Deep Tech Fund launched for knowledge-intensive start-ups and scale-ups

The Deep Tech Fund supports knowledge-intensive start-ups and scale-ups in order to enhance the technological knowledge and international competitiveness of the Netherlands. The Deep Tech Fund wants to invest in companies with innovative, complex technology. It is often difficult to find financing for innovative companies that are both knowledge-intensive and capital-intensive. In most cases, these are new technologies that have not yet been proven and are associated with relatively high risks.

Minister Micky Adriaansens (Economische Zaken en Klimaat): “It is important to support innovative technology in the Netherlands at an early stage. This helps keep our economy globally competitive and ensures our prosperity and security. Knowledge-intensive start-ups and scale-ups require sufficient capital in order to grow and scale up. The Deep Tech Fund helps with financing these companies in order to further develop their promising, complex technologies.”

Wouter Bos, Invest-NL CEO: “Opportunities in the Netherlands for industries that require a long horizon, with high investments, and high returns once they succeed, are still limited. That is often down to the financing. We are confident that the Deep Tech Fund will contribute in a positive way towards making capital available for these companies so that they can continue to grow and therefore contribute to the Netherlands of tomorrow.”

Marc Hendrikse, Executive Chairman of Holland High Tech: “The Deep Tech Fund is a crucial initiative for companies in sectors such as microelectronics, photonics, quantum technology, nanotech, medical technology and high-tech materials. This often concerns new technologies involving relatively high risks, both in terms of time and money. That is why the leading High Tech Systems and Materials sector is pleased with the introduction of the Deep Tech Fund.”

Brigit Van Dijk van de Reijt, CEO of the Brabant Development Agency: “The Deep Tech Fund was founded in close collaboration with the Regional Development Agencies (ROMs), which are currently one of the largest investors in deep tech. We look forward to a successful working relationship.”

The fund operates as a co-investment fund and is housed as an independent unit within Invest-NL. The fund has a specialised focus on deep tech and has an independent fund management and independent Investment Committee (IC) that provides binding advice. The IC of the Deep Tech Fund comprises Frits van Hout, Hans Büthker, Aruna Subramanian, Eline Vrijland and Steven Tan.

Frits van Hout, Chairman of the Deep Tech Fund Investment Committee: “Innovative technology can make a significant contribution to solving social issues and ensuring economic growth and high-quality jobs for the future. On that basis, we will assess investment propositions and thus enable suitable companies and sectors to grow rapidly.”