News item | 26-05-2026 | 17:44
The Regional Investment Fund for MBO (RIF) completed the first application round of 2026 this week. The fund makes €6.6 million available for six projects that strengthen cooperation between vocational education and the labor market in the region. The projects focus on challenges in a wide range of sectors, from car repair to safety and logistics. The government is also reversing the previous cuts to the fund and returning it to its original level.
Minister Letschert: “It is great that these projects can be started thanks to the Regional Investment Fund. The innovative design of cooperation between secondary vocational education institutions and employers is of great importance. The knowledge and experience that students can gain from this is desperately needed. We are eager for talent that will ensure that we are well prepared to tackle the major challenges in our country, such as the shortages in healthcare and the energy transition.”
Innovative solutions for social challenges
The projects offer innovative solutions in various sectors, such as car repair, the creative sector, technology and logistics. This is how the project builds Smart Logistics for Brainport expands the existing cooperation in the Brainport region to further strengthen the transport and logistics sector. This sector is changing rapidly due to, among other things, the rise of high-tech. This project invests in the knowledge and skills of teachers, the research capacity within the courses and the smart recruitment of students to combat future shortages.
Auto Repair Academy faces similar challenges: major staff shortages and technological developments (such as electric driving and digitalization) make the work more complex. This project develops new educational scenarios that better meet contemporary labor market needs.
In the Rivierenland region CIRCULATION 2.0 continue with the further development of non-traditional education pathways aimed at vulnerable groups, such as young people without a starting qualification, status holders and job seekers. The educational programs train these groups towards a suitable position in the labor market.
Cabinet reverses cuts
This government is working on top-quality vocational education. Innovation deserves a place at the heart of secondary vocational education and small and medium-sized businesses. Good cooperation between secondary vocational education institutions and the labor market is necessary. These innovative collaborations contribute to training students for the labor market of the future, which is the focus of this government’s talent strategy. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science invests in these collaborations with the Regional Investment Fund. An independent assessment committee advises the Minister of Education, Culture and Science on the allocation of subsidies from the fund. The RIF runs until 2027. After this period, the budget will be returned to the original level. The future sustainability and further structure of the fund will be re-examined in the run-up to that period.
