Prototyping Sustainable Solutions (prototyping grant).

Details

• Source: https://www.futuregenerations.be/nl/acties/prototypen/prototyping-sustainable-solutions
• Edition page with timeline: https://www.futuregenerations.be/nl/prototyping2026 (the URL contains a year and may change per edition)
• Organisation: Foundation for Future Generations (Fondation pour les Générations Futures / Stichting voor Toekomstige Generaties), supported by the Albert Vanhee Fund
• Programme: Prototyping the Future (since 2019). This article covers all calls: Prototyping Sustainable Solutions and Prototyping Low Carbon Solutions
• Type: prototyping grant
• Amount: up to €5,000 per project, depending on your prototyping plan
• Next edition: launch 21 January 2027, apply by 22 February 2027 before midnight (source, consulted 16/10/2026). The 2026 calls are closed.
• Application language: Dutch or French (not English). The source pages are in Dutch/French.

What is it?

Prototyping the Future is the prototyping grant of the Foundation for Future Generations. It supports student entrepreneurs and recent graduates developing a product, technique or service with a positive social or environmental impact, who are in the prototyping phase: after the concept (the "pretotype"), when you build a model or experimental version to test and validate whether it works.

You get:

• a prototyping grant of up to €5,000
• feedback from an independent jury
• visibility through a communication campaign and events (including the Future Generations Summit)
• access to a network of impact-driven organisations, economic and financial players

In 2026 the calls had different names: Prototyping Sustainable Solutions (incubated, broad social impact) and Prototyping Low Carbon Solutions (focused on reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, incubated and non-incubated). For 2027 the Foundation announces two calls: an incubated and a pre-incubated track. The source does not yet say whether the names "Sustainable" and "Low Carbon" remain.

Who is it for?

• Students and recent graduates who started their entrepreneurial project during their studies. In 2026 this was possible up to 2.5 years after graduating (or if at least part of the team falls within that period).
• Projects around a product, technique or technology. A service only qualifies if it is based on a product, technique or technology.
• "Innovative" does not have to mean entirely new: improving an existing solution, e.g. to make it more sustainable, also counts.
• You can apply solo, but you always need support:
  • Incubated track: support from a (partner) student incubator. The incubators do the preselection.
  • Pre-incubated track (called "non-incubated" in 2026): support from a lecturer at your higher education institution.

How to use it (practical)

1. From 21 January 2027: read the call and the rules on the edition page.
2. By mid-February 2027: check your eligibility and secure support from your incubator or a lecturer. The Foundation organises FAQ sessions in Dutch and French.
3. Write your prototyping plan: the amount you receive depends on it. You must be able to show how you will spend the grant.
4. Submit your application before 22 February 2027, midnight. Incomplete applications are not considered.
5. March 2027: jury selection. April 2027: announcement, with an event in Brussels on 29 April 2027.

What should you watch out for?

• Paid in two tranches (2026 rules): 75% after the first payment request, 25% after the second, each with the planned expenses and co-signed by your incubator or coach.
• Pre-/non-incubated: to receive the second tranche, your project must join an incubation programme or other support structure within 12 months. The higher education institution of the supporting lecturer can also receive up to €1,500 to promote entrepreneurship (not the lecturer personally).
• No English: the application must be in Dutch or French. At least one team member must speak one of the two.
• Laureates of a previous edition cannot apply again with the same project.
• The 2027 conditions are in the joint rules of the two calls, published at launch. Check them: the rules above come from the 2026 edition.
• For reference, 2026 edition (closed): launch 22 January 2026, deadline 24 February 2026 before midnight (the non-incubated rules mentioned 10 March 2026), announcement in April 2026.

Contact

• prototyping@futuregenerations.be
• Incubated track: Célia Verstrepen, +32 498 54 16 09
• Pre-incubated track: Caroline Reff, +32 498 54 16 12

Related articles

• SE’nSE project call (Foundation for Future Generations)

Link

https://www.futuregenerations.be/nl/acties/prototypen/prototyping-sustainable-solutions