Home to ground-breaking strategic research centers, focused research groups, leading industry players, academic curricula and more, Flanders makes it easy for your energy storage initiative to thrive.

Flanders Make is Flanders’ strategic research center for innovation in manufacturing and industrial sectors. Closely associated with the region’s 5 universities, it enables the advent of intelligent systems by focusing its research on:

• next-generation energy storage technologies;
• smart monitoring devices and systems;
• agile and human-centered production and robotics systems;
• and more.

There are a number of incubators responsible for assisting ICT-focused smart technology start-ups in Flanders, providing them with affordable office space, administrative services and even development tools:

• GreenVille – an all-inclusive service center for green businesses.

These groups, coalitions and organizations help foster promising innovation and encourage knowledge-sharing and collaboration in technology areas related to energy storage:

• Flux50 – As Flanders’ spearhead cluster for energy, Flux50 facilitates collaboration between energy, IT and building companies. The aim is to enhance the competitiveness of Flanders’ smart energy industry in its transition toward low carbon systems. In doing so, Flux50 is a membership organization that unites relevant industry, academic and government players, providing them with project support, networking opportunities and a platform for knowledge sharing.
• Smart Grids Flanders – This knowledge platform unites businesses, universities and research institutions to enable the smart grids and smart energy meters of tomorrow.
• EnergyVille – An association of research institutes including KU Leuven, VITO, imec and UHasselt, EnergyVille conducts innovative energy research in smart cities, electrical systems, energy storage and more.
• WaterstofNet – Develops sustainable hydrogen energy storage solutions with the help of industry players and public authorities.
• FCA – The Flanders Cleantech Association gathers public, private and academic industry players in the industry and fosters networking, investments and projects.
• Sirris – A research group, network driver and incubator, Sirris investigates applications of materials in sustainability.
• Agoria – An innovation-focused association that provides business development services to entrepreneurs in a wide range of tech fields.

Flanders offers incentives to companies engaging in intensive research and development activities. Examples include:

• innovation income deduction – up to 85% of a firm’s net earnings from innovation is tax exempt;
• investment deduction for R&D – 13.5% of acquisition value/qualifying asset or 20.5% of the depreciated amount;
• exemption of payment of 80% – of the personal income withholding tax of researchers in certain scientific fields.