Coverage that reduce innovation risk

International growth with reduced risk

The Netherlands has a strong knowledge base and a growing number of innovative deeptech companies. These companies are developing technologies that can contribute to major societal challenges, economic growth, and strategic autonomy. Examples include key enabling technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum technology, advanced materials, and other innovations that will shape the future of our economy.

However, there is often a significant challenge between a promising technology and a successful market product: access to sufficient capital. In deeptech, the path to commercialization is often long, capital-intensive, and uncertain. Technology development requires not only expertise and entrepreneurship, but also investments in production capacity, facilities, talent, and scaling.

To address this challenge, Atradius Dutch State Business, on behalf of the Dutch government, has developed the Innovation Cover. This scheme helps innovative Dutch companies gain access to financing by covering part of the financing risk. As a result, companies can bring their technologies to market more quickly.

Growing with Reduced Financing Risk

The Netherlands has a strong knowledge base and a growing number of innovative deeptech companies. These companies are developing technologies that can contribute to major societal challenges, economic growth, and strategic autonomy. Examples include key enabling technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum technology, advanced materials, and other innovations that will shape the future of our economy.

However, there is often a significant challenge between a promising technology and a successful market product: access to sufficient capital. In deeptech, the path to commercialization is often long, capital-intensive, and uncertain. Technology development requires not only expertise and entrepreneurship, but also investments in production capacity, facilities, talent, and scaling.

To address this challenge, Atradius Dutch State Business, on behalf of the Dutch government, has developed the Innovation Cover. This scheme helps innovative Dutch companies gain access to financing by covering part of the financing risk. As a result, companies can bring their technologies to market more quickly.

What is the Innovation Cover?

The Innovation Cover is a financing instrument for Dutch companies operating within the priority key technologies identified in the National Technology Strategy (NTS). The scheme makes it more attractive for banks and other financiers to provide loans to technology companies investing in innovation and future growth. On behalf of the Dutch state, Atradius Dutch State Business assumes a significant portion of the financing risk, making funding more accessible for innovative companies.

The scheme is specifically aimed at companies that are advancing their technologies towards technical and commercial market readiness and are looking to invest in further growth. Key requirements include contributing to a priority technology area, presenting a solid business case, and demonstrating export potential.

For deeptech startups and scale-ups, this provides an important additional pathway to move from technology validation to commercial scale-up. Visit Atradius Innovation Cover page for more information about this financing solution.

Why does this matter?

Deeptech innovation operates differently from traditional innovation. Bringing breakthrough technologies to market often requires years of research, specialized expertise, and substantial investment before commercial revenues can be generated. This creates a financing gap: companies need funding to scale, while many financiers still perceive the risks as too great.

This critical stage is often known as the “valley of death” where a technology has been validated, but commercial-scale deployment has not yet begun. The Innovation Cover helps bridge this gap by reducing risk and unlocking private investment.

For the Netherlands, this is crucial. If Dutch deeptech companies are to become global leaders, we must support not only research and early-stage startups, but also the scaling phase where innovation translates into economic and societal impact. True innovation happens when technology, entrepreneurship, and capital come together.

The Role of TNO Fast Track

TNO plays an important role in strengthening the Dutch deeptech ecosystem. Through TNO Fast Track, TNO supports startups and scale-ups in accelerating technological innovation towards market adoption. Entrepreneurs gain access to expertise, facilities, and a network that helps solve technological challenges faster and unlock new opportunities.

To effectively support entrepreneurs and ecosystem partners in exploring new financing opportunities, TNO provided training to Atradius Dutch State Business on the implementation of the Innovation Cover.

The collaboration between TNO, financial institutions, and public initiatives such as the Innovation Cover is essential for bridging the gap between technological development and economic impact.

A Call to Startups

Technologies with global impact do not emerge without taking risks. But by sharing those risks more intelligently among entrepreneurs, financiers, and public partners, more Dutch technology companies can grow into international success stories.

Together, we can ensure that Dutch innovations do not remain confined to the laboratory, but instead find their way to the market.