Innovation Brokers Subsidy

Beware! We have received many applications for the innovation brokers' scheme. Unfortunately, this means that the TKI Urban Energy budget has been completely exhausted. However, there is still a small budget available for an entrepreneur active in the domain of theTKI Energy & Industry, TKI New Gas and TKI Wind op Zee.

On Monday, January 16, 2023, a new round of the innovation broker subsidy of Energy Innovation NL opened. SMEs contributing to the transition to an affordable, reliable and sustainable energy system can apply for a subsidy for hiring an innovation broker. With this subsidy scheme, SMEs can reimburse the Innovation Broker fee for 80%, to a maximum of 10,000 euros, including VAT.

Startups or scale-ups are often innovation leaders. However, they frequently face challenges because they need to become more familiar with the market, have no previous entrepreneurial experience or have limited financial resources. An 'innovation broker' can help.

An 'innovation broker' can offer you the following:

• guidance and coaching in developing a business plan, business strategy or value proposition,
• patent advice, assistance with patent applications or knowledge exploitation,
• guidance in becoming ‘investor ready’, looking for financing or deal closing,
• support finding and setting up consortia and project formation with other companies and/or knowledge institutions.

Requirements

Companies are eligible for a financial contribution for this support of an ‘innovation broker’ if:

• you are an SME with the head office based in The Netherlands.
• your product or service is innovative and contributes to an accelerated transition to a sustainable, reliable and affordable energy system.
• you have not previously received more than once a subsidy for hiring an innovation broker.
• your innovation is meant for the market on which the themes (program lines) of the relevant TKIs focus (TKI Energy & Industry, TKI New Gas, TKI Urban Energy and TKI Wind op Zee). The innovation may also be an existing technology already applied in another sector but is innovative for the markets of Energy Innovation NL. The applicant must have the ambition and business strategy to bring the technological innovation to the market himself (at its own expense and risk) and scale it to broad market adoption. 
• you meet the conditions in the form “Toelichting aanvraagformulier innovatiemakelaars 2023” (Explanation application form innovation brokers).

Please note: that compared to 2022, there have been significant changes in the conditions. So, please read extra (!) carefully to explain whether your activity and that of the innovation broker are still eligible.

Term and budget

The scheme runs from January 16, 2023, to December 1, 2023.

The total budget for the subsidy scheme is € 100,000, and allocation will occur via the principle of “ first come, first served”. In the event of an oversubscription of the scheme (on one and the same day), allocation will take place through drawing lots.

Excluded from the scheme are such things as hiring an innovation broker for the specific purpose of drafting (writing) a grant application or hiring for engineering activities. Also excluded are out-of-pocket expenses such as patent filing fees, travel costs, etc.

For whom?

The subsidy contribution is available for innovative SMEs active in the domain of TKI Energie & Industrie, TKI Nieuw Gas, TKI Urban Energy and TKI Wind op Zee.

What amount do you get reimbursed?

 If you meet these conditions to make use of this subsidy scheme, which will run from 16 January 2023 to 1 December 2023⁽¹⁾, the costs of supporting an innovation broker can be financed up to 80%. This compensation can amount to a maximum of € 10,000 subsidy (excluding VAT) per company. As an SME, you will need to contribute the remaining 20% yourself (for example, total project costs are € 12.500,-, the maximum subsidy would be € 10.000, and € 2.500,- own contribution – all numbers excluding VAT)

Innovation Brokers

The Financing Desk has compiled an overview of potential innovation brokers for you. This list is meant for inspiration. Although you are not obliged to hire one of these innovation brokers, you can also propose your own.

Apply now

The involved TKI (TKI Energie & Industrie, TKI Nieuw Gas, TKI Urban Energy or TKI Wind op Zee) provides an initial judgement of whether you are eligible for this scheme. Do you like to apply? You can download the application form here (in Dutch) and send it to Martin Weissmann. To clarify the form, you will find an explanation of the application form here (in Dutch), which also contains all the detailed preconditions that apply to the application. After completing the work, you must submit a final report. You can request Martin Weissmann for a template for the final report form.

Please note: Energy Innovation NL will pay the awarded grant amount to you only after the work has been completed and invoiced and after approval of your report and your payment to the innovation broker.

Contact

The Topsector Energie will manage the administrative application process. Do you have any questions about the scheme? Please get in touch with Martin Weissmann of the Financing Desk.