Digitalisation grants for SMEs do exist in the Netherlands, but they are less straightforward than many business owners think. There is no general grant for ‘a new website’. There are schemes for innovation, research and development, training and investment. Whether you qualify depends on exactly what you plan to do.
This article gives you an overview of the main types of schemes and how to prepare an application. Please note: conditions, amounts and application windows change regularly. Always check the latest information with the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and talk to your accountant or a grants adviser. This article is not tax or legal advice.
Are there grants for digitalisation in small businesses?
Yes, but usually not for everyday digital work. Grants are meant to encourage something that would otherwise not happen, or happen later. Think of developing something technically new, working together on innovation, or investing in your team's skills.
A standard website, an accounting package or a software subscription usually does not qualify. A smart web application that solves a technical problem with no off-the-shelf solution sometimes does. The difference is in the word new: new to the market or technically new, not just new to your business.
The main schemes at a glance
These are the best-known national schemes that can relate to digitalisation. Read them as a starting point, not a complete list.
- WBSO. A tax scheme for research and development work, including developing technically new software. You get a reduction on payroll tax or an extra deduction. You apply in advance, before the work starts.
- MIT scheme. The SME Innovation Stimulus for Regions and Top Sectors supports, among other things, feasibility projects and collaborative innovation projects. You can only apply during certain periods and the budget is limited.
- SLIM scheme. Meant to encourage learning and development in SMEs. Worth considering if you want to train your staff in new digital skills.
- Small-scale investment allowance (KIA). A tax deduction for investments in business assets. Whether your investment counts depends on your situation. Ask your accountant.
- Innovation credit. A loan, not a grant, for risky innovation projects with a clear business plan.
On top of that, provinces, regions and municipalities sometimes have their own schemes or vouchers for digitalisation or innovation. These change often and differ by region. So also search your province's website and your regional development agency.
How do you find the right scheme for you?
The offer changes often, so a list in an article goes out of date quickly. Here is how to search in a focused way yourself:
- Start with RVO. It lists the national schemes with current conditions and application windows.
- Check your province and regional development agency for regional schemes.
- Ask your industry association whether there are sector-specific schemes or joint projects.
- Discuss your plans with your accountant. They also know the tax side, such as deductions.
- Consider a grants adviser for larger projects. Check how they are paid, for example a fixed fee or a percentage of the grant awarded.
Grants for automation and AI
If you want to automate processes or use AI, the same principle applies. Adopting an existing package or a standard integration is rarely eligible. If you develop something technically new, such as your own solution to process documents in a new way, the WBSO may be worth a look. It is about the development work, not the use.
First check whether automation pays for itself. A grant is a nice bonus, but it should not be the reason to invest. In automation: costs and benefits you can read how to work that out.
How to prepare a grant application
A good application starts with a clear plan. These steps help:
- Describe the problem you want to solve, and why existing solutions do not work.
- Explain what is new about your approach. This is often the heart of the assessment.
- Make a schedule with phases and a budget per phase.
- Ask for quotes with a clear description of the work. A fixed price makes your budget stronger.
- Check the application window. For some schemes you must apply before you start, or you lose the right to it.
- Keep a record of hours and costs from day one. This is often required.
- Have your application checked by your accountant or a grants adviser.
Common mistakes with digitalisation grants
- Starting before the application has been submitted. For many schemes, only work after the application counts.
- Presenting an ordinary website or standard software as innovation. This is usually rejected.
- Making a project bigger than needed to get more funding. You also pay part of it yourself.
- Forgetting the paperwork. Without proof of hours and costs, a grant can be reclaimed.
- Waiting for a grant while an investment would pay for itself without support. You lose time.
No grant? How to make digitalisation affordable anyway
If your project falls outside the schemes, there are other ways to keep costs down:
- Start small. Automate the process that costs you the most time first.
- Build in phases. Each phase should deliver something on its own.
- Look at the tax side. Ask your accountant how to book the costs. Also read website costs and tax.
- Make a long-term plan, so separate steps fit together. More on that in digital transformation for SMEs.
How Violexa helps you digitalise
A grant application is best done with your accountant or a grants adviser. What we do: we help you decide which digital step delivers the most, and we agree the work and the price clearly up front. Larger projects get a fixed price in writing. You also need that kind of clear description and budget for an application.
An AI and automation project at Violexa starts from €1,799 excl. VAT (€2,177 incl. VAT), one-off. A custom web application starts from the same amount per project.
Want to know which digital step makes sense for you? Book a free quickscan. In 30 minutes, online or on site, we discuss your situation. Afterwards you get short written advice with a price estimate. You are not tied to anything.
Frequently asked questions
Which digitalisation grants and schemes are there for SMEs?
Well-known national schemes are the WBSO for technically new software, the MIT scheme for innovation, the SLIM scheme for training and the KIA as a tax deduction for investments. Provinces and regions sometimes have their own schemes too. Check the current conditions with RVO.
Can you get a grant for a new website?
Usually not. An ordinary website rarely counts as innovation. Sometimes there is a regional scheme or voucher, but these change often. Also ask your accountant about the tax options.
Does the WBSO apply to software development?
The WBSO can apply to developing technically new software. It covers development work where you solve technical problems, not using or setting up existing software. You must apply for the scheme in advance.
Do I have to apply for a grant before I start?
For many schemes, yes. Work you did before the application was submitted often does not count. Check this per scheme with RVO before you start.
