Apply for UPF

Preparing your application

Have you formed a partnership? If so, follow these steps to prepare your quick scan and subsidy application.

Step 1: Check the criteria in the regulation

UPF4 has different criteria from previous rounds. Verify that your partnership and project meet the criteria for UPF4. You can find a brief set of criteria on the UPF subsidy page. The full regulation is available in the official Government Gazette publication (in Dutch).

Step 2: Mandatory quick scan

Before applying, you must submit the mandatory quick scan. You can submit a quick scan from 23 October 2026 at 10:00 CEST until 3 December 2026 at 17:00 CET. We will review your quick scan and send you non-binding advice within 4 weeks. Once you have received our advice, you can apply for funding within the application period. If you apply, include the reference number from our advice.

Step 3: How to apply

To apply for this application round, you need at least eHerkenning level 2+. If you do not have this yet, apply for eHerkenning first. This process may take some time. With eHerkenning, you can submit your application online.

Step 4: Checklist for your application

Prepare the following information and documents before you apply:

• the reference number from our quick scan advice;
• signed partner forms for each partner;
• the Dutch Chamber of Commerce registration number;
• bank details of the lead applicant;
• the project name;
• all required documents and annexes;
• evidence that the lead partner has at least 3 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees;
• the completed RBC self-assessment.

Step 5: Required documents

Complete and submit the required documents in English with your subsidy application. Include all the necessary signatures, including those of your partners.

Would you like an intermediary to apply on your behalf? Complete the authorisation form for intermediaries.

We only process complete applications in English on a first-come, first-served basis, in the order received. If your application is not complete, we will notify you. If your application is incomplete, we may ask you for missing information. We cannot guarantee you will be able to add documents later, especially close to the deadline. We may reject an incomplete application. Submit your complete application by 8 April 2027 at 17:00 Central European Summer Time (CEST).

Explanation of the documents

Annex I Project proposal: Explain the activities, intended results, local needs, main risks and how the partners will work together.

Annex II Project budget calculation and realisation tool: This Excel file covers the (minimum) 10% personal contribution, broken down by partner. The budget form must include a separate page on the liquidity forecast per partner, per quarter. 

Annex III Cooperation agreement: All partners must sign an agreement describing their cooperation, roles and obligations under the subsidy.

The UPF4 rules also require a separate signed partner form for each partner. These forms are required along with the signed cooperation agreement.

Annual accounts: The lead partner must provide annual accounts for the 2 years before the year of submission, in Dutch or English. Provide audited accounts. If audited accounts are unavailable for either year, you may submit unaudited accounts. See our Q&A for more information.

If a partner contributes €25,000 or more from its own resources, that partner must also provide annual accounts for the last 2 years. If audited accounts are unavailable, you may submit unaudited accounts. We do not provide a template for annual accounts.

Annex V Authorisation intermediary form: If an intermediary submits the application on behalf of the lead partner, use this form.

Application downloads

We will publish the UPF4 application forms and documents below as soon as they become available.

After your application

We aim to let you know within 13 weeks after receiving your complete application whether you will receive a subsidy. We will send you our decision and our assessment.

Do you have questions about your approved project? Please email us at upf@rvo.nl.

• View your application

Project management UPF1, UPF2, UPF3 and UPF4

Below are the project management pages for UPF1, UPF2, UPF3 and UPF4. Each page contains documents and templates to help you manage your project. Use the documents for the funding round under which you received your subsidy.