FDT Health impact grant* - Belgium

Fueling the next generation of health-tech innovators

*When your company succeeds and reaches agreed triggers, you repay so we can fund the next entrepreneur.

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50.000 € for your innovative project

The FDT Health Impact Grant* is a national grant, financed by the Financière de Tubize (FdT) and operated by Pulse Foundation.

It provides a 50.000 € recoverable grant (‘pay-it-forward award’) to run a real-world pilot improving access to healthcare in Belgium. In addition to funding, the selected projects benefit from the networks of Pulse Foundation and Financière de Tubize to turn their emerging innovations into high-impact solutions that improve access to healthcare.

Open to projects with a validated proof-of-concept or newly incorporated spin-offs, this rolling program bridges the gap between lab innovations and real-world application, and giving researchers and entrepreneurs the financial  and network resources they need to scale sustainably.

Access-to-Healthcare covers interventions that

  • improve affordability and financing of care
  • overcome geographic or cultural barriers (including through digital health tools and literacy)
  • strengthen patient empowerment in prevention, self-management and care decisions, and
  • simplify regulatory, reimbursement and system-navigation pathways for patients and providers

Sustainable innovation circle

Belgium has strong talent and bold ideas, but too few projects reach real-world pilots. The Award fills this gap by mobilizing private resources in service of the public good and providing capital, network and impact measurement at a national level.

What makes it unique is its pay-it-forward logic: by repaying when ventures succeed, funds are recycled to support future innovators, creating a sustainable cycle that continuously expands access to healthcare.

Applicants should:

Be legally established in Belgium (or commit to incorporation before receiving the first funding tranche)
Address access to healthcare through an innovation with a credible evidence base
  • Innovations can be products, services, platforms or business models
  • Evidence may include research data or pilot results
Be ready to start or complete a real-world pilot within 6–9 months‍‍
  • A “pilot” is defined as a time-bound test with end-users and/or healthcare partners, with milestones and a basic data plan
Have a team with relevant academic and/or industry experience
  • At least two members with relevant expertise (academic, clinical, or industry)
  • Clear ambition to build a venture, not just a project
  • Willingness to engage with partners, adapt to feedback 
Not operate in sanctioned jurisdictions
    Applications are open

    We accelerate your launch

    Up to 50.000 € Recoverable Grant (‘Pay-it-Forward ’)

    Up to three projects may receive funding in this edition. Repayment is only required when the venture succeeds, helping support future innovators.

    Visibility & National Communication

    Showcase your project and connect with investors, co-founders, and experts.

    Tailored Support

    Customized help based on your project’s needs and access our network.

    Pay-it-forward award

    FdT grant
    You
    Milestone
    Repay
    Next team

    About Financière de Tubize and Pulse Foundation

    • Financière de Tubize (FdT)

      A long-term biopharma investor now deploying part of its resources to support innovations that improve access to healthcare.

    • Pulse Foundation

      An independent foundation whose mission is to remove obstacles to entrepreneurship by building a national ecosystem that connects entrepreneurs, investors, institutions, and academics.

    Together, they bring complementary strengths: FdT finances the Grant, while Pulse operates it.

    Here is the countdown.
    Applications process takes ~30 minutes. You’ll need: company number, VAT, short description of pilot, team CVs.
    Applications are open
    Interested? Fill the form

    Next steps

    Stay tuned !
    October - November 2026

    Call open

    Submit your project details and required documents to start the evaluation and selection process.

    December 2026

    Jury

    Present your solution, answer questions, and demonstrate feasibility to the selection committee.

    January 2027

    Winners announced

    Up to three projects may be selected for this edition. Selected teams will receive confirmation, funding details, and instructions for signing the grant agreement.

    2027

    Kick-off

    Selected teams receive confirmation, funding details, and instructions for grant agreement signing.

    FAQ

    Is it a loan?

    No, it's a recoverable grant.
    See "pay-it-forward" question.

    Do I need to be part of an incubator?

    Not mandatory. We can match you.

    How do repayments work?

    Only when you have capacity (revenue, EBITDA, fundraising…).

    What does pay-it-forward mean?

    You reimburse the 50k if and when you reach specific KPIs or maturity level.