WBSO's Impact on R&D Investments in the Netherlands Highlighted
The Hague, Friday, 11 April 2025.
The WBSO remains a critical tool for stimulating over EUR 1 billion in annual R&D investments in the Netherlands, with nearly 97% of benefits going to SMEs, fostering innovation stability.
Substantial Economic Impact
The WBSO (Wet Bevordering Speur- en Ontwikkelingswerk) has demonstrated remarkable effectiveness, generating over €1 billion in additional annual R&D investments from companies. This investment yielded a public return of nearly €3 billion in 2022 [1]. The program’s reach is particularly impressive, with approximately 20,000 companies participating, of which 97% are small and medium-sized enterprises [1].
Strategic Importance for Innovation Policy
For three decades, the WBSO has served as a cornerstone of Dutch innovation policy, providing crucial stability for long-term investment planning [1]. The program’s effectiveness is enhanced through complementary measures such as the Innovation Box and expatriate regulations, creating a comprehensive support system for research and development [1]. However, recent developments indicate potential challenges ahead, as plans have emerged to discontinue the pharmaceutical letter from the WBSO framework by 2027, which could impact clinical research activities [2].
International Competitiveness Concerns
The planned changes to the WBSO program have raised concerns about the Netherlands’ competitive position in biotechnology research. While neighboring countries like Denmark, Belgium, and Germany maintain inclusive policies for clinical research support, the Netherlands’ decision to exclude certain clinical research activities could affect its position as a biotech leader [2]. This modification appears to conflict with the government’s stated goal of investing 3% of GDP in R&D activities [2].