The ICON project type

Interdisciplinary Cooperative Research, or ICON, is a project type for joint interdisciplinary research between research organisations and companies, each contributing from its own perspective and role.

A key feature is that strategic basic research by research organisations and industrial research by companies are carried out simultaneously and in synergy. This helps avoid the innovation paradox: the gap between what research institutions investigate and what companies can use.

Potential benefits of this model include:

• Better alignment of research by research organisations with industrially relevant business needs
• Active involvement of companies in the research from the outset
• Faster IP transfer between both parties
• Creating broader added value for the entire ecosystem.

The ICON project type is used in the context of thematic policy initiatives, strategic research centres and spearhead clusters.

Thematic policy initiatives

These thematic policy initiatives, translated into Flemish policy plans, are divided into three complementary and mutually reinforcing components:

1. A research component in the form of a research programme aimed at strengthening excellent strategic basic research in Flanders.
2. An implementation component aimed at implementing the research in Flemish businesses.
3. An accompanying policy component consisting of policy-level support measures needed to enable the desired changes.

The respective research programmes and their contact persons are the first point of contact for substantive alignment, guidance and project development:

• VAIOP-ICON: the Flemish AI Research Programme, linked to AI-driven solutions in organisations and production processes.
• VCSOP-ICON: the Cybersecurity Research Programme, linked to training, advice and support for strong digital security.
• VISD-ICON: the Flemish Innovation and Industry Strategy for Security and Defence.

In addition to the policy plans, Flanders also has thematic programmes that use the ICON instrument. Here too, the respective programmes and their contact persons are the first point of contact for substantive alignment, guidance and project development:

• MateriNex-ICON: the sustainable materials research programme.
• Hydrogen-ICON: the programme for sustainable hydrogen projects.

Strategic research centres

The ICON instrument is used in the context of strategic research centres (SOC-ICON). The strategic research centres are the first point of contact.

• For imec, through the imec.icon research programme.
• For Flanders Make, through its open calls for collaborative research.

Spearhead clusters

The ICON instrument is used by the different spearhead clusters (SPC-ICON): Catalisti, Flux50, VIL, Flanders' FOOD, De Blauwe Cluster, BioVia and ENT.A. The spearhead clusters are always the first point of contact.

Legal framework

The following decisions form the legal framework for the ICON project type (only in Dutch):

1. For the business part: Decree of the Flemish Government regulating support to consortia of companies for research and development, embedded in a broader partnership with research organisations
2. For the research part: Decree of the Flemish Government establishing a funding channel for strategic basic research in Flanders