The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and the regional development agencies (ROMs) are strengthening their collaboration. Their aim is to provide better support to startups, scale-ups, and innovative SMEs in their growth ambitions. These entrepreneurs play a key role in addressing major challenges of our time, such as security and climate change.
By joining forces, the two organisations are creating a single, clear package of subsidies, financing options, and advisory services. The goal is to make it faster and easier for entrepreneurs to access the support they need. In addition, RVO and the ROMs will align their approaches more closely with the needs of specific sectors and technologies, while also sharing more information. This will enable them to provide more targeted support, detect challenges more quickly, and offer better-informed advice to policymakers.
Ellen Jacobs, Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at RVO:
At RVO, we help innovative entrepreneurs move forward every day. By strengthening our collaboration with the ROMs, we’re making our services more accessible, focused, and effective. This way, we can reach even more entrepreneurs and ensure that each one gets the support they need to scale up.
Entrepreneurs today face complex challenges, including shortages in labour, space, and energy. At the same time, rapid technological developments in areas like digitalisation and AI are creating both opportunities and complexity. With closer collaboration, RVO and the ROMs aim to help businesses better navigate these challenges.
Wendy de Jong, CEO of Oost NL and Chair of ROM-Nederland:
Regional development agencies are close to entrepreneurs — both geographically and in practice. We're embedded in the regions. By connecting our regional knowledge, tools, and networks with those of RVO, we can jointly create even greater impact for innovative SMEs, startups, and scale-ups.
The two organisations already collaborate closely in supporting international business. Building on this successful partnership, this new step will further strengthen services for innovative entrepreneurs. Later this year, the parties will formally confirm their collaboration in a cooperation agreement.
About RVO
The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) encourages, guides, and supports entrepreneurs aiming to operate sustainably, innovatively, or internationally. RVO works with entrepreneurs to address three major societal transitions: climate, agriculture, and the economy. Commissioned by ministries, provinces, and the European Union, RVO manages more than 700 different support schemes.
About the ROMs
The nine regional development agencies (ROMs) in the Netherlands focus on building the regional economy of tomorrow. By accelerating the growth of innovative businesses, the ROMs help strengthen the innovation ecosystems of the Netherlands from a regional level. In doing so, they contribute to sustainable regional economic growth and employment. The ROMs support startups, scale-ups, and innovative SMEs in making impact on key societal themes, such as the energy transition, food transition, digitalisation of industry, the circular economy, and affordable and accessible healthcare.
