In January 2026, the second edition of the SME Hightech Call will open. Through this call, we invite entrepreneurs to collaborate with research organizations for a period of two years on innovative projects aligned with HTSM's innovation domains.
With a total budget of €5 million, the call supports industrial research focused on the development and application of key enabling technologies (KETs). The initiative aims to strengthen the knowledge base and R&D capacity of SMEs, enabling them to bring innovations to market faster and more effectively.
The call is developed by Holland High Tech and specifically designed to engage and support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). During the first edition in 2024, 13 projects were awarded funding.
The full call text will be published in mid-November 2025.
Innovation domains
In the SME Hightech Call, SME entrepreneurs are invited to collaborate with research organizations for two years on an innovative project. This collaboration increases the knowledge and R&D capacity of SMEs, giving them more resources to translate knowledge and innovations into products or services more quickly and efficiently. The research must be industrial in nature and fall within one of the designated innovation domains.
Target group: Hightech SMEs
This call is aimed at high-tech SMEs - innovative micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises focused on developing technologies and applications of advanced (key) technologies within the innovation domains. Further requirements and details will be available in the full call text. Please note: an SME declaration from RVO is mandatory for participation.
Budget
For the 2025 edition of the SME Hightech Call, Holland High Tech has allocated a total budget of €5 million, of which €3.3 million is reserved for SME participants. The available funding falls under the Public-Private Partnership Innovation Scheme (PPS-I) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy.
Funding details
- SMEs (or SME consortia):
Maximum of €300,000 for a two-year project (one application per lead applicant). May finance up to 50% of eligible costs, with in-kind co-financing permitted - Research organizations:
A maximum of €150,000 for a two-year project. May finance up to 80% of eligible costs - Additional requirement:
The SME (or SME consortium) must incur at least twice the costs of the participating research organization(s).
Source: Holland High Tech
