The problem: underutilisation in the Northern Netherlands
The Focus Jaarverslag WBSO in 2024 shows that businesses in the Northern Netherlands make less use of WBSO opportunities than the national average. This is not due to a lack of innovation, but mainly to insufficient knowledge of the scheme, underestimating their own R&D activities, the complexity of the application process and an approach that is too operational and short-term. Many entrepreneurs assume their WBSO is already well organised, while in reality there is considerable room for improvement.
Making effective use of the WBSO requires more than simply submitting a correct application. Successful organisations take both a tactical and strategic approach. This means intelligently combining the WBSO with other funding schemes and tax incentives:
- Innovation Box: Generate additional tax benefits on profits resulting from innovative activities.
- Efficient administration: Automate and simplify processes so R&D employees can focus on innovation rather than administration.
- Multi-year planning: Strategically align innovation projects and make structural use of available incentives in line with long-term ambitions.
- Optimal project structure: Organise projects and teams in such a way that the maximum number of eligible R&D hours can be accounted for without creating unnecessary administrative pressure.
This turns the WBSO into a sustainable competitive advantage rather than a one-off benefit. By collaborating and investing in knowledge and strategy, businesses in the Northern Netherlands can strengthen their innovative capacity and maximise the benefits available through the WBSO and complementary schemes. Together, we can build a future-proof region that seizes opportunities and puts innovation at its core.
What exactly is the WBSO?
The WBSO, the Dutch Research and Development Tax Credit, provides companies with a tax benefit on the time and costs invested in research and innovation. The scheme can provide up to 40% relief on the labour costs of R&D employees, as well as benefits for other innovation-related expenditure.
For most companies, this translates into thousands of euros in additional budget for:
- Developing new products
- Improving existing processes
- Innovative services
- Technological breakthroughs
Find all information about the WBSO and Innovation Box on our subsidie-overzichtspagina or click the button below.
Success stories from practice
Over the past few years, Enablemi has successfully supported many companies in the Northern Netherlands with their WBSO applications. These organisations have strengthened their innovative capacity and freed up additional resources for growth.
Our clients typically benefit from:
- A larger innovation budget through tax benefits
- Professional support throughout the entire process
- Strategic alignment with other funding opportunities
- Long-term planning to maximise the available benefits
Successful use of the WBSO starts with a clear vision of your innovation objectives. By thinking ahead and planning strategically, organisations can achieve the best possible results from the schemes available to them.
Take the next step: from opportunity to results
Taking that next step starts with the right expertise and guidance. Organisations that invest in professional WBSO support achieve structurally better results than companies that manage the process entirely on their own.
A free WBSO assessment identifies specific opportunities for improvement and shows how much additional budget could become available for innovation projects.
Ready to get more out of the WBSO? Contact us for a free WBSO assessment and let us calculate the potential improvements. Together, we can work towards a sustainable future in which innovation can thrive with the right financial support.
