News item | 29-05-2026 | 06:30
Dutch knowledge institutions and innovative companies have access through it Horizon Europeprogram 2021-2027 has so far raised €5 billion in European subsidies. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) announced this today. This €5 billion will be used to fund projects with great value for science, business and society throughout the Netherlands.
More research and innovation is needed for societal challenges in areas such as healthcare, sustainability and digitalization. But also to reduce our technological dependencies and to face the greatly increased international competition. As a result, future economic growth is no longer a given.
Netherlands net recipient
Horizon Europee is a program with money for research and innovation projects, which has been running since 2021. The Netherlands is a net recipient when it comes to this research and innovation money from Europe. Every euro that the Netherlands invests so far is returned almost twice.
Almost half of the money (45%) went to educational institutions, led by TU Delft. A quarter of the amount went to companies, and 16% to research organizations such as TNO. Most of the money went to organizations from the provinces of South Holland (€1.5 billion) and North Holland (€1.3 billion), but participants from North Brabant, Utrecht and Gelderland also received a significant share (with approximately €600 million per province).
Value of European cooperation
Minister Rianne Letschert (Education, Culture and Science) is responsible for this program together with Minister Heleen Herbert of Economic Affairs and Climate. She is pleased with this special milestone: “With European money, researchers in the Netherlands are doing great things. For example, they are making mini hearts on a chip, which saves the lives of heart patients.”
“It is also becoming increasingly important for our security and prosperity that we in Europe have this kind of knowledge, expertise and talent with which we can compete with other parts of the world. Collaboration within Europe on research and innovation is therefore crucial. And that is also good for our wallets. In this European program we earn back almost double every euro we invest as the Netherlands.”
From climate to quantum, research throughout the Netherlands
From research into the RS virus, safe digital traffic, very precise neurological research with an artificial copy of a real brain, and smart logistics to keep historic city centers passable. These are just a few examples of projects carried out in the Netherlands with European money. Participate in Horizon Europe also enables Dutch scientists and companies to collaborate with the best minds worldwide. This is good for the knowledge position of the Netherlands and Europe.
Dutch deployment in Europe
Europe is currently considering its successor Horizon Europe –program. This includes a total of €95.5 billion for the current period 2021-2027. For the successor of Horizon Europe the European Commission has proposed a budget of €175 billion for the period 2028-2034. Researchers and innovators who wish to apply for this can receive support and advice from RVO, which supports (potential) participants on behalf of the cabinet.
In addition, the government is encouraging the successful participation of the Netherlands through RVO Horizon Europe by providing publicly funded knowledge institutions with the personal contribution required to participate in projects Horizon Europe. Approximately €80 million per year has been available for this since 2023
Given the importance for our country, the government believes it is crucial that there is a good successor to the current program after 2027. This month, the European ministers in the field of economy, research and innovation, including ministers Herbert (May 28) and Letschert (May 29), will meet again in Brussels for European council meetings. This discusses a joint position of the Member States with regard to the successor Horizon Europe.
Read aloud more information, facts and figures in the RVO press release.
