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European regional development fund (ERDF) opportunity for innovative SMEs and startups to test and validate future-proof arable farming solutions

Summary

Profile Type
  • Research & Development Request
POD Reference
RDRNL20260421007
Term of Validity
21 April 2026 - 21 April 2027
Company's Country
  • Netherlands
Type of partnership
  • Research and development cooperation agreement
Targeted Countries
  • Belgium
  • Sweden
  • Austria
  • Poland
  • Luxembourg
  • Latvia
  • Denmark
  • Slovakia
  • Czechia
  • Croatia
  • Norway
  • Netherlands
  • Hungary
  • Cyprus
  • Portugal
  • Finland
  • Malta
  • Italy
  • Estonia
  • Bulgaria
  • Slovenia
  • France
  • Ireland
  • Spain
  • Romania
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Lithuania
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General information

Short Summary
Netherlands-based agro-ecological research coordinator seeks European innovative small and medium-sized enterprises and startups for an ERDF Kansen voor West III project. The aim is to strengthen innovation in future-proof agriculture through prototype development, testing and demonstration. Partners should offer practical solutions for sustainable arable farming in Flevoland, especially in agro-ecology, data and technology, energy, circularity or transition management.
Full Description
The Dutch agro-ecological research coordinator Wageningen University & Research (WUR) is looking for European innovative small and medium-sized enterprises and startups to collaborate in an ERDF-funded Kansen voor West III project focused on future-proof agriculture. The project aims to increase the innovation capacity of the agricultural and horticultural sector and support a smarter and more sustainable economic transition in Europe. The opportunity is open on a rolling basis for expressions of interest, with the call remaining open until December 2027. Projects can run for up to 24 months.

The project offers two support routes:
- The first is an R&D voucher, which helps applicants cover external costs for developing and testing a prototype in a laboratory or other relevant controlled environment. This voucher reimburses 100% of accepted Wageningen Research costs, excluding VAT, up to 90,000 euros, and up to 50% of other accepted external costs, excluding VAT, up to 30,000 euros.
- The second is a practical test voucher, which supports the use of experts and facilities at the Farm of the Future and connected practice-oriented companies to test and demonstrate an innovation in a real operational environment. This voucher reimburses 100% of accepted Wageningen Research costs, excluding VAT, up to 30,000 euros.

The initiative is aimed at innovations that contribute to sustainable agriculture in Flevoland, especially in arable farming and vegetable cultivation. Main crops include potatoes, onions and carrots, supported by crop rotations with grass clover, winter wheat, summer faba bean and cover crops. Relevant innovation themes are agro-ecology, data and technology, energy, residual flows and circularity, and transition management. Links with other crop-related sectors may be possible when the focus remains on soil, cultivation and the farming system. Innovations in animal housing systems and indoor cultivation are not within scope.
Advantages and Innovations
1. Validation and fewer risks of failure: too many products enter the market without a full assessment and testing. 
2. Access to the best testing facilities: world class testing facilities of Wageningen Research become available for SME's and startups.
3. First contact with WUR-experts: with the program, you receive feedback on your innovation and/or technology from experts at Wageningen University & Research.
Even without the voucher, the intake of your application could give you very valuable feedback.
4. Availability for 40 innovators from across the EU.
Technical Specification or Expertise Sought
1. Agro-ecology
2. Data & Technology
3. Energy
4. Residual Flows & Circularity
5. Transition Management
Stage of Development
  • Available for demonstration
Sustainable Development Goals
  • Goal 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal
  • Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
  • Goal 2: Zero Hunger
  • Goal 15: Life on Land
  • Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
  • Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
  • Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
  • Goal 13: Climate Action
  • Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
IPR status
  • No IPR applied

Partner Sought

Expected Role of a Partner
The partner sought is expected to be a European innovative small and medium-sized enterprise or startup that can bring a concrete innovation to be developed, tested, demonstrated or validated within the Farm of the Future context. Suitable partners should be active in sustainable arable farming, vegetable production, agri-tech, data-driven farming, renewable energy for agriculture, circular agriculture, soil and cultivation systems, or transition-related services that improve the resilience and future-readiness of farming in Flevoland.

The partner should contribute a practical solution with clear relevance to field-level, farm-level, regional or food-system challenges. This may include technological, ecological or socio-economic innovation, as long as it supports future-proof arable farming and fits the local cropping and soil context.

The partner is expected to work with the coordinator to define the testing pathway, provide the innovation or prototype, share technical knowledge, participate in validation or demonstration activities, and help assess feasibility and impact in practice.

The strongest candidates will offer a solution that is mature enough to be tested within two years, has a clear use case for farmers, and shows potential for wider adoption.
Type and Size of Partner
  • SME <=10
  • SME 11-49
  • SME 50 - 249
Type of partnership
  • Research and development cooperation agreement

Call details

Framework program
  • Research for the benefit of SMEs
Call title and identifier
Innovation project Farm of the Future Flevoland (1.1.PF.3)
Submission and evaluation scheme
Two-stage submission scheme:
- a short project idea for the first stage;
- followed by full proposal for the second stage, if it passes the first-stage evaluation. This includes a project+financial plan drawn up by a Wageningen researcher.
Anticipated project budget
€ 4,750,000
Coordinator required
No
Deadline for EoI
Deadline of the call
Project duration in weeks
104
Web link to the call
https://farmofthefuture.nl/en/flevoland/vouchers/
Project title and acronym
Innovation project Farm of the Future Flevoland (1.1.PF.3)

Dissemination

Technology keywords
  • 07001004 - Crop Production
  • 07001001 - Agriculture Machinery / Technology
  • 07001006 - Pesticides
  • 07001007 - Precision agriculture
Market keywords
  • 05009004 - Plant health
  • 09005 - Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, Animal Husbandry & Related Products
  • 02007016 - Artificial intelligence related software
  • 08002005 - Machine vision software and systems
  • 08002004 - Robotics
Sector Groups Involved
  • Agri-Food
Targeted countries
  • Belgium
  • Sweden
  • Austria
  • Poland
  • Luxembourg
  • Latvia
  • Denmark
  • Slovakia
  • Czechia
  • Croatia
  • Norway
  • Netherlands
  • Hungary
  • Cyprus
  • Portugal
  • Finland
  • Malta
  • Italy
  • Estonia
  • Bulgaria
  • Slovenia
  • France
  • Ireland
  • Spain
  • Romania
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Lithuania

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