MIT Scheme 2026: Innovation Subsidy for Dutch SMEs

The MIT scheme (Mkb-innovatiestimulering Regio en Topsectoren — SME innovation stimulation for Regions and Top Sectors) is one of the best-known innovation subsidies for Dutch SMEs. It stimulates innovation at small and medium-sized companies, across regional boundaries. This article explains the instruments, who the MIT is for, and how it relates to the WBSO. For a broader picture of all schemes, see our overview of innovation subsidies.

What is the MIT scheme?

The MIT supports innovation projects by SMEs within the national missions and top sectors. Its goal: more innovation at smaller companies, and better collaboration between SMEs and knowledge institutions. The scheme is administered partly nationally (via RVO) and partly regionally.

The main MIT instruments

The MIT has several instruments. The two most used are:

R&D collaboration projects

Subsidy for SMEs to set up an R&D collaboration project with other companies for the development or renewal of products, production processes or services. This is the heaviest instrument, aimed at genuine collaboration.

R&D collaboration projects AI

A variant aimed specifically at projects that contribute to the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The setup is comparable to the regular R&D collaboration instrument.

Other instruments

There are also instruments such as knowledge vouchers (a voucher to have an innovation question answered by a knowledge institution, up to a maximum of 70% of the bill) and TKI instruments. Some of these are now closed or offered only regionally — feasibility projects are also applied for regionally nowadays, such as the MIT North Holland Feasibility Project.

Note: the opening windows and deadlines of the MIT instruments vary by year and region. Always check the current MIT page on RVO and the Loketwijzer for the correct dates and the correct desk.

Who is the MIT for?

The MIT targets SMEs that innovate within the top sectors. Whether you qualify depends on the instrument, your region and the fit with the missions and top sectors.

MIT and WBSO: what's the difference?

The MIT and the WBSO are different schemes that you can often use alongside each other:

	MIT	WBSO
Form	Subsidy (payment)	Tax benefit (tax reduction)
Focus	Collaboration & specific projects	Your own R&D wage costs
Who	SMEs within top sectors	Almost any R&D company

For most companies the WBSO is the foundation; the MIT is additional for specific (collaboration) projects. Note that you usually cannot subsidise the same costs twice.

Get started

Manna automatically maps which schemes — WBSO, MIT and others — fit your projects.

This article is informational. See RVO.nl/mit for the current conditions, instruments and deadlines.

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