Evaluatie Innovatiekrediet 2018 – 2022
Publication date: 24 März 2026 | Report language: NL
The Innovation Credit plays a distinct and strategic role within the Dutch innovation finance ecosystem. It targets young, innovative firms undertaking capital-intensive and high-risk development projects, where access to private finance is often limited. The evaluation shows that the instrument effectively supports the realisation and acceleration of innovation projects, primarily by reducing financial risk and enabling additional private investment. In doing so, the Innovation Credit acts as a crucial bridge within the wider innovation funding landscape.
Its impact is most visible in increased R&D activity and employment, while economic returns such as turnover typically materialise later. At the same time, the scheme proves efficient: around 60% of funds are repaid (a revolving mechanism), and each euro invested generates more than one euro in additional R&D expenditure. This highlights the Innovation Credit as an effective and relatively efficient policy instrument, delivering broader economic and societal value through innovation and knowledge creation.
Key takeaways:
- Strong innovation catalyst: The Innovation Credit accelerates projects and enables larger, more ambitious innovations that would otherwise struggle to secure funding.
- Complementary role in the ecosystem: It fills financing gaps and attracts private investors by reducing risk.
- Clear R&D effects: Recipient firms significantly increase R&D investment and hiring after receiving support.
- Delayed economic returns: Revenue and productivity effects are weaker in the short term due to the focus on development before market entry.
- Efficient and partly self-sustaining: Around 60% of funds are repaid, and each euro invested generates more than one euro in additional R&D expenditure.
