Subsidy ceiling

Definition

The subsidy ceiling is the maximum amount that a funding body — RVO, a province, or another authority — makes available for a specific scheme or opening. Once the total of the applications granted reaches this amount, the body rejects all further applications, even if they otherwise meet every condition. For schemes handled in order of receipt (first-come-first-served), it therefore pays to apply as early as possible; if several applications arrive on the same day, a lottery often decides the order. The MIT North Holland Feasibility Project 2026, for example, had a subsidy ceiling of €2,570,400 for the entire opening from 7 April to 15 September 2026, allocated in order of receipt. Not every scheme works this way: the WBSO does have an annual total budget set by the government (€1,817 million for 2026), but this budget feeds into the scheme's rates rather than causing individual applications to be rejected once a ceiling is exceeded. Knowing a scheme's subsidy ceiling helps you estimate how likely your application is to be honoured and how quickly you need to act. The subsidy ceiling is closely tied to the application period and the way applications are assessed — in order of receipt versus on quality in a tender system.

Frequently asked questions

What happens once a subsidy ceiling is reached?

Once the subsidy ceiling is reached, the funding body rejects any new applications, even if they otherwise meet the conditions; for first-come-first-served schemes, applying quickly is therefore important.

Does the WBSO also have a subsidy ceiling?

The WBSO has an annual total budget set by the government, but this feeds into the scheme's rates rather than causing applications to be rejected once a ceiling is reached.

What decides the order when multiple applications arrive at once under a subsidy ceiling?

For schemes handled in order of receipt, a lottery typically decides the order between applications received on the same day, as with the MIT North Holland Feasibility Project.