This is an English summary of a Dutch government scheme. Official communication, forms, and decisions are in Dutch — the full Dutch page is the source of record.
MIT (MKB Innovatiestimulering Topsectoren) funds collaboration projects between 2 or more SMEs working on innovative solutions within one of the Netherlands' 9 top sectors — from energy to horticulture, from high-tech to creative industries.
Amounts
| Category | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Small R&D project (3–9 months) | €50,000 – €100,000 | Max 35% funding per partner |
| Large R&D project (6–18 months) | €100,000 – €350,000 | Max 35% funding per partner |
| Feasibility projects | €5,000 – €40,000 | Max 40% funding |
| Knowledge voucher (advice from a knowledge institution) | Up to €3,750 | — |
Conditions
- At least 2 SMEs collaborate (no parent/subsidiary relationship)
- The project fits within one of the 9 top sectors
- The innovation is new to the Netherlands (technologically or to the market)
- Partners share risks and results
- A project plan with budget, planning and milestones is required
Application process
1
1. Form a consortium
Find at least 1 SME partner. A knowledge institution may also participate (max 50% of budget).
2
2. Choose a top sector
Check which top sector (HTSM, Energy, Agri&Food, etc.) fits the project.
3
3. Draft the project plan
Objective, work packages, deliverables, milestones, budget split per partner.
4
4. File the application
Via mijn.rvo.nl during the opening window (May–June, first-come-first-served).
5
5. Assessment
Assessed on innovativeness, consortium quality, and economic impact (max 13 weeks).
6
6. Execution + progress reports
Half-yearly progress reports. Final report with auditor's statement required for projects > €125,000.
⚠️ Common mistakes
- Applying too late — the MIT budget was exhausted within 1 day in both 2024 and 2025
- Partners have a parent/subsidiary relationship → automatic rejection
- Project doesn't clearly align with the chosen top sector
- Budget split too uneven between partners (guideline: 40–60%)
- No clear market-innovation value proposition — technical innovation alone isn't enough
Deadlines & opening dates
MIT 2026 is expected to open in May 2026. Joining RVO's waitlist notification service is strongly recommended — the scheme often closes within 1–2 days of opening.
FAQ
Who can apply for MIT R&D?
SMEs (< 250 FTE, < €50M revenue) in a collaboration. Sole traders can join as one of the partners but can't apply alone.
What are the 9 top sectors?
Agri&Food, Horticulture & Propagation Materials, Water & Maritime, Life Sciences & Health, High Tech Systems & Materials (HTSM), Energy, Creative Industries, Logistics, Chemicals.
What's the maximum number of partners?
No formal maximum, but 2–4 partners is typical in practice. More partners makes project management harder and the assessment panel more critical.
Can a knowledge institution be the lead applicant?
No. The lead applicant must always be an SME. Knowledge institutions can be a partner (max 50% of the budget).
Check your MIT R&D application in seconds
Our AI pre-audit checks your application against every MIT R&D condition, flags missing documents, and suggests fixes — no account needed to start.
Start free scan →Related schemes
Detail pages below are in Dutch.
Innovatie
WBSO
De WBSO is dé fiscale stimuleringsregeling voor speur- en ontwikkelingswerk (S&O). U vermindert de loonkosten …
Innovatie
Innovatiekrediet
Het Innovatiekrediet financiert technisch risicovolle ontwikkelprojecten of klinische studies door innovatieve…
Internationalisering
Eurostars
Eurostars is een Europees programma dat innovatieve R&D-projecten tussen MKB-bedrijven uit minimaal 2 Eureka-l…