Dutch government invests nearly €200 million to boost vocational training and 6G technology
The Dutch cabinet is injecting €199.4 million into vocational education and 6G networks to future-proof the workforce and digital infrastructure. This investment aims to bridge skills gaps and position the Netherlands as a leader in next-gen mobile technology, directly benefiting students, businesses, and tech innovators.
| Project | Allocation (€) | Key Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
| Scaling Public-Private Partnerships | 152.6M (definitive) + 57.4M (conditional) | 8,000+ companies involved, 8,000+ trained employees, 10,000+ students with practical experience yearly |
| 6G Future Network Services | 61M (definitive) + 142M (reserved) | 20 patents, 14 hardware prototypes, 6 new companies, international 6G standardization efforts |
| Total Investment | 199.4M | Funds part of €11B National Growth Fund for economic growth projects |
The Dutch government, through the National Growth Fund, drives long-term economic growth by funding large-scale projects in education and technology. This initiative ensures the Netherlands remains competitive globally while addressing labor market needs and digital innovation.
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€200 million from National Growth Fund for vocational education and 6G networks
News item | 13-03-2026 | 14:15
The Dutch cabinet is allocating €199.4 million from the National Growth Fund for two projects that will strengthen the sustainable earning capacity of the Netherlands: Scaling Public-Private Partnerships in Vocational Education and 6G Future Network Services. This investment aims to improve the skills of the workforce and support the development of the next generation of mobile communication networks.
Scaling Public-Private Partnerships in Vocational Education
The Scaling Public-Private Partnerships (PPS) in vocational education project strengthens collaboration between businesses and secondary vocational (mbo) and higher professional education (hbo) institutions. The goal is to better align with labour market needs, thereby increasing productivity and the earning capacity of the Netherlands.
In the second round of the National Growth Fund, €152.6 million was allocated to scale up 15 public-private partnerships. In addition, the cabinet conditionally awarded €57.4 million for a subsequent phase. The partnerships have grown significantly in recent years: the number of participating companies increased by nearly 8,000, over 8,000 employees completed training programmes, and an additional 10,000 students with practical experience enter the labour market each year.
Based on this progress, the advisory committee recommends making the €57.4 million allocation permanent. This will allow existing partnerships to be further expanded and the network strengthened with four additional partnerships. The cabinet has adopted this recommendation.
6G Future Network Services
The 6G Future Network Services (6G FNS) project is working on developing the next generation of mobile communication networks, expected to be launched around 2030. 6G FNS is building a strong Dutch ecosystem of businesses and knowledge institutions and contributing to the international standardisation of new technologies.
In the third round of the National Growth Fund, €61 million was definitively allocated for the first phase of the project. An additional €142 million has been reserved for the follow-up phase. Since its launch in early 2024, several results have already been achieved: 20 patents have been developed, 14 hardware prototypes have been built, and six new companies have been established. A subsidy scheme is also stimulating new applications of 6G technology.
The advisory committee is positive about the project’s progress. It is making a significant contribution to the further development of 6G and strengthening the Netherlands’ position in the international 6G value chain. The committee therefore recommends allocating the reserved €142 million in full, which the cabinet has agreed to.
National Growth Fund
The National Growth Fund is investing a total of €11 billion in 50 large-scale projects that contribute to the future economic growth of the Netherlands. These include projects in areas such as green hydrogen, sustainable agriculture, combating low literacy, and key technologies like quantum computing and artificial intelligence.
The budgetary processing of these two allocations will take place in the first supplementary budget for 2026. The allocations will become final after approval by the House of Representatives and the Senate.