Second Opening of EIP Subsidy for Digitization and Robotization in Agriculture and Horticulture

From November 11, 2025, to January 7, 2026, a second subsidy round opens to make agriculture and horticulture more future-proof through robotization and digitization. Think of robots that assist with milking, sowing, or packaging products. A total of €10.47 million is available for this subsidy. Eligible projects will also become part of the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) network.

Strengthening Robotization and Digitization

In the Coalition Agreement and the Government Program, the cabinet has focused on innovation in agriculture and horticulture through, among other things, robotization and digitization. The cabinet aims to ensure that these sectors remain among the most competitive, innovative, and sustainable in the world in the future.

Through the Digitization Action Program and the Robots to the Farming Practice innovation program, projects contributing to digitization and robotization receive subsidies. These programs aim to use digitization and robotization to create a future-proof agriculture and horticulture sector, improve soil quality, water quality, and animal welfare, and strengthen biodiversity. Innovations aimed at increasing labor productivity are also eligible for this subsidy.

More Funding and Network

In 2024, projects could apply for this subsidy for the first time. Nineteen projects jointly received €8.46 million. This year, the budget has been increased to €10.47 million, with extra attention for robots specifically within the primary agricultural process and post-processing of agricultural products. These include robots that harvest and feed, but also robots that select, package, and prepare products for sale. This year, projects receiving subsidies will again be added to the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) network. This network exists to learn from each others projects.

Application Conditions

Companies working together in a consortium on a project related to innovation, digitization, and robotization in agriculture or horticulture can submit their application between November 11, 2025, and January 7, 2026. The application must meet several conditions. The most important is that the consortium consists of at least one farmer and one or more other participants, such as a technology developer, knowledge institution, or chain or sector organization. Applications are assessed on quality, not on a first-come, first-served basis. The subsidy amounts to a maximum of €500,000 per consortium per application. Detailed conditions and assistance for applicants can be found via the website of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency.