. The project subsidizes product and process innovations that contribute to societal transition priorities: sustainable use of raw materials and energy, industry 4.0/digitization and healthcare.

Approachable support

Unfortunately, the network of small and medium-sized entrepreneurs still too often stops at the national border. With CrossRoads, Interreg Flanders-Netherlands, REWIN, de Brabantse Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij, VLAIO Team Bedrijfstrajecten, Economische Impuls Zeeland, LIOF and InnovationQuarter are giving 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.

Addressing societal challenges

CrossRoads Flanders-Netherlands focuses on innovations aimed at social 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 member states:

Sustainable use of raw materials
Sustainable energy
Industry 4.0/Digitization
Healthcare

More information on the website from CrossRoads

Matchmaking, grant and mentoring

The foreseen innovation projects run for up to two years, with a maximum granted subsidy of €250,000 ERDF, which covers 50% of the total eligible costs. Each cooperation project includes at least one Flemish SME and one South Dutch SME. The ambition is to select at least 50 innovation projects involving at least 125 enterprises.

The first opening is foreseen from September 1, 2023, 00:00 am to October 13, 2023, 15:00 pm. After the e-auction closes, the submitted innovation projects will be compared with each other based on a number of predetermined criteria. The projects that emerge as the best from the tender will receive grants. The total grant budget for this call is €2,500,000. The subsidy percentage is 50% with a maximum of € 250,000 ERDF per innovation project.

The CrossRoads consortium also assists in the search for a partner(s) across the border and provides guidance during and after the innovation project. More information about the grant and regional contacts can be found at www.crossroads2.eu/crossroads.

Start Crossroads Vlaanderen-Nederland

Will you cross the border with us September 1?

The first grant call of CrossRoads Flanders-Netherlands opens on Friday, September 1. On that day that regional cooperation will be put in the spotlight and the borders will literally be explored via a boat trip from the Netherlands to Flanders and back. The first call for subsidies - which runs from September 1 to October 13 - will also be officially opened there.

Program
9.00-9.30 hrs: Boarding in Thorn (Netherlands)
9.30-11.00 hrs: Round trip on the river Maas
- Welcome by Ellen Theeuwes (chairwoman CrossRoads) and Bram de Kort (director Interreg Flanders-Netherlands)
- Flemish Minister of Economy and Innovation Jo Brouns on the importance of cross-border cooperation and innovation in social transition domains
- Collaborating across borders, a practical example: Jan Schrooten (Antleron) and Ramon Solberg (Vivolta) testify about their cross-border cooperation
- Official opening of first grant call
- Networking reception
11:00 a.m.: Arrival in Thorn (Netherlands)

Background information

CrossRoads Flanders-Netherlands builds on the success of predecessors CrossRoads, CrossRoads2 and CrossRoads2 Sustainable Energy. Through those projects, dozens of innovations were realized by 'couples' of Flemish and Dutch companies, and the Flemish-Dutch border in terms of innovation was thus already partly demolished. In CrossRoads2 alone (2016-2020), in which 202 companies participated in 118 innovation projects, the total investment of €7 million in subsidies 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.