Innovation Subsidies in the Netherlands 2026: The Complete Overview
Manna Team
The Netherlands offers a broad range of schemes to stimulate innovation — from tax benefits to credits and European subsidies. This overview lists the most important innovation subsidies for 2026 and shows how to combine them smartly. The foundation for most innovative companies is the WBSO; for that, read our complete guide to applying for WBSO.
1. WBSO — tax benefit on R&D wage costs
The WBSO is the largest and most accessible innovation scheme. It lowers your wage costs for research and development via a payroll-tax reduction (or a deduction for sole traders). For most companies this is the starting point.
2. Innovation box — lower corporate tax on innovation profit
The innovation box reduces corporate tax on profit from innovation to 9%. An S&O declaration from the WBSO is usually the entry ticket. Where the WBSO helps during development, the innovation box helps once your innovation generates profit.
3. MIT scheme — innovation for SMEs
The MIT scheme (SME innovation stimulation for Regions and Top Sectors) supports innovative SMEs, among other things via feasibility projects and R&D collaboration projects within the top sectors and regions. It is separate from the WBSO and can often be combined.
4. Eurostars — international R&D collaboration
Eurostars provides funding for international, market-oriented R&D projects by innovative SMEs collaborating with partners from other countries. Attractive if your innovation has a cross-border character.
5. Innovation Credit — financing for high-risk development
The Innovation Credit is an RVO loan for developing promising new products, processes or services. Unlike the WBSO, it is repayable financing rather than a tax benefit.
6. SIB — international business
The SIB subsidy (Support International Business) helps SMEs expand abroad: a contribution towards a local expert (Market Entry) or towards participating in an international trade fair (Trade Fair Participation), both up to €2,500.
7. SLIM — learning and development in SMEs
The SLIM subsidy stimulates investing in staff development: 60% subsidy up to €24,999 for a company scan, career advice or implementing a learning method.
8. Thematic and European schemes
There are also schemes targeting specific sectors or themes, such as energy, agriculture and quantum:
- MOOI: subsidy for nuclear-energy innovation
- EIP: digitalization & robotization in agriculture
- SME Hightech Call
- NL-UK TechBridge: quantum
- Quantum Forward Challenge
How do you combine these schemes?
The power is in stacking: the WBSO during development, the innovation box at profit, and additional subsidies (MIT, Eurostars) for specific projects. Mind the conditions, though — the same costs usually cannot be subsidised twice. Read here how to combine and stack subsidies smartly.
Manna automatically maps which schemes fit your company and projects, so you don't miss opportunities.
This overview is informational. See RVO.nl for the current conditions per scheme.
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