AGENCE BRUXELLOISE POUR L'ENTREPRENEURIAT*BRUSSELS AGENTSCHAP VOOR HET ONDERNEMERSCHAP

Their core work

HUB.BRUSSELS is the Brussels regional agency for business support and entrepreneurship, operating as Belgium's key National Contact Point (NCP) for multiple Horizon 2020 programme areas including energy, security, ICT, and transport. They help SMEs access EU innovation funding through training, brokerage events, and internationalization services delivered via the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN). Their core function is bridging the gap between EU research programmes and the Brussels business ecosystem, ensuring local companies and researchers can navigate and benefit from European funding instruments.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early H2020 period (2014–2017), HUB.BRUSSELS focused heavily on building NCP infrastructure — training, communication, capacity building, and best practices sharing across multiple thematic networks. From 2018 onward, the emphasis shifted noticeably toward innovation management capacity, SME competitiveness, and impact-driven services, reflecting a move from general programme support toward more targeted business outcomes. The latest projects signal preparation for Horizon Europe, with attention to the Enhanced EIC Pilot and cross-programme bridging.

HUB.BRUSSELS is evolving from a general NCP support role toward hands-on SME innovation management and Horizon Europe readiness, making them increasingly relevant for partners seeking practical business acceleration rather than just programme information.

How they like to work

HUB.BRUSSELS coordinates its own recurring BENE I2 series (5 projects as coordinator) while joining large pan-European NCP networks as a participant. With 92 unique consortium partners across 45 countries, they function as a well-connected hub rather than a loyal-partner organization — each project brings a different constellation. This makes them an excellent entry point for anyone needing access to a broad European innovation support network.

With 92 unique partners across 45 countries, HUB.BRUSSELS has one of the broadest NCP networks in Europe, spanning nearly every EU member state and several associated countries. Their network is thematically diverse, covering energy, security, health, ICT, environment, food, and transport support structures.

What sets them apart

HUB.BRUSSELS stands out as a multi-thematic NCP hub — while most NCP organizations specialize in one or two programme areas, they operate across at least seven Horizon 2020 societal challenges and industrial leadership themes simultaneously. Their Brussels location gives them proximity to EU institutions and a natural role as a coordination point. For consortium builders, they offer both institutional credibility as a public agency and practical reach into SME communities across Belgium and Europe via the Enterprise Europe Network.

Highlights from their portfolio

• HNN 2.0
  Largest single EC contribution (EUR 212,008) and longest-running project (2014-2019), professionalizing health NCP services across Europe.
• BENE I2 2020-2021
  Final iteration of their flagship coordinated series, explicitly addressing the EIC Pilot and Horizon Europe transition — shows strategic positioning for the next programme cycle.
• NCPs CaRE
  Six-year project (2015-2021) on climate and environment NCPs with EUR 173,971, their second-largest funding and longest commitment as participant.