EU Grants for the Netherlands: Complete Funding Guide for Dutch Organizations [2026]

The Netherlands punches well above its weight in EU funding. With fewer than 18 million inhabitants, it consistently ranks among the top five EU countries by Horizon Europe grant income and hosts four of the top ten health-research organisations funded across the entire programme. This guide covers every programme available to Dutch companies, universities, and research institutes in 2026, from Brussels to The Hague.

€1.1B+

EU research funding received per year

Top 5

Horizon Europe ranking by grant income

€422M

Health cluster funding 2021-2023

Dutch Top Sectors with dedicated support

Netherlands in Horizon Europe: By the Numbers

According to CBS (Statistics Netherlands), the Netherlands received over 2.9 billion euros from the European Commission in 2022, with 38% directed to research and innovation. This makes Horizon Europe the single largest EU funding channel for Dutch organisations by value.

In 2023, the Netherlands overtook Italy in total Horizon Europe grant income, according to Science|Business analysis. Dutch participants are particularly strong in the Health, Agri-Food, and High-Tech clusters, where the country hosts world-class universities, institutes, and corporate R&D labs.

The European Commission country profile for the Netherlands shows that Dutch participants coordinate a disproportionately high share of projects relative to participation count, indicating strong scientific leadership. Four Dutch organisations appear in the top ten for health research funding across the programme.

Metric	Netherlands	Context
EU research funding received (2022)	€1.1B+	38% of total EU receipts
Health cluster funding (2021-2023)	€422M	200 organisations funded
Horizon Europe ranking (2023)	Top 4	Overtook Italy in grant income
Horizon Europe success rate	Above EU avg	Northern countries outperform average
Project coordination rate	High	Disproportionate vs participation share

National Support Infrastructure

Two institutions form the backbone of EU funding support for Dutch organisations: RVO and NWO. Understanding both is essential before submitting any application.

RVO and Team IRIS: Your First Contact Point

RVO (Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland), the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, is the central body for business and innovation support in the Netherlands. Within RVO, Team IRIS (International Research and Innovation Cooperation) serves as the National Contact Point (NCP) network for Horizon Europe.

Team IRIS advisors provide:

Free proposal review and feedback before submission
Partner-finding support via Enterprise Europe Network
Financial and legal guidance on grant agreement rules
Free online workshops on Horizon Europe calls and work programmes
One-to-one consultations on consortium building and project design

Contact Team IRIS directly at teamiris@rvo.nl for general enquiries, or use the topic-specific advisor directory at english.rvo.nl/topics/horizon-europe/advisors to find the NCP responsible for your specific Horizon Europe cluster.

RVO Covers More Than Horizon Europe

RVO also manages the MIT programme for SMEs, Innovatiekrediet loans, and several national innovation schemes aligned with the Dutch Top Sectors. A single conversation with an RVO advisor often surfaces multiple overlapping instruments that can be stacked. Always start there before approaching Brussels directly.

NWO: Dutch Research Council

NWO (Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek) is the primary funder of fundamental and applied research at Dutch universities and knowledge institutes. Its role in the EU context is threefold:

ERC support: NWO institutes operate dedicated support desks for European Research Council (ERC) Starting, Consolidator, and Advanced grant applications, including mock interviews.
Co-funding national programmes: NWO runs NWA (National Research Agenda) and other calls that complement Horizon Europe Pillar I (Excellent Science) funding.
MSCA support: NWO advises on Marie Curie Actions fellowships and co-funds incoming researcher programmes.

Dutch universities such as TU Delft, Wageningen University, Utrecht University, and the Amsterdam Medical Center regularly appear among the top Horizon Europe-funded organisations in Europe, largely due to the institutional support structures NWO helps sustain.

Key EU Programmes for Dutch Organisations

Horizon Europe

Horizon Europe is the flagship EU research and innovation programme with a total budget of €93.5 billion for 2021-2027. For Dutch organisations, the most relevant clusters are:

Cluster	Dutch Strengths	2021-2027 Budget
Cluster 1: Health	AMC, Radboudumc, NKI, Erasmus MC	€8.2B
Cluster 4: Digital, Industry & Space	ASML, Philips, TNO, high-tech systems	€15.3B
Cluster 5: Climate, Energy & Mobility	Water tech, port logistics, energy transition	€15.1B
Cluster 6: Food, Bioeconomy & Agriculture	Wageningen UR, agrifood sector, horticulture	€10.1B
ERC (Excellent Science)	Strong NL researcher pool, NWO coaching	€16.0B
EIC (Innovative Europe)	Dutch deeptech and healthtech startups	€10.1B

Under Horizon Europe, SMEs can participate as consortium members or coordinators. For collaborative Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), SMEs typically receive 100% cost coverage. For Innovation Actions (IA), the standard rate is 70% for for-profit entities, though SMEs often benefit from higher rates through specific call conditions.

Quick Tip

Dutch organisations benefit from one of the strongest NCP networks in Europe. Before spending time on a proposal, book a 30-minute call with the relevant Team IRIS NCP. They can tell you within minutes whether your idea fits the current work programme and which calls are most likely to open in the next six months.

EIC Accelerator and EIC Pathfinder

The European Innovation Council runs two instruments particularly relevant for Dutch innovators:

EIC Accelerator: Up to €2.5 million in grant funding plus up to €10 million equity from the EIC Fund, targeting TRL 6-8 startups and SMEs. Six cut-off dates in 2026. Dutch companies apply through the standard EU Funding and Tenders Portal; RVO can review drafts before submission.
EIC Pathfinder: Up to €4 million for breakthrough research at TRL 1-4. Particularly relevant for university spinouts and deep-tech companies emerging from NWO-funded research.

Read the full EIC Accelerator vs Pathfinder vs Eurostars comparison to understand which instrument fits your stage.

Eurostars

Eurostars, managed by the EUREKA Network and co-funded by Horizon Europe, is the primary EU programme for R&D-intensive SMEs doing cross-border collaboration. Dutch companies are eligible and frequently participate. Key 2026 deadlines:

Call 10: Deadline 19 March 2026 at 14:00 CET
Call 11: Deadline 10 September 2026 at 14:00 CET

Eurostars requires at least two independent entities from two different participating countries, with a Dutch SME (fewer than 500 employees, more than 10% R&D spend) as one partner. Awards typically range from €300,000 to €500,000 per partner.

LIFE Programme

LIFE is the EU funding instrument for environment, climate action, and clean energy transition. With the Netherlands' world-leading water management expertise and a strong cleantech sector, Dutch organisations are natural LIFE applicants. Standard projects receive up to 60% EU co-funding; strategic nature projects up to 75%. Programme budget 2021-2027: €5.4 billion.

Dutch National Innovation Programmes

National programmes complement EU grants, often with faster turnaround, lower administrative burden, and higher success rates. Most can be stacked with EU instruments subject to state aid limits.

Programme	Type	Benefit	Who
WBSO 2026	R&D tax credit	36-50% on R&D wages	All companies with R&D employees
Innovation Box	Tax regime	9% effective corp tax	IP/innovation profits
MIT Feasibility Study	Grant	Up to €20,000	SMEs in Top Sectors
MIT R&D Collaboration	Grant	Up to €350,000	SME consortia, Top Sectors
Innovatiekrediet	Risk loan	35-45% of project costs	High-risk tech development

WBSO: The R&D Tax Credit

WBSO (Wet Bevordering Speur- en Ontwikkelingswerk) is the most widely used innovation subsidy in the Netherlands, accessed by over 20,000 companies annually. It reduces payroll tax and employer national insurance contributions on wages spent on qualifying R&D activities.

For 2026, the key rates according to business.gov.nl are:

Starters (first three years): 50% credit on the first €380,000 of qualifying R&D labour costs
Established companies: 36% credit on the first €380,000, then 16% above that threshold
2026 total budget: €1,582 million (up €192 million from 2025)

WBSO is a rolling application scheme: you apply per calendar year in advance, quarterly or by 1 December for the full following year. Applications are submitted through RVO.

WBSO and EU Grants: Can You Stack Them?

WBSO operates as a tax reduction on labour costs and is generally compatible with EU grants, which fund project expenditures. The key rule is that the same cost cannot be funded twice (no double financing). In practice, WBSO covers your in-house R&D staff costs while an EU grant covers project-specific costs, making them stackable. Confirm the interaction with your RVO advisor before combining with any specific EU scheme.

MIT: SME Innovation Stimulation for Top Sectors

MIT (Mkb-innovatiestimulering Regio en Topsectoren) is a direct grant programme for Dutch SMEs innovating within the government-designated Top Sectors. The programme runs annually and has two main tracks:

Feasibility study: Up to €20,000 grant (50% of project costs) to assess the technical and economic feasibility of a new product, process, or service.
R&D collaboration project: Up to €350,000 for collaborative R&D between at least two independent Dutch SMEs. Minimum 50% of budget must be spent on R&D.

Eligible Top Sectors include Life Sciences and Health, Agri and Food, High Tech Systems and Materials, Energy, Water and Maritime, and others. Applications are submitted through RVO with dedicated calls per sector.

Innovatiekrediet: Risk-Bearing Innovation Loan

Innovatiekrediet is a government-backed loan for high-risk technology development projects that cannot access sufficient private financing due to their R&D risk profile. Unlike a grant, it must be repaid only if the project is commercially successful. Key terms:

Small SMEs: Up to 45% of eligible project costs
Medium SMEs: Up to 35% of eligible costs
Large companies: Up to 25% of eligible costs
Maximum loan amounts typically range from €250,000 to €5 million depending on project scope and classification

Innovatiekrediet is well-suited for Dutch healthtech, agrifood, and high-tech hardware companies developing prototypes or pre-commercial systems that are too risky for standard bank finance but too applied for pure R&D grants.

Dutch Top Sectors: Where EU Money Flows

The Dutch Top Sector policy aligns national funding with EU priorities, creating a coherent innovation ecosystem that strengthens Horizon Europe competitiveness. Here is where Dutch participants consistently win EU grants:

Life Sciences and Health

The largest single area of Dutch Horizon Europe success. Hubs at Amsterdam (AMC), Nijmegen (Radboudumc), and Rotterdam (Erasmus MC) are among Europe's top health research recipients. The Netherlands received €422 million in the Horizon Europe Health cluster between 2021 and 2023.

Key programmes: Horizon Cluster 1, Innovative Health Initiative (IHI), EU4Health

High Tech Systems and Materials

Home to ASML (world's only EUV lithography supplier), NXP Semiconductors, and a dense ecosystem of precision engineering and photonics companies. Dutch partners are prominent in Horizon Europe Cluster 4 (Digital, Industry and Space) calls.

Key programmes: Horizon Cluster 4, KDT (Key Digital Technologies), EuroHPC

Agri, Food and Horticulture

Wageningen University and Research is consistently one of the top-funded organisations in Horizon Europe Cluster 6 (Food, Bioeconomy, Agriculture). The Netherlands is the second-largest agricultural exporter globally, and Dutch precision farming and greenhouse technology companies compete for Horizon Cluster 6 and EIC Accelerator agrifood calls.

Key programmes: Horizon Cluster 6, Partnership on AgriFood, PRIMA

Water, Maritime and Logistics

Deltares, Deltares, and the Port of Rotterdam anchor Dutch participation in Horizon Europe water and climate calls. The Netherlands leads globally in flood management, water treatment, and delta technology, with organisations winning across LIFE Programme and Horizon Cluster 5 (Climate, Energy, Mobility).

Key programmes: Horizon Cluster 5, LIFE Programme, Mission Ocean

Eligibility: Who Can Apply from the Netherlands

Dutch organisations are eligible for all EU funding programmes open to EU member states. The Netherlands is not a Widening country (those are primarily Central and Eastern European states), which means Dutch applicants compete on standard terms without bonus instruments.

Companies of any size registered in the Netherlands (BV, NV, VoF, etc.)

Universities, university medical centres, and research institutes (KNAW, TNO, Deltares, etc.)

Public bodies, municipalities, and government agencies

NGOs, foundations, and industry associations (Vereniging, Stichting)

SMEs qualifying under EU definition: fewer than 250 employees, turnover up to €50M

Companies in financial difficulty or under Dutch insolvency proceedings

Activities already receiving equivalent EU co-funding (double financing prohibited)

How to Apply: Step-by-Step for Dutch Organisations

Register on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal

Every applicant needs a PIC (Participant Identification Code). Register your organisation at ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal. This is mandatory for any Horizon Europe, EIC, ERC, or LIFE application.

Contact Team IRIS at RVO

Before writing a word, contact the NCP for your specific Horizon Europe cluster at teamiris@rvo.nl. They provide free strategic advice, can tell you whether your project fits an open call, and will review your draft proposal.

Identify and engage consortium partners

Most Horizon Europe collaborative calls require at least three independent entities from three different EU countries. Use the Funding and Tenders Portal partner search, CORDIS, and Enterprise Europe Network (also managed by RVO) to find partners. For Eurostars, two partners from two countries suffice.

Apply for WBSO in parallel

If your project involves in-house R&D staff, submit a WBSO application to RVO for the relevant period. You can apply up to 1 December for the full following calendar year, or quarterly for shorter periods. This does not interfere with EU grant applications.

Prepare your proposal

Horizon Europe proposals are evaluated on Excellence, Impact, and Implementation. Dutch organisations consistently score well on Excellence and Implementation. Invest proportional effort in the Impact section: market analysis, dissemination plan, and exploitation pathway.

Submit and await evaluation

Submit through the Funding and Tenders Portal before the call deadline. Evaluation typically takes 3-5 months for collaborative grants. If unsuccessful, request the evaluator comments (Evaluation Summary Report) and use them to improve the next submission.

Combining EU and Dutch National Funding

Dutch organisations frequently stack instruments. The most common combinations:

EU Instrument	Dutch Complement	Notes
Horizon Europe RIA/IA	WBSO	WBSO covers in-house labour; separate cost categories
Eurostars	MIT R&D Collaboration	Check state aid ceilings; combined aid must not exceed eligible costs
EIC Accelerator	WBSO + Innovation Box	EIC grant covers project costs; WBSO and Innovation Box apply to tax treatment
Horizon Europe (any)	Innovatiekrediet	Innovatiekrediet covers phases not eligible under EU grant; confirm with RVO

Quick Tip

The Innovation Box tax regime (9% effective corporate tax rate on IP-derived profits) is particularly powerful for Dutch companies that hold patents or other qualifying IP arising from R&D activities co-funded by EU grants. The profits from exploiting that IP are taxed at roughly half the standard Dutch corporate tax rate of 25.8%. Apply via your tax advisor once the IP asset is in use.

Common Challenges for Dutch Applicants

Despite strong performance metrics, Dutch organisations face recurring issues in EU grant applications:

Consortium imbalance: Dutch universities and research institutes are attractive consortium leaders, which means they are often asked to join without adequate budget for their contribution. Set minimum budget thresholds before agreeing to join a consortium.
Impact section underwritten: Dutch academic culture tends to invest heavily in scientific excellence sections but underperform on commercial impact. For Horizon Europe Innovation Actions and EIC applications, allocate at least 40% of writing effort to the Impact section.
Late consortium formation: Finding partners 2-3 months before a deadline leads to weak proposals. Start consortium building 6-9 months before the call closes, particularly for large-scale collaborative projects.
Overhead underestimation: Horizon Europe allows a flat 25% overhead rate. Ensure full-time equivalents are calculated correctly and that all eligible indirect costs are claimed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which EU grants are available to Dutch companies in 2026?

Dutch companies can access EU-level programmes including Horizon Europe (collaborative R&D, up to 100% cost coverage for SMEs in some schemes), EIC Accelerator (up to €2.5M grant + €10M equity), Eurostars (€300K-€500K per partner for cross-border R&D), and LIFE Programme (environment and climate). National programmes like WBSO, MIT, and Innovatiekrediet complement these EU instruments.

What is RVO and how does it help Dutch organizations with EU grants?

RVO (Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency) is the primary national support body for EU funding in the Netherlands. Its Team IRIS serves as the National Contact Point (NCP) for Horizon Europe and provides free advisory services including proposal review, partner finding, financial and legal guidance, and free online workshops on programme strategy.

What is the WBSO and can it be combined with EU grants?

WBSO (Wet Bevordering Speur- en Ontwikkelingswerk) is a Dutch R&D tax credit that reduces wage tax and employer contributions on R&D labour costs. In 2026, startups receive a 50% credit on the first €380,000 of qualifying R&D wages; established companies receive 36%. WBSO can generally be combined with EU grants because it covers labour costs via tax relief rather than direct project expenditure, though the interaction with specific schemes should be confirmed with RVO.

What is the MIT programme for Dutch SMEs?

MIT (Mkb-innovatiestimulering Regio en Topsectoren) stimulates innovation among SMEs within Dutch Top Sectors such as Life Sciences and Health, Agri and Food, High Tech Systems, Energy, and Water and Maritime. It offers feasibility studies (up to €20,000), R&D collaboration projects (up to €350,000), and knowledge vouchers. Applications are managed through RVO and the programme operates annually with regional and national tracks.

What are the Dutch Top Sectors and why do they matter for EU funding?

The Netherlands government has designated nine Top Sectors representing strategic economic priorities: Agri and Food, Chemistry, Creative Industries, Energy, High Tech Systems and Materials, Life Sciences and Health, Logistics, Horticulture, and Water and Maritime. These sectors receive coordinated support through national programmes (MIT, Innovatiekrediet) and have active Public-Private Partnerships that strengthen consortium formation for Horizon Europe bids. Dutch organizations in these sectors benefit from well-developed partner networks and dedicated NCP support.

How does the Netherlands perform in Horizon Europe compared to other EU countries?

The Netherlands consistently ranks among the top five countries in Horizon Europe by funding received. Dutch participants collected over €422 million in the Health cluster alone across 2021-2023, with four of the top 10 health-funded organisations being Dutch. In 2023, the Netherlands overtook Italy in total Horizon Europe grant income. Success rates for Dutch organisations are above the EU average, particularly in collaborative research and ERC grants, driven by strong universities, research institutes, and the NCP network.

What role does NWO play in EU funding for the Netherlands?

NWO (Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, the Dutch Research Council) funds fundamental and applied research and supports Dutch researchers in accessing European Research Council (ERC) grants. NWO funds national co-financing programmes that complement Horizon Europe and provides coaching for ERC applicants. Dutch universities and research institutes applying for ERC Starting, Consolidator, and Advanced grants regularly work with NWO support offices to strengthen proposals.

Can Dutch startups and scale-ups apply for EU grants?

Yes. Dutch startups are eligible for EIC Accelerator (up to €2.5M grant plus equity), Eurostars (cross-border R&D up to €500K per partner), EIC Pathfinder (deep research, up to €4M), and Horizon Europe SME Instrument cascade funding (€50K-€200K). Nationally, WBSO starter rates (50% credit), MIT feasibility grants, and Innovatiekrediet loans (up to 45% for small SMEs) are the primary entry points. The Innovation Box tax regime also reduces effective corporate tax to 9% on IP-derived profits.

Find EU Grants Matching Your Dutch Project

Browsing 1,000+ annual EU calls across Horizon Europe, EIC, LIFE, and Digital Europe is time-intensive. GrantsFinder uses AI to match your project description against live EU funding opportunities in under two minutes, surfacing the most relevant open calls ranked by relevance to your specific work.

Used by Dutch SMEs, universities, and research institutes to identify Horizon Europe calls before competitor consortia form.

Find EU Grants Now (Free)EU Grants Beginner Guide

Key Resources for Dutch Organisations

RVO Horizon Europe overview (english.rvo.nl) - NCP contact details, call calendar, and advisor directory
WBSO programme page (business.gov.nl) - Application guide, eligibility checker, and submission portal
NWO (nwo.nl) - ERC coaching, NWA calls, and Marie Curie support for researchers
European Commission Netherlands country profile - Monthly updated statistics on Dutch Horizon Europe participation
EU Funding and Tenders Portal - Official portal for registering your organisation and submitting applications

Conclusion

The Netherlands has built a high-performance EU grant ecosystem over three decades of framework programme participation. The combination of world-class research institutes, an active NCP network through Team IRIS at RVO, a favourable national tax environment (WBSO, Innovation Box), and direct grant programmes (MIT, Innovatiekrediet) means Dutch organisations are among the best-positioned in Europe to access EU funding.

The practical steps are straightforward: register on the Funding and Tenders Portal, contact Team IRIS early, and apply for WBSO in parallel. The challenge is identifying the right call among hundreds of open options before consortium spots fill up.

Use GrantsFinder to search live EU calls matched to your project, or read our country-by-country startup funding guide if you are a Dutch startup comparing national and EU instruments.