Funding transnational collaborative research projects for the benefit of Walloon companies (SME) involved in international partnerships (with the possible support of approved research centres) – IRA SME

The sponsor is a Walloon SME

in a potential partnership with a CRa.

A proposal is eligible if the following elements are all answered in the affirmative::

• The sponsor is a Walloon SME.
• The research is conducted with at least one industrial operator in another IRA-SME programme partner country.
• The application is submitted via the ONTIME platform before the deadline and an international proposal is submitted at the same time by the international project coordinator via the programme’s international platform.
• The research cannot have already received public funding.

Assessment criteria and project selection

Projects are assessed in accordance with the legal basis defined below. Each of the criteria defined in the decree has its own maximum score:

• Article 38: The innovative nature of the project (rating/20)
• Article 45/46: Excellence and experience (rating/10)
• Articles 39 and 45/46: The quality, feasibility and relevance of the project (rating/20)
• Article 40 – 43/1: The promotion of innovation (rating/40)
• Article 41: The contribution to sustainable development (rating/10)

The support consists of granting subsidies/recoverable advances funded by the administration. This amounts to 60–80% for SMEs and 75% for approved research centres.

The budget includes:

1. cost of research staff;
2. operation costs;
3. cost of acquiring and depreciation of research equipment;
4. fixed management costs;
5. costs related to any potential sub-contracting;
6. mission costs.

The agreement will last for two years.

Candidates with projects are invited to declare their interest in submitting an application by contacting the administration, which will organise an orientation meeting, where applicable. The Walloon component of the projects must then submit via the ONTIME platform, in strict compliance with the deadlines stated in the call. At the same time, the project’s international coordinator submits an international proposal via the IRA-SME platform.

Appeal procedures

How can I contact the department who made the decision?

You may contact the administrative department that made the decision at any time, independently of the appeal procedures outlined below, in order to obtain information about why the application was rejected.

You must contact the following department:

PSW Economy, Employment and Research
Technological Research and Development Department
Place de la Wallonie, 1 (Building III), 5100 NAMUR (JAMBES)
Phone no.: +32 (0)81 33 45 32

This free process is not subject to any specific formalities and does not suspend the periods for filing an appeal. The absence of a response from the administration does not constitute acceptance of your request.

How to file an appeal

Unless the dispute can be viewed as relating to a subjective right – in which case only courts of law and legal tribunals have jurisdiction – an appeal may be submitted to the State Council, in accordance with the procedures outlined below.

Request for cancellation

Cancellation of the decision may be requested by filing a request with the State Council, either:

• electronically  to https://eproadmin.raadvst-consetat.be  ;
• via a signed and dated registered letter to

Conseil d’État

Greffe

Section du Contentieux administratif

Rue de la Science, 33

1040 Brussels

You must submit your request within 60 calendar days from the date of notification for the disputed decision.

In your request, you must indicate the ‘reasons’ for your appeal, that is, the legal rights that have been infringed by the decision and the way in which they have been infringed.

Request for suspension

Sending a cancellation request does not suspend the effects of the decision.

If an emergency arises which is incompatible with the processing of the case, and if a serious argument is manifestly likely to lead to the cancellation, you may file a request to suspend the decision with the State Council.

The request for suspension may be submitted before, at the same time as, or after sending the request for cancellation.

In exceptional cases, and under specific conditions, you may also request the suspension of the decision in cases of extreme emergency.

Practical information

Requests for cancellation and suspension requests are only valid if they contain certain annexes and information. Reference is made to the coordinated laws and decrees mentioned below, which are available at http://www.raadvst-consetat.be (‘Procedure’ section).

Each requesting party must pay a fee of €200 (amount as of 9 January 2017), using a transfer form that will be sent to the party after the appeal is received. Payment is not currently subject to any deadline and the payment of the sum may be made at any time before the closure of the dispute.

Find out more: laws on the State Council, coordinated on 12 January 1973, Regent Decree of 23 August 1948 determining the procedure before the administrative disputes department of the State Council, Royal Decree of 5 December 1991 determining interlocutory proceedings before the State Council, which are available at http://www.raadvst-consetat.be (“procedure” section).

• Decree of 3 July 2008 concerning support for research, development and innovation in Wallonia
• Decree from the Walloon Government of 18 September 2008 concerning support for research, development and innovation in Wallonia, which was amended on 15 May 2014
• Text concerning the management of State aid for research, development and innovation (2014/C 198/01)
• General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) - State aid (Wallonia.be)