Are you looking for a unique opportunity to internationalise your project in the design sector?
Wallonie-Bruxelles Design Mode is calling on designers, studios and/or design companies to apply for 15 personalised coaching grants.
Submit your application before 18 October 2026.
15 grants
In 2027, WBI, through the WBDM agency, is offering up to 15 grants for personalised support from a professional expert. This support is aimed at designers and design companies who wish to seek advice on (re)defining their international strategy.
This assistance takes the form of a grant of up to €4,000 to cover the consultant’s fees.
Who is it for?
To take part, applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- be a designer / studio / design company (object, space, furniture, product, etc.) – (for fashion, see our Fashion Programme);
- have a registered office, subsidiary or branch in Wallonia or Brussels.
and meet the following pre-selection criteria:
- have marketed products or services on a local market;
- have an international development project.
The selected companies will contribute to the international profile of Belgian design.
What coaching missions?
These grants are intended to serve as a springboard for designers to review and/or implement a strategy for international development and visibility through, for example:
- International visibility and promotion: coaching sessions may include advice on preparing for international industry events, understanding trends and maximising visibility.
- International networking: help for prospecting for contacts and potential partners.
- Adapting products to the international market: grants can support designers in adapting their creations to the specific requirements and tastes of international markets. This could include advice on design, material quality, product size and other relevant aspects to meet the expectations of the target markets.
- Support for international communication: advising on best practices in intercultural communication, optimising content for international SEO, adapting branding for different audiences, and developing a public relations strategy to secure coverage in international media.
Selection criteria
Selected applications must stand out for their originality and professionalism and demonstrate the potential required to breakthrough on the international stage.
Applications will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria:
- the clarity and relevance of the international development project;
- motivation and the ability to make full use of the coaching;
- consistency between positioning, the offering, needs and the support sought;
- the quality and professionalism of the projects and tools presented.
Particular attention will be paid to efforts made or planned in the area of sustainable development, although this is not a selection criterion.
Selection committee
Two days of meetings between the WBDM team and the pre-selected designers will be organised to select the winners.
Important dates:
- 18 October 2026: closing date for applications
- 5 & 6 November 2026: selection committee
- Mid December 2026: announcement of winners and start of coaching sessions
- 30 November 2027: end of coaching sessions and administrative procedures