As a starting and/or growing entrepreneur, grants, financing, loans or other programmes can provide an important boost. So can governments, knowledge institutions or individuals. But the range is vast and sometimes confusing. As we do every quarter, we list five interesting opportunities in no particular order.
Environmentally friendly investments
This year, the government is allocating 189 million euros to the Environmental Investment Allowance (MIA) and 20 million euros to the Discretionary Depreciation for Environmental Investments (Vamil). The two schemes offer businesses a tax benefit if they invest in one of the 225 innovative and environmentally friendly assets.
Among other things, the schemes are intended to encourage the sustainable use of raw materials and water. They have been amended in a number of respects. For example, the maximum annual investment amount per taxpayer for all business assets has been reduced to 25 million euros. The list of business assets eligible for tax relief has also changed. Another important change is that the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) has taken over the Tax and Customs Administration’s objection and appeal procedures. As a result, applicants will receive clarity on the outcome sooner, and any objections can be dealt with before the tax return is finalised. You can find out more about MIA and Vamil here, and more about the current changes here.
Recycling agriculture
Through the province of Gelderland, a grant is available for ideas that contribute to circular agriculture or nature-inclusive agriculture. The grant is intended for SMEs operating in the agricultural sector, as well as for consortia of SMEs or consultancy and research organisations focusing on innovation in agriculture. To be eligible, projects must be innovative and contribute to making the physical living environment more sustainable. This may involve, for example, investments in business assets, as well as market research, product design, knowledge transfer, public awareness campaigns and measures to promote the sale of agricultural products.
The grant can cover up to 60 per cent of the costs, depending on the type of cost, with a maximum amount of 35 thousand euros. Applications can be submitted up to and including the first day of 2026. Further information is available on the province’s website.
Share mobility hub
Local authorities in the Lifeport region can apply for a grant for a shared mobility hub to encourage smart and clean travel. A shared mobility hub is a place where users can pick up and drop off shared vehicles, with a charging point for electric shared cars. It helps people to travel more easily without owning a car or a second car, and to make greater use of public transport.
The grant covers fifty per cent of the eligible costs. There is a maximum amount, which depends on the size of the hub. A total of 178 thousand euros is available. Applications can be submitted until the end of the year. Further information, including details of the conditions, can be found here.
Energy-efficient techniques
The opportunities for entrepreneurs to invest in energy-efficient technologies with tax benefits are set to be expanded over the next two years. This is evident from the new EIA Energy List. With a larger budget, the government aims to boost energy savings, CO₂ reduction and sustainable economic growth. Businesses investing in technologies listed on the Energy List can, through the Energy Investment Allowance (EIA), deduct 40 per cent of the investment costs from their taxable profit.
Solar panels for electricity generation are no longer required to be connected to a low-voltage supply (maximum 3 × 80 amps). The definitions of certain business assets have also been tightened up. For example, the SCOP requirements for heat pumps in the built environment have been raised, and the definition of ‘process heat pump’ has been expanded to include an additional temperature step, meaning that heat pumps designed for higher temperatures are now also eligible. More information on the EIA Energy List can be found here.
Small-scale wind turbines
From this year onwards, there are also changes to the ‘Investment Grant for Sustainable Energy and Energy Saving’ (ISDE). These apply to private homeowners as well as businesses. For example, the subsidy for small-scale wind turbines has been increased from 66 euros to 140 euros per square metre of rotor surface area. This subsidy amount corresponds to approximately 20 per cent of the average investment costs.
The subsidy level for air-to-water heat pumps with a thermal capacity of 1 to 70 kW has also changed. The base amount is lower (from 2,100 to 1,250 euros), but the amount for each subsequent kW has been increased from 150 to 225 euros. If you would like to find out more, please click here.
