Dutch Government Launches €45.8 Million STUDI Program to Fund Industrial Green Transitions
The Hague, Wednesday, 29 April 2026.
The Netherlands has rebranded its industrial funding program to STUDI, opening May 18, 2026 with €45.8 million available across three focus areas including CO2 reduction, hydrogen technology, and waste stream gasification. This strategic shift reflects the government’s commitment to supporting manufacturing companies in their sustainability transitions, offering crucial financial backing for feasibility studies that could transform Dutch industrial processes and significantly reduce carbon emissions in alignment with national climate objectives.
Strategic Rebranding Reflects Policy Evolution
The transformation from TSE Industrie Studies to STUDI (Studies voor duurzame industrie) represents more than a simple name change [1]. This rebranding follows the restructuring of the overarching Topsector Energie (TSE) regulation, which has been renamed to Energie-innovatie due to the termination of the previous top sector structure that no longer aligns with current policy [1]. The new name emphasizes the program’s substantive focus on stimulating studies that contribute to a sustainable and CO2-reduced industry [1]. Applications for the renewed STUDI program can be submitted from May 18, 2026, through March 31, 2027 [1].
Three-Pronged Approach to Industrial Decarbonization
The 2026 iteration introduces a third program line, expanding the scope of eligible projects [1]. Program Line 1 focuses on CO2-reducing measures excluding hydrogen and green chemistry, with a budget allocation of €28.3 million [1]. Program Line 2 targets hydrogen and green chemistry initiatives, receiving €10 million in funding [1]. The newly added Program Line 3 addresses gasification of residual streams, supported by €7.5 million [1]. This strategic distribution totals 45.8 million in dedicated funding [1]. The Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO) organized an informational webinar on April 26, 2026, to detail these opportunities for entrepreneurs in industry, research organizations, and intermediaries [2].
Feasibility Studies Drive Innovation Pipeline
STUDI subsidies support companies in conducting feasibility studies, environmental studies, or comparable preparatory research [1]. These studies must focus on innovative projects that significantly reduce CO2 emissions in industrial processes and form the foundation for pilot or demonstration projects [1]. The program’s emphasis on practical applicability and impact on energy transition reflects the government’s commitment to evidence-based industrial transformation [1]. Mark Jansen, Manager Technisch Ontwerp bij Efteling, highlighted the program’s value, stating that without such support, implementing projects requiring investments exceeding one million euros would have been challenging, as the subsidy provided essential confidence for proceeding [2].
Broader Context of Dutch Green Financing Ecosystem
The STUDI program operates within a comprehensive framework of sustainability financing instruments available to Dutch businesses in 2026 [GPT]. Parallel initiatives include the Flex-e subsidy for flexible electricity consumption feasibility studies, offering up to €125,000 for projects aimed at grid flexibility [3]. The Flex-e program, with a total budget of €8.829 million, accepts applications from May 6 through October 15, 2026 [3]. Additionally, the DEI+ regulation includes budget for biopolymer-based innovations, with applications accepted from January 27 through July 30, 2026 [4]. These complementary programs demonstrate the Netherlands’ systematic approach to financing industrial sustainability transitions across multiple technological domains.