Who can apply
A legal entity from any country can apply, alone or in a consortium. The project is in the European Union (EU), Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein. A Dutch private limited company (BV) of a group from abroad can therefore apply for a project in the Netherlands.
An example from 2025 is the project Phantom in the port of Rotterdam, led by a Spanish company.
The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) is the Dutch contact point. RVO advises companies and arranges a letter of support from the Dutch ministry. The European Commission assesses the applications.
What you receive
A grant is up to 60% of the relevant costs. These are the extra costs of the new technology, under the calculation method of the fund. The fund pays up to 40% of the grant on agreed milestones, before the project is fully in operation.
In the auctions, the support is a fixed premium. For hydrogen, it is a premium per kilogram of hydrogen for up to 10 years. For heat, it is a premium per tonne of CO2 avoided.
The European Investment Bank offers free project development assistance to promising projects that need more work.
The rounds of December 2026
| Round | Which projects | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Net-zero technologies, large scale | Investment above €100 million | December 2026 to April 2027 |
| Net-zero technologies, small and medium scale | Investment from €2.5 million to €100 million | December 2026 to April 2027 |
| Clean-tech manufacturing and critical raw materials | Investment above €2.5 million | December 2026 to April 2027 |
| Pilots | Investment above €2.5 million | December 2026 to April 2027 |
| Small and medium-sized companies | €200 million for investments from €2.5 million to €20 million | From December 2026, with deadlines at the end of March and the end of September 2027 |
| Maritime | Projects for shipping | From December 2026 |
| Auction for industrial heat | €1 billion | From December 2026 |
| Auction for hydrogen | Up to €500 million, from 5 megawatts, with a ceiling of €4 per kilogram | From December 2026 |
The Commission publishes the exact dates and budgets when the rounds start. A shipping project belongs in the maritime round, unless it is a pilot.
What the grant is worth per project
| Project | Relevant costs | Grant |
|---|---|---|
| Small project | €10 million | Up to €6 million (60%) |
| Large project | €100 million | Up to €60 million (60%) |
In the 2025 round, a project received a little over €44 million on average.
How the Commission assesses the applications
External experts assess the applications for the European Commission on five points.
- the greenhouse gas emissions avoided;
- the degree of innovation;
- the maturity of the project, such as the technology, the financing and the execution;
- whether the technology can be used elsewhere;
- the cost per tonne of emissions avoided.
In the 2025 round, 358 applications asked for €17.5 billion in total. About one in five applications received a grant.
How we arrange the application
Our team arranges the full application. A specialist from our network writes the technical parts with your engineers. You decide at every step, and the European Commission decides on the grant.
| Work | Who does it |
|---|---|
| The choice of the right round and the test against the five points | The specialist from our network and our team |
| The technical description, the calculation of the emissions avoided and the relevant costs | The specialist, with your engineers |
| The financial model, the financing plan and the company documents | Our team, with your figures |
| The Dutch company of a group from abroad, with its registrations | Our team |
| The contact with RVO for advice and the letter of support from the Dutch ministry | Our team |
| After the grant, the reports on the milestones | Our team, with your project team |
Our fee consists of a feasibility check at a fixed price, a fixed amount for the application file and a percentage of the grant awarded, all agreed in advance. You see each amount in your proposal before you decide.
- Our team has a look first. You describe the project, the technology, the investment and the timetable.
- Feasibility check. With the specialist, we choose the round and estimate the score on the five points.
- Proposal. You receive the scope of the work and the fee before you decide.
- Application. The specialist writes the technical parts, our team prepares the financial part, and we submit before the deadline.
- After the grant. We prepare the reports on the milestones.
Projects in the Netherlands in the 2025 round
Eight of the 77 projects in the 2025 round are in the Netherlands.
- Large scale. EFR of eFuels Rotterdam, in the port of Rotterdam.
- Medium scale. ACE of ChainCraft, OASIS in Waalwijk, Phantom in the port of Rotterdam and PLASTIC of PTC Amsterdam.
- Small scale. SCRAP of Myne Circular Metals, ECOSTRUCT PANELS of RC Panels and RETRO-EMT of Holland Maas Scheepvaart.
Our overview also explains the hydrogen auctions, the SDE++ and the Dutch tax credit for research and development. See subsidies for energy and industry projects in the Netherlands.
Other schemes our team arranges
- Energy and industry subsidies in the Netherlands. The overview, with the EU Innovation Fund, the European Hydrogen Bank, SDE++ and WBSO.
- Renewable energy and carbon reduction (SDE++). A subsidy per unit of renewable energy or avoided CO2, for 12 or 15 years.
- Industrial climate projects (NIKI). At least €30 million to scale up a proven technology in industry.
- Climate investments in industry (VEKI). Up to €30 million for proven technology that cuts CO2.
- Research for the energy transition (MOOI). Up to €4 million for research by at least three companies.
- Innovation Credit. A government credit for technical and clinical development.
- Hydrogen and methanol ships. Up to €4 million per ship for a hydrogen or methanol energy line.
- Hydrogen in mobility (SWIM). For hydrogen refuelling stations together with transport companies.
For companies in the Netherlands, the overview in Dutch is subsidie aanvragen voor je bedrijf.
Sources
- European Commission, Innovation Fund calls for proposals (read on 1 November 2026)
- European Commission, IF26 Net-Zero Technologies Call
- CINEA, Innovation Fund calls for regular grants
- European Commission, €3.4 billion for 77 net-zero projects (19 October 2026)
- European Commission, list of the projects selected in 2025
- Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), Innovation Fund
Last reviewed on 1 November 2026.
Your company in the Netherlands
One package for the full setup. You sign a power of attorney in your own country. The notary in the Netherlands does the rest. You receive a proposal with the price for your situation before you decide.
Swipe to see all four options →
Your Dutch BV
- The notary deed, signed for you with a power of attorney
- Registration at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KVK)
- The identity check the law requires
- Registration of the owners in the register of ultimate owners (UBO register)
- Your tax number and VAT number
- The list of documents from your country, and how to legalise them (apostille)
- Advice on the setup for low tax from the start: one company or a holding, your first financial year and your salary
- Personal support during the setup and the start of your company
Holding and operating company
Set up for growth of your company and your wealth.
- Two companies, set up together, with everything from the BV package for both
- You can pay profit to your holding tax-free (participation exemption)
- In your holding, you keep your profit apart from the risks of daily business, and you can invest it
- If you sell your operating company later, your holding receives the profit tax-free
What you can add
Made for your company. The price is in your proposal.
- Business bank account: the complete file your bank asks for
- eHerkenning: your login for the Dutch tax portal
- EORI number: your number for import and export
- Article 23 licence: you settle import VAT in your VAT return, so you keep that cash in your company
- One VAT return for all your online sales in the EU (One Stop Shop, OSS)
- Payroll tax number, so your company can pay you a salary
- A lower director salary, prepared and submitted to the tax authority
- The 30% ruling for you or your staff, when you relocate to the Netherlands
- Bookkeeping, VAT returns and annual accounts
- Licences and EU rules for your sector
Your first-year plan
Before you start trading, our team looks at everything you plan to do, prepares a plan for your first year and files the applications for you. See the first-year plan →
- The registrations and licences your company needs
- Your salary, dividend and loans from your company in year one
- The tax schemes and deductions you are entitled to
- Your numbers for the first year: tax, salary and what you keep in your company
You see the exact amount in your proposal before you decide. Owners from some countries need extra checks.
Want our team to have a look? →Ask our team on your next step