Prototyping Sustainable Solutions (prototyping grant).

Details

• URL: https://www.futuregenerations.be/nl/acties/prototypen/prototyping-sustainable-solutions
• Deadline (2026): 24 February 2026 (before midnight)
• Budget: up to €5,000 (based on your prototyping plan; you must be able to justify spending)
• Who it’s for (in short):
  • (incubated) teams supported by a partner incubator; solo is possible (with incubator support)
  • (non-incubated low carbon) led by student(s) enrolled at a Belgian higher education institution
  • also possible if you graduated less than 2.5 years ago (or if at least some team members are within 2.5 years)
• Language: applications must be in Dutch/French (not English); at least 1 team member must speak Dutch or French
• Project focus: prototype phase after concept (“pretotype”) to test & validate; improvements to existing solutions can also qualify
• Contact: prototyping@futuregenerations.be · tel. +32 498 54 16 09 (Célia) / +32 498 54 16 12 (Caroline)
• Note: laureates from a previous edition cannot apply again with the same project

What do you get via Prototyping Sustainable Solutions?

According to the call page, the Foundation for Future Generations supports projects in the prototyping phase with:

• a prototyping grant up to €5,000
• access to a network of impact-driven organisations and people
• media visibility
• the opportunity to refine your project based on jury feedback

Target group and stage

The call targets student entrepreneurs and recent graduates developing a product, service or technology with positive societal impact and who are in the prototyping phase (i.e. after concept/pretotype, focused on testing and validation).

Important: according to the source, applications are submitted with support via an incubator or other supporting organisation.

Why does this call exist?

Prototyping Sustainable Solutions is part of Prototyping The Future, a programme launched in 2019 by the Foundation for Future Generations, supported by the Albert Vanhee Fund for Future Generations.

According to the page, the fund aims to help young project leaders take a crucial step: turning a promising idea into a concrete realisation and moving closer to market entry.

Steps (as described on the call page)

The call describes a 5-step process:

1. Launch of the call + receiving applications
2. Preselection by student incubators (registration via an incubator is, according to the source, a mandatory condition)
3. Selection of laureates by a jury of experts
4. Meeting of laureates (Prototyping The Future meeting)
5. Future Generations Summit (annual event where laureates are showcased)

Extra eligibility and submission rules (Q&A 2026)

The Q&A page adds practical rules, such as:

• You can apply solo, but (for incubated calls) with support from a partner incubator.
• English is not allowed: applications must be in Dutch or French; not everyone on the team has to speak Dutch/French, but at least 1 team member must.
• After developing a concept, you are in the prototyping phase when you create a model/experimental version to test and validate how it works.
• “Innovative” does not have to mean fully new: improvements to existing solutions can also qualify, e.g. to make them more sustainable.

Budget: how is the €5,000 determined?

According to the Q&A, the awarded amount depends on your prototyping plan. You can request up to €5,000, but you must be able to show how you will spend it.