Feasibility study

Definition

A feasibility study maps the technical and economic feasibility of a planned innovation before a company invests at scale in development. You investigate, for example, whether an idea is technically achievable, what the risks are, and whether there is a viable business case behind it. A feasibility study forms the core of a MIT feasibility project, a regionally or nationally administered part of the MIT scheme. The MIT North Holland Feasibility Project 2026, for instance, consists mainly of a feasibility study, requiring at least 60% of the eligible costs to go to the study itself and at most 40% to limited additional industrial research or experimental development. Under that scheme, the province reimburses 35% of the eligible costs, with a maximum subsidy of €20,000 and a minimum subsidy of €5,000; the decision period is 16 weeks after receipt of the application. A feasibility study is attractive because it lets you test, at relatively limited risk, whether an idea is worth pursuing before moving to a larger, more expensive development track — often financed via the WBSO or another instrument within the MIT scheme. Note: the amounts, percentages and conditions of feasibility projects vary by region and year, so always check the current conditions of the administering province or RVO.

Frequently asked questions

What does a feasibility study investigate?

A feasibility study investigates whether a planned innovation is technically achievable and economically viable, before you invest at scale in developing it.

How much subsidy do you get for a feasibility study?

That varies by scheme and region; the MIT North Holland Feasibility Project 2026, for example, reimbursed 35% of eligible costs, with a minimum of €5,000 and a maximum of €20,000.

Can a feasibility project include research or development alongside the study itself?

Yes, under the MIT North Holland Feasibility Project, limited industrial research or experimental development can be included alongside the feasibility study (at least 60% of costs), up to a maximum of 40% of costs.