Which AI Grant Fits My Company? Decision Tree 2026

Key points: Choosing the right AI grant depends on three factors: company size (freelancer, micro-business, SME, scale-up), project type (training, tool purchase, in-house development, R&D collaboration) and budget. For 80% of SME AI projects, a combination of WBSO + MIT + SLIM is optimal. This decision tree helps you find the right starting point in 7 minutes.

The four main routes

Not every company has access to every grant. Based on company profile and project type, there are four routes:

Route 1: Freelancer or micro-business (<10 FTE)

For this category, the accessible schemes are:

• WBSO: no lower threshold; even freelancers with their own R&D hours qualify. 36-50% reduction on your own hourly rate x R&D hours.
• Mijn Digitale Zaak: EUR 2,500 (50%) for digitalisation investments under EUR 5,000. Webshop, basic CRM, online tooling.
• AI grant for freelancers and micro-businesses: a dedicated scheme for AI projects in small companies. Amount varies per programme.
• EDIH services: free AI advice via European Digital Innovation Hubs.

Not available: MIT R&D collaboration (requires more business maturity).

Route 2: SME with 10-50 FTE

The sweet spot for most schemes:

• All of the above
• MIT feasibility: EUR 20,000 (35%) for exploring an idea
• MIT R&D collaboration: EUR 350,000 (35%) with an SME partner
• SLIM: EUR 25,000 (60%) for AI literacy training
• EFRO: depending on the region, projects above EUR 100,000

Route 3: SME with 50-250 FTE

Access to all schemes, plus extra options:

• All of the above
• Innovation Credit (Innovatiekrediet): a conditional loan up to EUR 10M for ambitious technical innovation. Repayment only in case of commercial success.
• Digital Europe Programme: EU co-financing up to 75% via AI deployment calls.

Route 4: Scale-up or grown SME (>250 FTE)

WBSO and MIT are accessible but the percentages decrease. EFRO and Digital Europe become more attractive for larger projects. Companies above 250 FTE formally fall outside the SME definition, which means some instruments drop away.

Decision tree: which grant should you apply for now?

Start here:

Question 1: What is your project type?

A) Training & education of my team around AI

→ Apply directly for SLIM in the next round (March or September). Combine it with WBSO if development work is also taking place. On top of that, this is EU AI Act compliance - mandatory as of 2 August 2026.

B) Purchase of standard software (Power BI, CRM, webshop)

→ For amounts <EUR 5,000: Mijn Digitale Zaak is the fastest route. For larger amounts: check whether customisation work is involved (then WBSO as well).

C) In-house development of an AI tool, model or platform

→ Start with WBSO for the development hours. Add MIT feasibility for the research phase. If collaborating with another SME: MIT R&D collaboration.

D) Researching whether my idea is technically feasible

→ MIT feasibility (EUR 20,000, 35%). Perfect for "can AI solve my demand forecasting?" or "is a real-time dashboard feasible with my data?"

E) I want to start but don't know what

→ EDIH free advice or a no-obligation conversation with Stratalytic. First ask the right question, then line up the grant alongside it.

Question 2: What is your project budget?

Question 3: How urgent is it?

• Submit something today: WBSO (your own application can be set up in 1 day)
• Cash within 8 weeks: Mijn Digitale Zaak (quickest turnaround)
• Before the June opening: MIT feasibility or R&D
• March or September round: SLIM
• 6+ months of preparation: EFRO, Digital Europe Programme, Innovatiekrediet

Common mistakes in grant selection

1. Waiting too long for MIT. The budget ran out within three weeks in 2024. Anyone who starts on the project plan in May misses the June window.

2. Treating WBSO as a "do it later". WBSO has no competition and you can apply for it in parallel with any other project. Not applying = giving away money.

3. One grant for an entire project. Stacking is the norm for projects >EUR 50,000. Anyone applying for MIT alone leaves WBSO on the table - and vice versa.

4. Forgetting SLIM. Companies often spend EUR 5,000-15,000 on AI training without realising that SLIM reimburses 60% of it. Especially relevant now that the EU AI Act makes AI literacy mandatory.

5. Choosing the wrong instrument. MIT feasibility is not an alternative to MIT R&D. Those who know what they are building need MIT R&D; those still researching need MIT feasibility.

The Stratalytic shortcut

Instead of working through the decision tree yourself and then writing three applications, we do the following:

1. 30-min introduction: you describe the project, team and ambition.
2. Grant roadmap. Within 48 hours we send a concrete proposal: which grants, which amounts, which timeline.
3. We write everything: project plans, budgets, technical descriptions. You sign.
4. We build the project: no handover, no second agency. Grant secured, project built.

Schedule an introductory conversation and within 30 minutes you will know which grants fit your situation.

Frequently asked questions

Which grant is the easiest to apply for? Mijn Digitale Zaak (EUR 2,500) is the fastest - online form, 30 minutes, decision within 8 weeks. Right after that comes WBSO: standard form, no competition, success rate >95%.

Do I need a tax number? For WBSO yes (you receive the reduction via payroll tax). For MIT and SLIM, a Chamber of Commerce (KvK) registration is sufficient. Mijn Digitale Zaak requires an active business.

Can a freelancer apply for an AI grant? Yes. There is a dedicated AI grant for freelancers and micro-businesses (<10 FTE). In addition, WBSO is accessible to freelancers with their own development hours.