Unlock top young talent to drive your international growth
The Prince Albert Fund connects Belgian companies with exceptional young professionals for one-year international projects outside Europe. A cost-effective way to accelerate your global development.
Belgian talent, for Belgian companies
The Prince Albert Fund offers Belgian companies – from startups to SMEs and large organizations – a unique opportunity to strengthen their international presence. For one year, you can rely on a highly educated, carefully selected young professional who will manage a business development project abroad at an attractive cost.
Each year, the Fund selects outstanding candidates with strong entrepreneurial spirit and international drive. Once selected, they choose their company, project, and destination. Your project should be a real strategic challenge, such as:
Exploring and analyzing new markets before launching products
Opening a foreign subsidiary
Optimizing international supply chains
Sharing and promoting best practices across subsidiaries
PAF participants are not trainees – they are high potentials. They work best when given responsibility, autonomy, and room to make decisions that truly impact your business.
By co-developing the project with the candidate, you get a dedicated project manager for 12 months – enough time to deliver results and assess whether they could be a long-term fit for your company.
For each project, you should appoint an internal “coach” who guides and supports the candidate throughout the assignment, acting as their main contact point in your organization.
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How does it work?
A 12-month business development assignment outside Europe, led by a carefully selected young professional.
Your company covers housing, flights, visa and mission-related expenses for the candidate.
The company pays a contribution to the fund of €18,000 for an SME, €26,000 for large a company.
The Prince Albert Fund provides candidates with a tax-free grant of €27,500, leadership training, support from a mentor within the alumni network, and health insurance.
“Angélique went above and beyond in her work for Equine Care Group. Since the PAF project ended, we have engaged Angélique permanently to continue the work she started. We are grateful to have found such a strong collaborator to help build ECG’s future.”
Equine Care Group (partner company PAF)
Any company that fulfills the following criteria can submit a project:
Belgian Companies
- Belgian company or demonstrate clear Belgian relevance.
- Employment in Belgium is a key factor.
International Expansion
- Strategic priority: expansion outside Europe.
12-Month Strategic Assignment
- Challenging business development or strategic management project.
- Clear goals and measurable outcomes.
Support for Candidate
- Cover fees and related expenses to the PAF candidate.
- Provide coaching and enabling conditions.
Administrative Requirements
- Secure work permits/visas for the assignment abroad.
- Provide additional insurance (including civil liability insurance, local rental risk insurance, and any other relevant protections).
If you would like to propose a project to our candidates, you should send us a brief description of your company and a clear description of the project you have in mind. We will check whether that corresponds to our criteria and get back to you to discuss it.
Once your project is approved, we share it with the candidates, who will contact you directly if they are interested. We also organize a speed-dating afternoon at FEB-VBO, where companies can meet candidates and present their projects.
For each project, you should appoint a “coach” within your organization. This person, as the main contact for the participant, will supervise and support them throughout the project.
Candidates are free to choose the project they prefer, so we cannot guarantee that a candidate will accept your offer. Keep in mind that projects must start within a specific time frame—typically within a window of approximately nine months, between summer and January.
We also advise checking visa requirements for the countries involved. Regulations can change frequently, and obtaining a visa in some countries can be a long and complex process that should be started well in advance.
Step-by-Step Guide for Companies
1.
Submit a project: Send us a short company profile and project description. We’ll check if it meets the criteria.
2.
Project approval: Once approved, your project is shared with candidates. They’ll reach out if they’re interested.
3.
Meet the candidates: Join our speed-dating afternoon at FEB-VBO to present your project and connect directly.
4.
Assign a coach: Every company appoints an internal coach to guide and support the candidate throughout the year.
5.
Candidate choice: Candidates are free to choose their project. Note that acceptance is not guaranteed.
6.
Start date: Projects must begin within a set timeframe (roughly between summer and the following January).
FAQ
What is the cost to my company?
Companies launching a project with a Prince Albert Fund candidate pay a contribution to the administrative costs of the King Baudouin Foundation. The cost is €18,000 for SMEs and €26,000 for large companies. In addition, the company takes charge of the housing, Visa and transportation costs of the candidate(s). In case the Company would like to hire the candidate after his/her mission, a success fee of €5,000 (SME) or €9,000 (large company) is asked by the Fund.
What is the contractual basis for taking on board one of the selected candidates?
A contract will be established between your company and the King Baudouin Foundation, which itself will have a contract with the selected candidate. You have no obligation to offer a contract after the one-year project.
What about insurance?
The Prince Albert Fund has an “Expat&Co” insurance policy for the candidates, providing coverage for all possible accidents abroad. The company is required to insure the candidate for work-related activities.
How much responsibility should I give a candidate selected by the Prince Albert Fund?
The extent of responsibility you entrust the candidate with is completely up to you and your organization. The selection process focuses on the candidates’ maturity and their enthusiasm for conducting a project abroad. This should guarantee that your candidate is a professional, eager and capable of taking up a challenge.
How certain can I be that a candidate will be interested in the project we are presenting?
There is no certainty, on either side. If several candidates are interested by the project proposed by your company, you might have to choose one. On the contrary, if you are not convinced by a candidate, you have no obligation to take him or her on board. In the case where none of the candidates is interested by the project you propose, you might want to change the content of the project to make it more attractive.