SLIM Subsidy, Up to €25,000 for AI Training

SLIM (Stimuleringsregeling Leren en ontwikkelen in het MKB) is a Dutch government subsidy designed to help SMEs invest in employee training and development. The scheme reimburses 60% of training costs, up to €24,999 per application. In 2026, the total budget is €71.9 million, divided across two application rounds.

SLIM covers a wide range of training activities: from external courses and workshops to internal training programs and coaching. The subsidy is particularly relevant for organizations that need to upskill their workforce in areas like AI, data literacy, and digital transformation. Combined with the WBSO, it creates a complete combination of training and development subsidies.

The EU AI Act introduces a legal obligation for organizations that deploy or use AI systems: all employees working with AI must have sufficient AI literacy. This requirement takes effect on August 2, 2026. Organizations that fail to comply risk regulatory action and fines.

This is where SLIM and the AI Act intersect perfectly. The SLIM subsidy directly covers AI literacy training costs, meaning you can meet the legal obligation while receiving 60% reimbursement from the government. With SLIM round 1 open now (April 7 - May 4, 2026), there is still time to apply, train your team, and be fully compliant before the August deadline.

AI literacy does not mean every employee needs to become a data scientist. It means they understand what AI can and cannot do, recognize when AI is being used, and can critically evaluate AI-generated outputs. Stratalytic delivers practical training tailored to your team's roles and your specific AI tools.

The SLIM subsidy is available to SMEs that meet the European MKB definition: a maximum of 250 employees and either annual turnover up to €50 million or a balance sheet total up to €43 million. There is no sector restriction, from tech companies to logistics firms, from healthcare to retail.

Eligible training activities include: external training and courses, internal training programs with documented costs, coaching and mentoring trajectories, and the development of company training plans. The training must be aimed at the current or future role of the employee. Degree programs (MBO, HBO, WO) are generally excluded, but professional certifications and short courses do qualify.

Importantly, both employee wage costs during training (at a fixed hourly rate) and external trainer costs are eligible. This means that even a fully internal AI training program can generate significant subsidy if properly documented.

SLIM reimburses 60% of eligible costs, with a maximum of €24,999 per application. Eligible costs include external training fees, course materials, employee wage costs during training hours (calculated at a fixed hourly rate set by the ministry), and costs for developing a structured company training plan.

A concrete example: if you organize an AI literacy training program for 15 employees over three days, with an external trainer costing €6,000 and documented wage costs of €18,000, your total eligible costs are €24,000. The SLIM subsidy covers €14,400 (60%), leaving you with a net investment of just €9,600 for a fully AI Act-compliant team.

Note: VAT is not eligible for subsidy. Costs incurred before the application submission date are also not eligible, so timing your application is important. Activities must be completed within 12 months after approval.

The SLIM application is submitted digitally via the RVO (Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland) portal. In 2026 there are two rounds: round 1 from April 7 to May 4, and round 2 from August 10 to September 7. Applications are assessed on a first come, first served basis, so early submission increases your chances.

Your application must include: an activity plan describing the training activities, target group, and objectives; a detailed budget with cost substantiation; an SME declaration proving you meet the size criteria; and quotes from external training providers if applicable. RVO assesses the application on completeness, eligibility, and whether the activities genuinely contribute to employee development.

Common mistakes that lead to rejection: vague activity descriptions, costs that are not properly documented, missing the MKB declaration, or including activities that started before the application date. Stratalytic ensures every element is covered and your application is submitted correctly on the first day of the round.

Most subsidy advisors write your application and wish you good luck. Stratalytic is different: we write the SLIM application and deliver the AI training ourselves. One partner for both the paperwork and the actual training. This means better alignment between what you promise in the application and what you deliver in practice.

Our AI literacy training is practical, not theoretical. We tailor the content to your team's roles, your industry, and the specific AI tools you use or plan to adopt. Employees leave the training with hands-on skills they can apply the next day, from prompt engineering to critically evaluating AI outputs.

And the subsidy benefits don't stop at SLIM. We actively combine SLIM with the WBSO to also subsidize the AI development hours that follow from the training insights. Train your team with SLIM, build the solution with WBSO, both subsidized, one partner. That's how you maximize the return on your investment in AI.