finance
Brussels Startup Funding Flows Reach €1.2 Billion as EU Strategy Targets AI Growth
Regional records show €1.2 billion awarded to Brussels organisations from 2021 to 2024 while new infrastructure plans take shape.
How we reported this
Brussels organisations received €1.2 billion in research and innovation funding between 2021 and 2024, placing the region fourth in Europe for such support.
The figure comes from Horizon Europe and European Innovation Council programmes that backed local firms including Trosort and Beeodiversity. Trosort won IN-TRANSIT funding for its SortMate project. Beeodiversity obtained EIC Transition money for BeeOmetrics. These awards sit inside a wider push that also includes the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy adopted in May 2025.
EU policy shifts shape local capital access
The May 2025 strategy produced its third European Startup and Scaleup Forum in Brussels. Discussions centred on the European Business Wallet for cross-border digital identity and a proposed tripling of the European Innovation Council budget. The forum highlighted how EU-level decisions now route more capital toward early-stage AI and sustainability projects in the capital.
Brussels already hosts more than 300 startups and ranks first in Belgium and 64th globally by ecosystem strength. Firms such as Cowboy, which raised $156.8 million, and Kpler, which secured $185 million in private equity, illustrate the scale of private flows that accompany public grants.
Infrastructure plans and remaining gaps
In September 2026 WAT will open a 1,000-square-metre startup garage in Brussels to house 100 early-stage founders working in AI, health and mobility. The facility addresses documented shortages in early-stage workspace. StartLab.Brussels continues to run Pitch XXL sessions that connect founders with local partners and mentors.
Despite the inflows, a frozen Smart City strategy and non-renewed regional support measures limit further expansion. Digital skills gaps still affect 300,000 residents, or 40 percent of the 16-to-74 age group. The next concrete milestone remains the WAT garage opening scheduled for September 2026, after which operators will report on occupancy and follow-on funding secured by tenants.
This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.