Custom Software with Subsidies, Up to 50% Back

Custom-built software qualifies for subsidies when the development involves technical innovation for your business. This includes custom applications, mobile apps, data pipelines, dashboards, AI models, API integrations, and automation tools. The key criterion is that the project uses a new IT principle that your company hasn't applied before.

What does NOT qualify: purchasing off-the-shelf software, configuring existing SaaS tools, or standard website development. The subsidy is specifically for custom development work where there is genuine technical uncertainty in the implementation.

RVO assesses your application based on three core criteria: (1) the project must involve a “new IT principle”, meaning an approach or technology that is new to your organization, not necessarily new to the market; (2) there must be genuine technical uncertainty about whether the approach will work, which means routine development or applying well-known patterns does not qualify; and (3) the work must involve systematic research or development activities. Common pitfalls include describing the business value instead of the technical challenge, failing to articulate what makes the project uncertain, or submitting an application where the solution is already proven. We help you frame the technical narrative so it meets RVO's standards.

The WBSO is an R&D tax credit that gives you 36-50% back on development hours. It's ideal for ongoing software projects where your team (or an external agency) spends significant time on innovative development. The MIT feasibility study provides a direct subsidy of up to €20,000 for researching whether a technical approach is viable.

The good news: you can combine both. Use MIT to fund the initial feasibility research and architecture design, then apply WBSO for the actual development phase. WBSO is better for larger ongoing projects, MIT for initial exploration and validation.

Typical software projects range from €20,000 to €80,000 depending on complexity. With WBSO and MIT combined, you can receive €30,000 or more back. Compare that to hiring a full-time developer at €60,000-80,000 per year, a custom project delivers a finished product at a fraction of the ongoing cost.

Example: a custom software project can yield up to €20,000 via MIT and approximately €12,000 via WBSO, a total subsidy benefit of €32,000. We set the exact price after the feasibility study.

Stratalytic is unique because we both build the software and handle the subsidy application. One partner, no miscommunication between a development agency and a subsidy advisor. We know exactly what RVO requires in the technical description because we're the ones doing the technical work.

We specialize in data, AI, and custom software, not generic websites or WordPress templates. Our projects are technically innovative by nature, which means they have a high chance of qualifying for WBSO and MIT subsidies.

We build with modern, production-ready technologies that are well-suited for innovative software projects. For the frontend we use React, Next.js, and Tailwind CSS to create fast, responsive web applications. On the backend we work with Python, Node.js, and FastAPI to build robust APIs and business logic. Our data layer relies on PostgreSQL, MongoDB, and Redis for reliable storage, caching, and flexible data modeling.

For deployment and scaling we use AWS, Vercel, and Docker, ensuring your software runs reliably from day one and can grow with your business. When a project requires AI or machine learning components, we leverage Python, scikit-learn, and TensorFlow to build intelligent features such as predictive models, natural language processing, or recommendation engines.

All development work with these technologies is fully WBSO-eligible, as long as the project meets the technical innovation criteria. The choice of technology does not affect subsidy eligibility, RVO evaluates the novelty of your project, not the specific tools or frameworks used. This means you get the best technology for your needs without compromising on subsidy opportunities.

Custom CRM integration: A wholesale company needed to connect Salesforce with their warehouse management system and automate order processing across multiple channels. The project involved building custom API middleware, real-time inventory synchronization, and automated invoicing logic. WBSO benefit: €18,000 back on the development hours.

Patient portal for healthcare: A healthcare provider required a secure patient portal with appointment scheduling, medical records access via a HL7 FHIR API, and a push notification system for medication reminders. The technical challenges included HIPAA-equivalent data security, complex API integrations with legacy hospital systems, and real-time availability calculations. Combined subsidy benefit: €23,000 via WBSO and €15,000 via MIT feasibility, €38,000 back in total.

Supply chain platform: A logistics company built a real-time inventory tracking platform across 5 warehouses with predictive restocking powered by machine learning. The system processes sensor data, calculates optimal stock levels, and generates automated purchase orders. WBSO benefit: €20,000, plus MIT feasibility funding for the predictive algorithm research phase. These examples illustrate how different types of software qualify for different subsidy combinations.