CHEM TOGETHER 21 - FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMES
On June 5, 2025, the Auditorium of Matrix ONE at Amsterdam Science Park welcomed researchers, entrepreneurs, and innovation professionals for Chem Together #21, a special edition focused on non-dilutive funding opportunities for startups, SMEs, and spin-offs in chemistry, life sciences, and sustainability.
Organized by the Amsterdam Chemistry Network (ACN), this session was designed to demystify the landscape of regional, national, and European funding instruments—while creating opportunities to strengthen partnerships between business, government, and applied research institutions.
KEYNOTES
The event was hosted by Sandra Galvan, Business Developer at ACN, who opened the day by welcoming all participants and introducing the mission and activities of the Amsterdam Chemistry Network. She highlighted ACN’s role in supporting innovation through chemistry, life sciences, and AI, and emphasized when and how the network can assist organizations in accessing funding and building partnerships.
The first part of the program featured three expert presentations exploring regional and national support instruments for SMEs. Marja Baas, Policy Advisor at the Province of North Holland, began with an overview of the region’s support for early-stage innovation. She presented a suite of instruments—ranging from MIT Feasibility and R&D grants to convertible loans and public investment funds—designed to help sustainable and circular entrepreneurs become investor-ready. Baas emphasized the importance of combining financial tools with tailored coaching, masterclasses, and access to strategic networks in order to strengthen the regional innovation ecosystem.
Following this, Rik Heijstek, Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor at RVO (Netherlands Enterprise Agency), offered a comprehensive presentation on the wide range of national subsidy schemes available to SMEs. He discussed RVO’s broader portfolio of over 700 support services and outlined how the agency assists entrepreneurs from the ideation phase through to implementation, via tax incentives, investment grants, and personalized expert guidance. Heijstek also introduced the National Growth Fund: Biobased Circular (NGF BBC) and its affiliated STCB program, which supports industrial-scale testing of circular biopolyesters, positioning it as a key mechanism for scaling green chemistry innovation in the Netherlands.
Dr. Bart van den Bosch, Associate Lector at Inholland University of Applied Sciences and Senior Scientist at Avantium, concluded the first part by highlighting the pivotal role of universities of applied sciences in bridging the gap between academic research and industrial application. He presented Inholland’s practice-oriented research model, which operates within Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 3 to 6, and emphasized the need for hands-on prototyping, transdisciplinary collaboration, and integration with industry partners. His talk showcased how applied research can accelerate innovation validation and adoption by translating scientific knowledge into real-world solutions.
A networking coffee break followed, providing participants with the opportunity to reflect on the presentations and initiate discussions with speakers and fellow attendees.
The second part of the event focused on European funding opportunities and institutional support for deep tech development. Dr. Mohammad Ghashghavi, Senior Account Manager at Catalyze, opened the session with a strategic overview of key EU-level non-dilutive funding instruments, including Eurostars, EIT Food, and the EIC Accelerator. Drawing on extensive experience in securing over €1 billion in grants for clients, Ghashghavi shared practical insights on aligning project goals with call requirements, building strong consortia, and preparing competitive applications. He stressed the importance of early preparation and value-driven proposal writing in navigating the complex European funding landscape.
The final speaker, Anna Butter, Business Developer at TNO, presented the TNO Fast Track program—an initiative designed to support SMEs and startups in bridging the so-called “valley of death” between proof of concept and commercial deployment. She detailed the program’s structured three-phase approach, encompassing early validation, targeted lab-based studies, and co-development of R&D projects with TNO’s expert teams. Butter highlighted the extensive infrastructure available to participating companies, including access to over 4,000 scientists and more than 50 specialized facilities, all supported by public funding instruments such as those from the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Before closing, Marco Tibaldi from ACN facilitated an interactive moment by inviting several attendees from the audience to deliver brief, one-minute introductions. Participants were encouraged to share their background, whether they represented a company, and what types of collaborations or funding connections they were seeking. This spontaneous matchmaking moment was well received and helped energize the final networking session, with many attendees continuing conversations sparked during the open mic.
To wrap up the day, Sandra Galvan returned to the stage to share exciting news: three new members have joined Amsterdam Chemistry Network in 2025—Lipton, VLCI, and V.O. Patents & Trademarks—a testament to ACN’s growing community and regional impact.
She closed by thanking all speakers, attendees, and sponsors, with special appreciation to ChemistryNL for supporting the event and helping broaden access to innovation funding.
Breaks and Networking
The day ended with a lively networking borrel, where researchers, founders, and government representatives continued their discussions over drinks—sparking new collaborations and funding opportunities in the Amsterdam innovation ecosystem.
Stay tuned for future editions of Chem Together—where we connect chemistry with innovation, and innovation with impact. 🚀
