TLDR
- What is it? Financial support for agricultural partnerships implementing innovative digitalization and robotics projects to strengthen sustainable agriculture in the Netherlands. Grant covers preparation, implementation, and 40% of investment costs.
- Key eligibility points: Partnership with at least one farmer plus other participants (like tech developers, & knowledge institutions). Projects must focus on digitization and/or robotics in agriculture, be implemented in the Netherlands, and cannot have started before application submission. There is no co-financing required.
- Max funding amount: €125,000 to €500,000 per partnership.
- Important deadlines: Opens November 11, 2025. Closes January 7, 2026 at 17:00.
What is the Samenwerken aan innovatie (EIP) digitalisering en robotisering?
The Samenwerken aan innovatie subsidy promotes innovative partnerships that promote digitalization and robotics in agriculture. This program supports the transition to sustainable, future proof agriculture with positive environmental impact.
The subsidy funds a wide range of activities. Robots for soil cultivation, sowing, planting, crop care, harvesting, milking, and pasture management are eligible. Algorithm development, cybersecurity, and data sovereignty projects are also eligible. The grant also enables data exchange, sharing, processing, and optimization improvements. Knowledge development about digitalization and robotics in agriculture is funded, as are projects addressing legislative and regulatory challenges for digital innovation.
Beyond technology, the subsidy supports new financing models and earning capacity development. Preparation costs such as finding partners, project planning, and cooperation agreements are covered. Implementation costs including coordination, project management, and administration receive full funding. Investments for machinery, software, hardware, and property improvements are subsidized at 40%.
Each partnership receives between €125,000 and €500,000. The scheme provides 100% coverage of preparation and implementation costs, plus 40% of investments. With a total budget of €10.47M available, this represents a significant opportunity for agricultural modernization.
Who Can Apply?
The subsidy is open to diverse organization types working in agriculture. Farmers are required as core partnership members. Technology developers, knowledge institutions such as universities and research centers, chain and industry organizations, agricultural cooperatives and associations, and any organization working in the agriculture or horticulture sector can participate.
Partnership structure is straightforward but specific. The minimum requirement is one farmer plus at least one other participant. One participant must be designated as lead applicant. All participants must sign a cooperation agreement, and the lead applicant submits the application on behalf of the entire partnership.
Eligibility Criteria
- Project focus on innovation in agriculture through digitization and/or robotics
- Project must contribute to sustainable, future-proof agriculture
- Project may not have started before subsidy application
- No obligations or costs entered into before subsidy approval
- Project must address one or more thematic priorities (data accessibility, data exchange, learning, legislation/regulation, financing, knowledge development)
- No co-financing required
- Projects must be implemented in the Netherlands
Partnerships without a farmer, projects already started before application, or projects implemented outside the Netherlands are not eligible.
Key Deadlines
- Opening date: November 11, 2025
- Submission deadline: January 7, 2026
- Application window: Approximately 2 months to prepare and submit application
After submission, an evaluation period follows. Upon approval, partnerships receive a 50% advance payment. Interim payments are possible during project execution, with final settlement after project completion.
How to Apply
This subsidy represents a substantial opportunity for agricultural partnerships. Up to €500K is available for digitalization and robotics innovation, with 100% coverage of preparation and implementation costs. The absence of co-financing requirements means projects are fully funded by RVO for operational expenses.
The limited total budget of €10.47M makes early action critical. With only two months between opening and closing dates, preparation time is limited.
Subsidies.io helps you discover in minutes if your partnership qualifies. The platform automatically identifies additional relevant subsidies beyond this scheme, helping you avoid missing deadlines and funding opportunities. You receive personalized insights on your eligibility and stay updated on similar agritech and digitalization grants.
Find out if you are eligible for free and discover what other opportunities exist for your digitalization goals.
For complete details and official application procedures, visit the official RVO website.
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