How the Netherlands Plans to Keep Its Most Promising Technology Companies at Home
The Hague, Thursday 20 August 2026
Following a high-level meeting this week, Dutch business leaders and state investors are tackling funding and regulatory gaps to prevent cutting-edge deeptech scale-ups from relocating abroad.
Bridging the Scale-Up Funding Gap
On Monday, 17 August 2026, Coen van Oostrom, the chairman of the Dutch employers’ federation VNO-NCW who took office in May 2026, met with the state-backed impact investor Invest-NL and a group of innovative scale-ups [1][2]. The meeting took place at YES!Delft, a prominent incubator where many Dutch deeptech companies begin their journeys [1][2]. During the visit, leaders toured the laboratory of quantum computing hardware developer QuantWare and visited the battery testing facilities of CarbonX, showcasing the Netherlands’ active development in quantum technology and energy transition materials [1][2].
Navigating the Financial Valley of Death
The high-level discussions highlighted a critical structural bottleneck that occurs when deeptech enterprises attempt to transition from early-stage innovation to industrial-scale operations [1]. At this growth stage, companies frequently fall between different funding mechanisms; their capital requirements are too large for typical venture capital firms, while commercial banks and traditional financiers still perceive the technology and market risks as too high [1]. This funding gap is further exacerbated by investors demanding concrete proof of commercial viability—such as established revenues, scaled production, or signed off-take agreements—before investing, creating a paradoxical situation where companies need significant capital to build the infrastructure required to secure that very funding [1].
Overcoming Regulatory and Infrastructural Hurdles
The challenges confronting Dutch scale-ups extend far beyond capital access, encompassing severe operational and regulatory hurdles [1]. Entrepreneurs from diverse high-tech sectors—including representatives from medical technology firm Xeltis, precision fermentation specialist Vivici, energy storage developer AQUABATTERY, and sustainable smartphone manufacturer Fairphone—participated in the discussions to share their operational bottlenecks [1][2]. These founders detailed how lengthy administrative procedures, inconsistent regulations across European borders, and a shortage of local production capacity and suppliers heavily constrain their growth, forcing some to consider relocating their operations abroad [1].
Securing the Future of Dutch Deeptech
To prevent a brain drain of domestic innovation, Dutch business leaders and public backers are calling for a more cohesive and rapid support network [1]. Coen van Oostrom emphasised the urgency of the situation, stating that the ecosystem must accelerate its processes, ensure capital is available, and systematically remove growth barriers [1]. Invest-NL is actively targeting these friction points, working to build an environment where pioneering companies in sectors like robotics, quantum hardware, and energy transition materials can find the long-term capital, specialized investors, and physical space necessary to scale up within the Netherlands [1][GPT].