Innovation Credit

The subsidy will reopen in 2025. As soon as the opening date is known, you will find it on this page.

Credit percentage

The credit percentage varies from one application to another. It depends on the size of your company and whether you carry out the project in a possible partnership. In most cases, the Innovation Credit finances a maximum of 45% of the project. The rest of the funding must come from your resources.

Conditions

The Netherlands Enterprise Agency does not approve every application for Innovation Credit. Your project has to meet certain criteria. For example, you can only apply for Innovation Credit for one specific development programme. You have to demonstrate that, within this development programme, there is a systematic reduction of the technical or clinical risks. You will also substantiate your own share of the funding with signed term sheets or contracts, including a buffer for setbacks and delays.

Read more about the conditions for Innovation Credit

Quick Scan

With the Quick Scan, you submit your plan or project idea to us and receive no-obligation advice. You are, therefore, not bound by any further obligations. After filling in the form, a financing adviser will contact you within 2 working days. You will then discuss your project and the possible next steps.

• Do the Quick Scan

After your application

Following your application, we always plan an intake with you and one of our advisers. Next, we and an external advisory committee will assess your application. Has your application process been successful? Then you need to inform us of your progress during the project period. You can still adjust your plans during this period. Or you may submit an application for an additional amount in the event of setbacks or delays. At the end of project we will jointly determine the subsidy amount and a repayment schedule. In the event that your project is not successful, we may be able to temporarily or fully suspend repayments of the approved credit amount.

Read more about the process following your application

Would you like to know more?

General

• Contact us for more information on the Innovation Credit Scheme. 
• Read more about how The Netherlands Enterprise Agency can support you in business.

Laws and regulation

• The Framework Decision on national EZ grants. This decision contains information on most standard procedures. Such as those for payment of advances, reporting and notification of deviations in a project for which a grant has been awarded.
• Chapter 3 title 9 of the National EZ Grants Regulation. This chapter is part of the Framework Decision. It states to whom and for which activities grants are awarded.
• Subsidy game rules (in Dutch). The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate's subsidy game rules apply to this scheme. These subsidy game rules cover, for example, eligible costs and obligations of a subsidy recipient.

The applicable legal texts for the Innovation Credit can be found on overheid.nl. All the pages above are in Dutch. 

Intellectual property

It is wise to think carefully about intellectual property within your business strategy at an early stage. A smart strategy supports your business and adds value. With intellectual property rights (such as a patent) or alternatives (such as secrecy), you prevent others from making off with your innovation. Moreover, a protected product gives extra negotiating room if you are looking for partners or investors. Read more about patent and other intellectual property rights.