Regional grants

Regional focus points

Regional grants are funds from national and European programmes intended to stimulate regional development. These grants are designed to maximise the use of regional potential. Each region in the Netherlands has its own high-potential sectors.

For example, the focus in the east of the Netherlands is on food, health and technology, and in the west on chemicals, harbours, aviation and food & flowers. The biggest regional subsidies come from the European Fund for Regional Development (EU) and the ‘High Points in the Delta’ scheme (Pieken in de Delta, NL). There are also provincial subsidies available for each region, such as the Groningen Innovative Action Programme, the Drenthe Innovative Action Programme, and the Fryslan Fernijt II in the North of the Netherlands.

Fostering innovation

The primary purpose of all these grants is to stimulate and improve the Netherlands’ innovative capacity. There are for example innovation grants for the business community and for investments designed to improve the economic infrastructure, such as industrial estates, clustered company premises and start-up incubators.

Less complex and close to home

You may not be aware of it, but your plans and ambitions may have a significant effect on the development of your region. It would pay to look around. Are you, for example, a municipality developing shared premises for start-up businesses, in partnership with a housing corporation? If so, there’s a good chance that your project ties in with the designated focus points for your region.

Or is your company working with a centre of expertise or another company to study new or improved production processes? Once again, there is a high probability that this will fit within one of the focus points for your region. An important prerequisite for companies is that they should be working with other companies and/or centres of expertise.

The advantage of regional grants is that they relate to local developments and can be applied for at the regional level. That makes the process less complex than for national or European subsidies.

Building a project together

Would you like to find out whether your project matches the designated focus points for your region? PNO Consultants works from eight regional offices in the Netherlands, so we know the regional issues better than anyone. We have also developed a network with the regional business community and regional government bodies in your immediate environment. We can make the connections between your ambitions and regional subsidies, and we can ensure that you comply with all of the prerequisites. As a connecting link, we sit down with you, discuss your opportunities, bring the right parties together and guarantee a sound project. That makes your plan more than just a good idea: it really delivers something valuable for you and for your region.

Like to find out more?

Would you like to find out what PNO Consultants can offer your organisation? Check out Our services or contact Daniël ten Holder.