The first step towards a successful WBSO application starts with analyzing your company's goals. Look at planned innovations, new software developments or technical challenges. The WBSO is intended for R&D activities that are new to your organization, not necessarily for the entire market. As a result, the range of this scheme is surprisingly broad.

Ask yourself questions like:

• Are we working on a new product, process or software?
• Do we have technical challenges for which we don't have an existing solution yet?
• Do we need to develop customized software with new methodologies?

By properly evaluating your plans, you can quickly identify which projects may qualify for WBSO.

Involve the right stakeholders

Successful WBSO applications often result from cooperation. Involve teams from R&D, product development, IT and management to jointly determine which innovations are strategically and technically relevant. Ask them:

• What technical limitations do we face?
• What do we need to develop to achieve our goals?
• Where are the biggest uncertainties in our projects?

These conversations help uncover valuable R&D efforts that would otherwise be overlooked.

Focus on technical uncertainty

At the heart of a WBSO project is technical novelty: there is no pre-known solution, and your team has to develop or invent something on their own. Think about:

• New software functionalities for which there is no standard solution
• Designing technical prototypes or custom platforms

It is precisely these kinds of challenges that form the ideal basis for a successful application.

Link innovation to business value

A strong WBSO project not only shows that R&D is taking place, but also why this is important for the company. Show how your innovation contributes to competitive advantage, working more efficiently or growth. For example:

• An algorithm that improves customer insights
• A platform that automates internal processes
• A tool that supports decision making with real-time data

This link strengthens your request and makes the project strategically defensible.

Make sure you have the right resources and administration

A good request also requires that you have sufficient capacity to carry out the project. Think about:

• A dedicated technical team
• Sufficient time scheduled for development
• A system for recording R&D hours

Note: only direct development hours count, not the administrative or commercial activities surrounding it.

The WBSO Checklist

Before applying, make sure that your project meets these requirements:

• Technological innovation: development of new systems, software or methods
• Technical uncertainties: no pre-known solution available in your organization
• R&D registration: time registration is accurate and up to date
• Dutch branch: your company is registered in the Netherlands

If you can tick off all these points, you're ready for the next step.

Simply apply with Subsidies.io

Have you found a WBSO-worthy project? Let Subsidies.io help you prepare and submit a professional application. Our platform quickly recognizes the right projects, generates clear texts and ensures that your application meets all the requirements of the RVO.

Don't let the complexity of the WBSO process slow down your business. With the right preparation and smart technology, applying for subsidies will be an efficient and promising step towards innovation.

Schedule a call today and find out how Subsidies.io reinforces your WBSO approach