Conditions Cybersecurity Innovation Fund
To be eligible for the Cybersecurity Innovation Fund (CIF-NL), you will need to meet the separate conditions for SMEs, large enterprises or research organisations in addition to the general conditions. The tables on this page list the aid frameworks, subsidy rates, conditions and requirements for the subsidy application applicable to each type of organisation.
General conditions
You must at least meet the following conditions:
- As the lead applicant, you must be an business or a research organisation that is established in the Netherlands.
- Any co-applicants must be established in the European Union, but please note that only Dutch parties can be granted subsidies.
- The activities are different for businesses and research organisations:
- Research organisations can apply for subsidies for non-economic research activities which fall within the categories of fundamental research, industrial research, experimental development or a feasibility study. These activities should be carried out with a view to increasing knowledge and understanding;
- Businesses can apply for subsidies for projects which fall within the categories of industrial research, experimental development, a feasibility study or process and organisational innovation.
The activities in the project are comparable to research and development at the research and development stages (Technology Readiness Levels) 1 to 6.
- The project must have a lead time of up to 6 months.
- A condition for taking advantage of the facilities offered by the de minimis regulation (link to Dutch website) is that you do not operate in the following sectors:
- Fishery and aquaculture;
- Primary production of agricultural products;
- Processing and marketing of agricultural products.
- Also, the activities may not be directly linked to:
- The quantities exported to other European Union Member States or third countries;
- The establishment and operation of a distribution network linked to the export; or
- Other current expenditure directly linked to the export activity.
Conditions and maximum subsidy rates for SMEs
| Which aid framework/article? | Which type of project? | Subsidy rate | Mandatory information required for application | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| De minimis |
Industrial research;Experimental development;Feasibility study; orProcess and organisational innovation |
100% | Mandatory attachment to application: de minimis declaration | See below* |
| GBER 25** | Industrial research | 60% | Information about the size of your business | You incur and pay your own expenditure |
| GBER 25** | Experimental development | 35% | Information about the size of your business | You incur and pay your own expenditure |
| GBER 25** | Feasibility study | 60% | Information about the size of your business | You incur and pay your own expenditure |
| GBER 29** | Process and organisational innovation | 50% | Information about the size of your business | No specific additional conditions other than the general conditions |
Conditions and maximum subsidy rates for large enterprises
| Which aid framework/article? | Which type of project? | Subsidy rate | Mandatory information required for application | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| De minimis | Industrial research;Experimental development;Feasibility study; orProcess and organisational innovation | 100% | Must be attached to your application: de minimis declaration | See below* |
| GBER 25** | Industrial research | 50% | Not applicable | No specific additional conditions other than the general conditions |
| GBER 25** | Experimental development | 25% | Not applicable | No specific additional conditions other than the general conditions |
| GBER 25** | Feasibility study | 50% | Not applicable | No specific additional conditions other than the general conditions |
| GBER 29** | Process and organisational innovation | 15% | Not applicable | The large enterprise carries out project activities in effective collaboration with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which together bear at least 30% of the total eligible costs |
Conditions and maximum subsidy rate for research organisations
| Which aid framework/article? | Which type of project? | Subsidy rate | Mandatory information required for application | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not applicable |
Fundamental research; Industrial research; Experimental development; or Feasibility study |
100% | In case of collaborative venture: a cooperation agreement |
This concerns exclusively non-economic activities that are also recorded as such in the organisation’s accounts;
In the case of a cooperation agreement, please send with your application a cooperation agreement setting out the additional obligations. |
* In the sectors 1. fishery and aquaculture, 2. primary production of agricultural products; or 3. processing and marketing of agricultural products, activities are not permitted where they are directly linked to:
a. the quantities exported to other European Union Member States or third countries;
b. the establishment and operation of a distribution network linked to the export; or
c. other current expenditure directly linked to the export activity.
** Glossary of terms used in the conditions and CIF-NL subsidy rates
Below, you will find the glossary of terms used in the conditions and CIF-NL subsidy rates.
The General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) is a regulation of the European Union which exempts certain categories of State aid from the obligation to obtain prior approval from the European Commission. State aid refers to financial assistance or subsidies that are provided to companies by national governments. The purpose of the GBER is to reduce the administrative burden for certain types of State aid and make it easier for Member States to grant such aid.
The GBER sets out specific conditions and criteria that aid measures must meet to be eligible for this exemption. These conditions are intended to ensure that the aid does not distort competition in the EU single market and is in keeping with the EU's wider objectives. Companies wishing to receive State aid or Member States wishing to grant State aid must adhere to the rules and guidelines of the GBER to ensure that the aid complies with EU law.
Economic activities in the light of subsidies refer to business or commercial activities aimed at the production, distribution or trading of goods or services within an economic system. These activities are carried out with the aim of generating profit or adding economic value. Economic activities within this scheme are only eligible where they fall within the categories of industrial research, experimental development, a feasibility study or process and organisational innovation (only businesses are eligible for these activities).
Non-economic research activities which fall within the categories of fundamental research, industrial research, experimental development or a feasibility study (carried out by a research organisation with a view to increasing knowledge and understanding) only apply to research organisations.
Pursuant to the regular de minimis regulation, governments can grant aid to businesses up to an amount of €200,000 over a period of three fiscal years without this constituting State aid. The de minimis regulation applies in principle to aid granted to businesses in all sectors. Several sectors are excluded:
- the fishery and aquaculture sector;
- the primary agricultural production sector;
- the marketing of agricultural products, in the following cases:
- when the amount of the aid is fixed on the basis of the price or quantity of such products purchased from primary producers;
- where aid is conditional on being partly or entirely passed on to primary producers;
- aid to export-related activities towards third countries or Member States;
- aid contingent upon the use of domestic over imported goods.
Experimental or theoretical work undertaken primarily to acquire new knowledge of the underlying foundations of phenomena and observable facts, without any direct commercial application or use in view.
Industrial research is undertaken aimed at the acquisition of new knowledge and skills for developing a new product, process or service or for bringing about a significant improvement in existing products, processes or services. It comprises the creation of component parts of complex systems, and may include the construction of prototypes in a laboratory environment or in an environment with simulated interfaces to existing systems as well as of pilot lines, when necessary for the industrial research and notably for generic technology validation. Routine or periodic changes made to existing products, production lines, manufacturing processes, services and other operations in progress are not considered as industrial research, even if those changes are improvements.
Is closer to the market: you acquire, combine, shape and use existing scientific, technological, business and other relevant knowledge and skills with the aim of developing a new or improved product, process or service. This may also include, for example, activities aiming at the conceptual definition, planning and documentation of new products, processes or services.
Experimental development may also comprise prototyping, demonstrating, piloting, testing and validation of new or improved products, processes or services in environments representative of real life operating conditions where the primary objective is to make further technical improvements on products, processes or services that are not already substantially set. Routine or periodic changes made to existing products, production lines, manufacturing processes, services and other operations in progress are not considered as experimental development, even if those changes are improvements.
You evaluate and analyse the potential of a project, aimed at supporting the process of decision-making. You do this by objectively and rationally uncovering a project's strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats. You also identify the resources required to carry the project through and ultimately its prospects for success.
The implementation of a new organisational method at the level of a business, in an business' workplace organisation or external relations, for example through the use of new or innovative digital technologies. Excluded from this definition are changes that are based on organisational methods already in use in the business, changes in management strategy, mergers and acquisitions, ceasing to use a process, simple capital replacement or extension, changes resulting purely from changes in factor prices, customisation, localisation, regular, seasonal and other cyclical changes and trading of new or significantly improved products.
The implementation of a new or significantly improved production or delivery method, including significant changes in techniques, equipment or software, at the level of the business, for example through the use of new or innovative digital technologies or solutions. Excluded from this definition are minor changes or improvements, increases in production or service capabilities through the addition of manufacturing or logistical systems which are very similar to those already in use, ceasing to use a process, simple capital replacement or extension, changes resulting purely from changes in factor prices, customisation, localisation, regular, seasonal and other cyclical changes and trading of new or significantly improved products.
- Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy
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