Dutch Ministry of Defence Launches €100M Security Innovation Fund

The Dutch Ministry of Defence (MOD) has unveiled a new €100 million Security Innovation Fund aimed at strengthening the Netherlands’ position in strategic technologies and deeptech innovation. Announced by State Secretary Christophe van der Maat, the fund is designed to support startups and scaleups working on dual-use technologies—those with both civilian and military applications.

The initiative comes amid rising geopolitical tensions and a growing focus on technological sovereignty in Europe. The MOD emphasized the need to reduce dependency on foreign powers for critical technologies and boost the Netherlands’ ability to innovate in areas like AI, quantum computing, sensors, robotics, and cybersecurity.

The €100M fund will be managed in partnership with Invest-NL and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), and it will back early-stage and growth-stage companies developing security-relevant technologies. It is part of a broader strategy to build a robust defence innovation ecosystem and create stronger ties between government, industry, and academia.

This marks a significant step for the Netherlands, which has historically taken a more cautious approach to defence investment. The fund signals a shift toward a more proactive, innovation-driven security policy—aligning with similar moves in countries like the US, UK, and France.

October 2024

Source: Silicon Canals