The right first question: what problem do you want to solve, and how will you know the work is finished? This is the basis for pricing an assignment and examining the Digitalisation grant.
You are considering redesigning your website, simplifying booking or connecting tools that make you re-enter the same information. Aid may make this project easier. To make a sound decision, however, separate three issues: the usefulness of the work, its full cost and any potential public funding.
This guide is for business owners preparing an application. Rules are linked to the official sources consulted. The examples, calculator and downloadable worksheet are preparation tools proposed by Kanexio.
01 / The projectWhat work can fall within the scope?
The decree covers external assignments for digitalising processes, products or services, IT security, and the technical creation or improvement of a website. The assignment must address a one-off problem and be exceptional in nature. It cannot exceed six months.3
01A website that better supports your clients
You could define a quote-request journey, service pages and enquiry forwarding to your team. Specify the features to deliver and how to test them.
The regulatory scope concerns technical creation or improvement. An overall communications budget therefore needs to be itemised.3
02A process to simplify
An enquiry entered on the website is copied into a calendar, then into a tracking spreadsheet. The project may involve examining this route and implementing a specific connection, with its checks and fallback procedure.
Suggested scoping example. Approval depends on the application and does not follow from choosing a particular software package.
03Security to strengthen
Describe the access, exchanges or data concerned, the identified risk, then the measures and documentation to deliver. A label such as “secure the business” remains too broad for comparing proposals.
IT security is an area covered by the decree; that does not validate every expense in a quote.3
Separate the one-off assignment from recurring costs.
The text excludes, among other things, permanent or recurring activities, normal operations, regular subcontracting and assignments for which in-house expertise is sufficient.3 Request a quote that distinguishes the initial project from subscriptions, maintenance and ongoing support. This separation makes the budget understandable; it does not turn an excluded item into an eligible expense.
To clarify the need before choosing tools, our guide to the first process to automate in an SME offers a complementary approach.
02 / The conditionsThe business, assignment and provider all matter.
The business must be an SME with an operating establishment in the Brussels-Capital Region and an eligible activity. Other conditions concern its economic purpose, public funding, de minimis aid, annual accounts and, depending on workforce size, diversity.2 This list provides reference points; review all conditions for your situation.
Check your exact activity. BEE relies in particular on the VAT NACE code and articles of association. Its sectors page includes the Digitalisation list and the conversion of NACE-BEL 2008 codes to 2025. The profession stated on your website is not enough to decide.4
The consultant must, among other things, be specialised, have been operating for at least two years, substantiate their expertise and remain independent of your business. The decree also regulates the provider’s activity, invoicing and the history of subsidised assignments with the same beneficiary over the previous two years.3
Ask for this information at quotation stage. Kanexio case studies document actual work; they do not constitute administrative recognition of the provider or proof of eligibility for your application.
Finally, the beneficiary commits to respecting the responsible digital practices laid down in the decree.3 Use the project to question which features are truly necessary, the lifespan of the tools and your team’s ability to use them.
03 / The budgetA 25% base rate. Increases to substantiate.
Amounts exclude VAT and taxes. Ceilings per beneficiary and calendar year; minimum aid of €500 per application. Decree, Articles 1, 11, 13 and 15.3
Increases are added to the base rate according to the business’s size and profile. The total is limited to 70% of approved expenses. Starter status here means registration with the CBE less than four years ago.3
| Criterion | Micro or small | Medium |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | +25 percentage points | +20 percentage points |
| Environmental exemplary status | +30 percentage points | +20 percentage points |
| Social exemplary status | +30 percentage points | +20 percentage points |
Source: Article 13 of the decree.3 Exemplary status must be recognised and documented according to BEE’s procedures.2
Aid is not a discount on your invoice.
Payment takes place through the disbursement procedure, based on admissible supporting documents. Submission and the award decision are separate stages.3 Build your cash-flow plan around the full cost, applicable VAT and the quote’s payment schedule. Have your accountant check the tax consequences.
If a grant is possible, it improves the planned financing. The project must nevertheless remain relevant to your business in light of its cost and your resources. Our guide to website pricing in Brussels helps distinguish the items in a proposal.
04 / Your calculationTest a scenario, then its limitations.
The starting amount is a fictional example unrelated to Kanexio pricing. Replace it with only the expenses you assume will be approved. Select an increase only as an assumption to document.
Visualise the grant’s share.
The calculation assumes your expenses and selected criteria will be approved. It does not check your eligibility.
- Remaining share of the expenses entered, excluding VAT
- 4 500 €
- Annual ceiling still available before this application
- 10 000 €
Indicative calculation according to Articles 1, 11, 13 and 15 of the decree. Excludes VAT, taxation, unapproved expenses and other de minimis aid. Conditions relating to the provider and your application still need to be checked. See the text and calculation limitations.
What the result helps you understand.
The calculator applies the increases for the chosen profile, the 70% maximum, the remaining annual ceiling and the limit of two assignments. Aid for the year is counted according to notified decisions, even if not yet paid.3 The estimate is rounded to the nearest cent after checking the minimum threshold.
It does not consult your CBE record, recognitions or de minimis aid. It does not examine the provider or quote contents. The remaining amount concerns only the base entered: add excluded costs and applicable taxes to assess the whole project.
05 / The timelineApply before starting.
For Digitalisation, BEE must receive the application no later than the day before the assignment begins.3 Arrange this with the provider before setting the start date. A sales discussion about the grant does not count as an application.
- Before work starts
Define and submit.
Gather a valid offer, the CV and the documents requested in MonBEE, including bank evidence, the mandate and evidence of exemplary status as applicable to your case.2 Keep the acknowledgement of receipt.
- After submission
Distinguish receipt from award.
The automatic acknowledgement confirms receipt of the application. It does not confirm the amount that will be awarded. Follow requests for additional information and BEE’s decision.3
- Defined assignment
Keep to the delivery timeline.
The assignment lasts a maximum of six months and must start no later than three months after notification of the award.3 Align the quote’s schedule with the application rules.
- After completion
Provide evidence and follow up on disbursement.
Keep the requested documents, invoices and deliverables. Disbursement is based on supporting documents received within the applicable deadline.3 Record this deadline as soon as the decision is notified and have it confirmed if in doubt.
A discrepancy between sources on supporting documents to be aware of.
As at 12 September 2026, BEE’s information page states 12 months after notification, while consolidated Article 21 of the decree states 15 months. We do not select a single deadline for your application. Ask BEE to confirm which applies to your decision and prepare the documents without delay.23
Obligations continue after the award. For this category of aid, BEE requires, among other things, that the activity remain in the Brussels Region for at least three years after the decision. Failure to comply with the conditions may lead to repayment.5 Review these commitments with your adviser before applying.
06 / PreparationAn application starts with a clear project.
A quote titled “redesign and digitalisation” leaves too much room for interpretation. Describe the starting point, deliverables, limitations, responsibilities and acceptance criteria. You will be better able to compare proposals and explain what you are requesting.
At delivery, what action will your client or team be able to perform more easily?
The scoping question proposed by Kanexio
For booking, this might mean an understandable journey, information sent to the right contact and enquiry tracking. For a services website, it might mean a useful page, a reliable form and documented onboarding. These are examples of deliverables to discuss, without a quantified productivity gain at this stage.
The PEBify and Atmos Technics projects let you explore actual web journeys and processes. We cite them to illustrate our work. We do not claim these projects received this grant.
Your preparation, point by point.
0 / 6 checkpoints selectedThis list is our scoping aid. It replaces neither the MonBEE form nor the official conditions.
The checkboxes remain only on this page. A completed list is not confirmation of eligibility.
Download the preparation worksheetLet’s describe the project worth your budget.
Tell us about your business, website or the process causing a problem. We can clarify the intervention and prepare a detailed quote. Assessment of the grant will remain separate from our commercial proposal.
Questions before applying.
Is the Digitalisation grant still available after 12 August 2026?
Yes, according to the official Brussels Economy and Employment announcement checked on 12 September 2026. It is explicitly maintained. The announced suspension of General Consultancy support therefore does not mean Digitalisation is suspended.1
Can website creation or redesign qualify?
The technical creation and improvement of a website are within the aid’s scope. However, the project must meet the other conditions: business, one-off assignment, external expertise, provider and timeline. A website quote does not automatically become eligible.3
Can I automatically receive 70% of the quote?
No. The base rate is 25% of approved expenses. Increases depend on criteria that must be substantiated and on business size, up to a maximum of 70%. The annual ceiling, number of assignments and minimum threshold must also be respected.3
Can I start work before submitting the application?
For this aid, BEE must receive the application no later than the day before the assignment begins. Acknowledgement of receipt is separate from the award decision. Plan the timeline before starting work with your provider.3
Can Kanexio guarantee acceptance of my application?
No. We can describe and price our intervention, document our references and prepare a clear scope. Approval of the business, provider and expenses, and the award of the grant, are BEE’s responsibility.3
Sources and method.
The scheme’s rules and status were checked on 12 September 2026 in the primary sources below. Scoping advice and examples are editorial. Conditions may change: consult BEE when you apply.
- Brussels Economy and Employment
Announcement of 31 July 2026: Digitalisation maintained and certain other grants suspended from 12 August. Accessed on 12 September 2026.
Redirection of business grants - Brussels Economy and Employment
Business conditions, recognitions, annexes, submission through MonBEE and practical procedure. Accessed on 12 September 2026.
Official Digitalisation grant information page - Justel · Federal Public Service Justice
Articles 1, 7 to 13 and 15 to 21: basis excluding VAT, assignments, provider, rates, thresholds, ceilings and timeline. Consolidation displayed as at 30 August 2024. Accessed on 12 September 2026.
Decree of 22 February 2024, consolidated text - Brussels Economy and Employment
Digitalisation-specific list and transition from NACE-BEL 2008 codes to 2025 codes. Accessed on 12 September 2026.
Eligible business sectors and NACE codes - Brussels Economy and Employment
Maintaining activity in the Brussels Region, compliance with conditions and possible checks. Accessed on 12 September 2026.
Obligations and checks after the award
The role of this guide.
The calculator explains calculation mechanisms; it issues no certificate. Contact BEE about your eligibility, deadlines and application documents. Have your usual adviser examine the financial and tax aspects.
Kanexio sells web and digitalisation services and therefore has a commercial interest in this subject. No acceptance rate, financial return or approved-provider status is claimed here. Our code of ethics details our commitments.