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.
SLIM encourages Dutch SMEs to build a learning-oriented workplace. The scheme reimburses advice, training, and investments in HR systems aimed at the continuous development of staff.
Amounts
| Category | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Individual SME | €1,000 – €25,000 | 60% funded, 40% own contribution |
| Collaboration (≥ 2 SMEs) | up to €500,000 | 60% funded |
| Large company (collaboration only) | up to €200,000 | 50% funded |
Conditions
- The company qualifies as an SME (< 250 FTE, < €50M revenue)
- The project targets learning and development — not onboarding or standard courses
- Duration: max 12 months individually, 24 months for collaborations
- Activities are additional to regular business operations
- 40% (individual) or 40–50% (collaboration) co-financing by the applicant
Application process
1
1. Project plan + budget
Describe the objective, target employees, activities, hour estimates and cost items.
2
2. Apply within the window
SLIM has 2 windows per year (March and September). Oversubscription is resolved by lottery.
3
3. Decision
RVO decides within 12–18 weeks. Approved applicants receive a 50% advance.
4
4. Execution + progress
Interim progress reports for longer projects. Collect photos, participant lists, and proof of delivery.
5
5. Final settlement
Due within 22 weeks of project end. Independent auditor's statement required for grants > €125,000.
⚠️ Common mistakes
- Project resembles standard HR onboarding → rejected as 'regular business operations'
- Ignoring the lottery: filing on the last day doesn't improve your odds, it lowers them
- Missing WG-vermelding on the auditor's statement → formal rejection
- Co-financing not evidenced with invoices + bank statements
- Target group too broad, without concrete learning goals per employee
Deadlines & opening dates
2026 window 1: 4 March – 28 March. Window 2: 1 September – 30 September. Oversubscription triggers a lottery. Filing on day one gives NO priority.
FAQ
Which costs are eligible?
External advisory costs, training/courses, learning-system software, internal project-lead hours (flat rate €50/hour), and travel costs to training.
Can I combine SLIM with WBSO?
To an extent. WBSO covers R&D hours, SLIM covers learning hours. The same hours can't be claimed twice. WBSO for R&D engineers + SLIM for sales training is fine.
What are the odds of success?
When oversubscribed and a lottery applies: roughly 60% for individual projects and 40% for collaborations in 2024. A strong project description matters most if you're not drawn and reapply next window.
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