Innovationbox

Any organization that demonstrates sufficient investment in research and development (R&D) or optimization of existing products/processes can apply for the Innovation Box. However, before utilizing this scheme, it’s crucial to carefully assess whether it offers financial benefits to your organization.

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Facts up front

Budget

€2.954m

Deadline

Ongoing

Location

National

Innovationbox – key facts at a glance

Any organization that demonstrates sufficient investment in research and development (R&D) or optimization of existing products/processes can apply for the Innovation Box. However, before utilizing this scheme, it’s crucial to carefully assess whether it offers financial benefits to your organization.

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Target audience

Businesses paying corporation tax, such as a bv or nv
Both smaller and larger taxpayers
Companies investing in research and development (R&D)
Companies optimising existing products or processes
Foreign businesses with a permanent establishment in the Netherlands

Requirements

A WBSO decision (Research and Development Promotion Act)
A self-developed intangible asset as the source of the profit
A patent or comparable right, depending on the size of turnover
Innovation profit above the innovation box threshold
A settlement agreement with the Dutch tax authorities

Eligible costs

Innovation profit taxed at 9% instead of 25.8% corporation tax
Profit from innovative products, projects and services
Profit from self-developed intangible assets
Profit from patents and other intellectual property rights
Profit from optimising existing products and processes

Details on the Innovationbox

The Innovation Box is a tax scheme in the Netherlands designed to stimulate innovative companies by providing tax benefits. Companies that qualify for the Innovation Box pay reduced corporate tax on profits derived from innovative activities.

For the Innovation Box rate, you pay only 9% corporate tax on profits directly attributable to innovative products, projects, and services, instead of the standard 25.8%. This significant reduction can enhance your ability to invest and accelerate R&D processes.

The Innovation Box is implemented by the Tax Authorities. When assessing the applications, among other things: looked at how great the influence of WBSO innovations is on the profitability of the company. You can also contact us for help with the WBSO grant application.

Applying for the Innovation Box is a complex process, in which the profit resulting from innovation must be calculated using a chosen allocation method. We therefore advise you to hire an experienced advisor to guide you during this process.

Conditions established are:

A WBSO decision;
Depending on the turnover size or industry, a patent may or may not be mandatory;
A settlement agreement, drawn up in collaboration with the tax authorities.

The deadline for applying the Innovation Box is not a specific date, but depends on a company’s tax return. This arrangement is therefore continuous.

We have been connecting innovative and sustainable companies with grants and financing for more than 25 years. We can also relieve our customers of administrative work and financial accountability by applying for an Innovation Box and we act as a contact person for the Tax Authorities.

What does a funding advisor do?

A funding advisor is an expert who guides companies through the complex process of applying for public funding and secures the best funding for their projects – from selecting the right programmes through the application to the final report.

At Ignite we work success-driven: we only make you an offer when we are convinced your project is eligible. You are supported comprehensively throughout the process while you concentrate on your core business – we take on the time-consuming part.

Our services as funding advisors

Analysis and identification

Assess company & project
Find the right programmes
Aimed at maximum grants

Strategy development

Tailor-made strategy
Aligned with your goals
Combine programmes

Application and documentation

Complete application drafting
Documents complete & correct
Higher approval chances

Communication with funding bodies

Contact with authorities
Coordination with funding bodies
Representing your interests

Project support and aftercare

Support across the project term
Meeting funding conditions
Disbursement & final report

The advantages of our funding advisory

Time saved

Focus on your core business
The workload sits with us
A faster application

Access to hidden funding opportunities

Lesser-known programmes
Clever combinations
Full funding potential

A higher success rate

Expertise from many applications
Better approval chances
Fewer rejections

Maximising the funding amount

The highest possible funding
Every lever used
More from every project

Legal certainty

All requirements met
Audit-proof evidence
No clawback risk

Numbers you can hold us to

15,000⁺

Funding applications in the last five years

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A team of specialists at your service

JanEgberts

Medior Consultant

Frequently asked questions about Innovationbox

Usually yes. The eight sectors cover our focus areas, not the limits of the funding landscape. What matters is the purpose of your project, not the sector label.

It finds suitable programmes, assesses the chances, prepares applications and supports the reporting. At Ignite Group that starts with your objective rather than with a list of programmes.

Usually by whether the outcome is established at the outset. If the solution can be looked up and simply implemented, there is no eligible development. If it has to be tested, discarded and developed anew, there is.

Usually several apply. What matters is which one is the current bottleneck: capital for growth, development work without matching finance, too narrow an instrument mix, or uncertainty about evidence. We work that out in the first conversation.

Then several instruments frequently apply, for different projects. We map your whole project portfolio rather than pinning you to one sector.

At national level these include the WBSO, the MIT R&D scheme, the Innovatiebox, the MIT feasibility studies and the DHI scheme. European instruments such as EUREKA Eurostars are relevant too. Which ones fit your project is something we determine up front.

That depends on the project, the scale of funding and the model chosen. Our engagement models are explained on a dedicated page, so you know in advance which options exist.

Our engagement models