Dutch Defense Fund Makes First Investment in Drone Technology Startup
Netherlands, Thursday, 11 December 2025.
Netherlands’ new SecFund deployed its inaugural investment to Tective, a Delft-based drone manufacturer developing autonomous swarm technology. The specialized defense fund, starting with €25 million and targeting €100 million by 2025, focuses on dual-use technologies serving both civilian and military applications. This milestone marks a strategic shift in Dutch defense innovation, with the industry projected to triple from €3.6 billion to €13 billion annually by 2030. Over 100 companies have already expressed interest since the fund’s October announcement, highlighting growing opportunities in defense technology partnerships.
SecFund’s Strategic Launch and Investment Structure
The SecFund officially opened in April 2025, representing a collaborative effort between the Dutch Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and regional development companies [1]. The fund’s execution is managed by the Brabant Development Agency (BOM) in partnership with other regional development companies nationwide [1]. With initial capital of €25 million, the fund aims to expand to €100 million in 2025 and can invest up to €5 million per company [1]. The fund specifically targets Dutch startups, scale-ups, and innovative small and medium enterprises that address the innovation needs of the Ministry of Defense [1].
Tective’s Autonomous Drone Swarm Technology
Tective, based in Delft, has developed the SkyHive system, an autonomous airfield designed to facilitate automated drone swarm deployment using five in-house developed drones [1]. The company represents a prime example of dual-use technology, with applications spanning both civilian surveillance and military operations [2]. SecFund’s investment in Tective was made in partnership with Tenzing Alpha, focusing on enabling further development and scaling up of the technology with emphasis on production security in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense [1]. According to Mattijs Otten from Tective, the Ministry of Defense actively engages with companies throughout the innovation process, from initial concept to implementation in operational units, including field tests with end users [2].
Massive Industry Growth Projections Through 2030
The Dutch defense industry stands on the brink of unprecedented expansion, with turnover expected to increase from €3.6 billion in 2023 to approximately €13 billion per year by 2030 [2]. This represents a growth rate of 261.111 percent over the seven-year period. Between 2025 and 2030, the Dutch Ministry of Defense plans to spend approximately €178 billion, with €62 billion allocated to investments and €21 billion to maintenance [2]. Dutch companies are projected to receive €41 billion of these investments and perform a significant portion of the maintenance work [2]. The Netherlands has committed to meeting NATO’s defense spending standard of 3.5% of GDP by 2035, with 5% including indirect expenses, and direct defense expenditures projected to reach 2.7% by 2030 [2].
Strong Market Interest and Future Opportunities
Since the SecFund’s announcement in October 2025, over 100 companies from across the Netherlands have expressed interest in the fund, demonstrating robust market appetite for defense technology investment [1]. The fund focuses on dual-use companies with applications in both civilian and defense sectors, including technologies such as LiFi and advanced radio technology [1]. State Secretary of Defense Gijs Tuinman emphasized the fund’s importance, stating that to provide personnel with the best equipment, the Netherlands needs the most innovative people and companies, with SecFund providing substantial support to startups and scale-ups to rapidly bring their innovations to production and deploy them to warfighters [1]. CEO Brigit van Dijk – Van de Reijt of the Brabant Development Agency noted that the investment in Tective officially launched the SecFund, with the significant interest highlighting entrepreneurs’ need for this new dual-use financing instrument [1].