FR Fiscal Radar

NL · grant · Updated 2026-04-23

MIT Haalbaarheid — the Dutch feasibility grant

A €20k cash grant for SMEs to study whether an innovation project is viable. First-come, first-served — the window matters more than the paperwork.

Amount
€20,000 (40% of up to €50,000 project costs)

What it is

MIT Haalbaarheid is the Dutch SME innovation scheme’s smallest, most accessible instrument. It funds a feasibility study — the phase where you figure out whether an innovation project is technically and commercially viable, before committing to build.

It’s cash, not a tax credit. It lands in your bank account after a simple approval.

Who qualifies

  • SMEs registered in the Netherlands (fewer than 250 employees, turnover under €50M or balance sheet under €43M).
  • The project must address one of the top sectors (High Tech, Life Sciences, Agri-food, Energy, etc.) — most deep-tech fits.
  • The study must be genuinely exploratory — not a dressed-up implementation project.

What you get

  • 40% of eligible costs, capped at €20,000.
  • Eligible costs: internal hours, external consultants, materials for prototyping.
  • Approval or rejection typically within 4–6 weeks of submission.

How the process works

  1. Pre-notification — regional implementing agencies publish the opening window each year, usually April.
  2. Submit on day one — this is first-come, first-served. Budget runs out fast, often within days.
  3. Execute the study — document methodology, findings, and next steps.
  4. Final report — submit within 12 months, get the final instalment.

The competition is for the queue position, not the quality of the proposal. A decent proposal submitted at 9:01 beats a perfect one submitted at 11:00.

Common traps

  • Missing the open window because it wasn’t on anyone’s calendar.
  • Submitting a project that looks like development, not feasibility.
  • Double-counting hours already claimed under WBSO.

Worth combining

  • WBSO covers the technical R&D hours. MIT Haalbaarheid covers everything else (desk research, market validation, consultants).
  • If the feasibility study is positive, MIT R&D-samenwerkingsproject is the next step — joint projects with higher ceilings.

Official sources

Indicative information only. This is not legal or tax advice. Always verify with RVO or your regional implementing agency.