Wallonia is reorganizing its strategic innovation clusters and ecosystems

The Walloon Parliament has adopted and the Walloon Government has sanctioned a decree of October 1, 2026, which overhauls the Region’s entire clustering policy. Published in the Belgian Official Gazette on October 26, 2026, under reference C − 2026/007794 (pp. 57502 to 57513), the text structures the recognition, missions, and subsidization of strategic innovation clusters and strategic innovation ecosystems. It was adopted based on the documents of the Walloon Parliament 657 (2025-2026), nos 1 to 4, and the full report of the plenary session of September 30, 2026.

One single cluster per strategic innovation domain

The decree is structured around the notion of a strategic innovation domain (SID), a thematic industrial, research, and innovation priority defined by the regional research, innovation, and industry strategy. For each SID, the Government recognizes a single cluster for seven renewable years, in the form of a non-profit association with an establishment unit in the Walloon Region.

• A call for applications covering all SIDs must be organized no later than six months after the decree enters into force.
• Targeted calls are planned in the event of withdrawal, cessation of activities, refusal of recognition, or the creation of a new SID.
• The administrative body must consist of a majority of representatives from companies within the relevant SID.
• The Government appoints a representative and their substitute, as well as two representatives from Government services, without voting rights.

Governance overseen by a steering committee

The text establishes a steering committee attached to the governance of the regional strategy. It provides a reasoned and non-binding opinion on applications, renewals, suspensions and withdrawals, extensions of support, and the recognition of ecosystems.

• A representative of the Government services, who ensures the secretariat.
• A representative of the Walloon Agency for Foreign Trade and Investment.
• A representative of the Digital Agency.
• A representative of Wallonie Entreprendre.
• A representative of AKT for Wallonia.
• A representative of the UCM.
• Two independent experts, one academic and one industrial.

Subsidies, de minimis, and sanctions

Funding is based on a four-year grant, subject to the conclusion of a contract of objectives, which may be extended once for three years following an intermediate evaluation. Disbursement is staggered and may be partially conditional upon the achievement of indicators. Aid must comply with European rules and may be governed either by the de minimis regulation (EU) 2023/2831 or by the general block exemption regulation (EU) 651/2014.

Chapter 9 provides for administrative fines of 200 to 2,000 euros for late or incomplete reports and from 800 to 8,000 euros in the event of double funding. Chapter 10 governs personal data under the GDPR (EU) 2016/679 regime, using the national register number as the identifier and transmissions to the Digital Agency and the Walloon Institute for Evaluation, Foresight and Statistics.

Repeal and Deferred Entry into Force

The decree repeals the decree of January 18, 2007, relating to the support and development of clusters, last amended by the decree of December 19, 2025. Clusters recognized and renewed before January 1, 2026, retain the benefit of their recognition and funding until the end of their four-year term, without accumulation with the new regime. A policy evaluation will be conducted every seven years starting from January 1, 2027, in partnership with the Economic, Social and Environmental Council of Wallonia, and its conclusions will be transmitted to the Walloon Parliament.

The decree enters into force no later than July 1, 2027, although the Government may set an earlier date. For Walloon operators, the transitional period therefore begins upon publication: existing structures must comply with the new governance requirements before submitting their application, and budgets must be reconstructed on a four-year basis backed by an evaluable contract of objectives.

Source: Belgian Official Gazette, October 26, 2026, C − 2026/007794, p. 57502-57513; Walloon Parl. Doc. 657 (2025-2026).