MIT Scheme, Up to €20,000 for SME Innovation

The MIT scheme (MKB Innovatiestimulering Regio en Topsectoren) is a government subsidy that supports SME innovation. It has two main instruments: (1) MIT feasibility: up to €20,000 (35%) for individual companies to investigate technical feasibility, and (2) MIT R&D collaboration, up to €350,000 (35%) for two or more SMEs developing an innovative product together.

The MIT is specifically designed for SMEs and covers projects in areas like digitalization, AI, data science, and process innovation. Combined with the WBSO, it provides a financing structure that covers innovation projects.

The MIT feasibility study is perfect for SMEs wanting to investigate whether a technical idea is viable. You receive up to €20,000 (35% of costs) for research into technical feasibility, market potential, and implementation strategy.

Typical examples: can AI predict demand for my business? Is a custom data dashboard technically feasible with my current data? Can we automate this process? The feasibility study answers these questions before you commit to a full project.

For larger projects, the MIT R&D collaboration offers up to €350,000 (35%). You need at least one SME partner. Together you develop a new product, process, or service that goes beyond what is standard in your sector. The MIT R&D AI variant specifically targets AI projects.

Stratalytic can help you find a suitable collaboration partner if needed. We have a network of innovative SMEs working on data and AI projects.

The MIT scheme is competitive: a limited regional budget is divided among applicants. MIT feasibility is administered per province (no longer by RVO), and each region opens on its own date, often in spring (in Noord-Holland and Zuid-Holland the 2026 round opened around 7 April). Applications are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and if the scheme is oversubscribed on opening day a lottery decides: in Noord-Holland there was a day-one lottery in 2026. There is a formal closing date in September, but in practice the budget is gone almost immediately. So it is not about meeting a closing deadline: what matters is having a complete application ready on opening day.

Stratalytic tracks the regional opening dates and prepares your entire application in advance so that it can be submitted on the very first day the MIT opens. We draft your project plan, collect the required documents, and make sure the application is complete and admissible, all before the opening date. This “ready on day one” approach is what determines your chances for feasibility.

For the MIT R&D collaboration: which, unlike feasibility, is a quality-ranked tender, our key tips also apply: focus your project description on a clearly defined technical innovation, include measurable objectives, and keep the planning realistic. Assessors value specificity over vague ambition. A budget that matches the work plan line by line and a concrete timeline with milestones show that your project is well-thought-out and achievable.

MIT feasibility: predictive maintenance with AI. A manufacturing SME wanted to know whether AI could predict equipment failure before it occurs. With the maximum €20,000 MIT feasibility grant (35% of a €57,000 project), we investigated the available sensor data, tested multiple machine learning models, and delivered a feasibility report confirming that predictive maintenance was technically viable with an expected 30% reduction in unplanned downtime.

MIT feasibility: custom supply chain dashboard. A wholesale company needed to understand whether a real-time supply chain dashboard was technically achievable given their fragmented data sources. The €18,000 feasibility study mapped all data flows, identified integration requirements, and produced a technical architecture blueprint, giving the company confidence to proceed with full development.

MIT R&D collaboration: AI-driven quality inspection. Two SMEs jointly developed an AI-powered visual inspection system for production lines, funded by a €280,000 MIT R&D grant. One partner contributed domain expertise in manufacturing, while the other (supported by Stratalytic) built the computer vision models. The collaboration resulted in a working prototype that reduced manual inspection time by 60%.

The MIT is competitive, so a strong project plan is essential. Stratalytic combines subsidy expertise with deep technical knowledge. We write project plans that speak both the language of innovation policy and practical technology. This significantly increases your chances.

After approval, we directly execute the project. No need to find a separate development agency. One partner for application and implementation: faster, cheaper, and more effective.

What makes a winning MIT application? It starts with a clear problem statement that explains why current solutions fall short. Add measurable KPIs, for example, “reduce manual processing time by 40%” or “improve forecast accuracy to 90%.” Pair this with a realistic planning that breaks the project into concrete work packages with milestones. Finally, build a strong innovation narrative: explain what is technically new, why it is risky, and how it advances the state of the art in your sector. Stratalytic ensures every element is covered.