Regional Development Agencies (ROMs)
Are you looking for funding for your business? Regional Development Agencies help existing, new, and foreign businesses to innovate, invest, and expand internationally. On this page, you can find out how this works and where to go in your province.
What is a ROM?
A Regional Development Agency (Regionale Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij, ROM) is an organisation that helps entrepreneurs to grow, innovate, and do business. The aims of an ROM are:
- to stimulate innovation
- to strengthen the regional economy
ROMs are non-profit organisations and have public shareholders, such as provinces and central government. However, an ROM is not a public authority.
9 ROMs in the Netherlands
There are 9 Regional Development Agencies in the Netherlands. Together they form a national network (in Dutch), but each ROM operates within one or more regions.
As an entrepreneur, you can turn to a ROM if you have an innovative or growing business and want to invest, innovate, or enter new markets.
Who are ROMs for?
ROMs focus mainly on:
- start-ups and scale-ups
- innovative SMEs
- businesses with growth potential
Not every entrepreneur is eligible. A ROM mainly supports businesses that contribute to the economic development of the region in which they operate.
What does a ROM do?
A ROM can support entrepreneurs in various ways:
ROMs primarily invest in innovative and fast-growing businesses in their own region. A ROM can invest money in your business and may become a (temporary) co-owner via shares. This often happens with businesses where there is greater financial risk for investors. That is why it is also known as ‘venture capital’.
ROMs help entrepreneurs set up and grow their businesses, for example by sharing knowledge and experience.
ROMs connect entrepreneurs with networks, partners, and knowledge institutions.
ROMs help companies establish themselves in a region or grow further there.
ROMs support businesses wishing to do business abroad and also attract foreign businesses to the region.
A ROM does not give grants. It makes investments and offers support.
ROMs in your region
Do you want to know if a ROM can help you? You should always apply for support directly to the ROM. Contact the ROM in your region to arrange an initial consultation. The ROM will assess whether and how it can support you.
- Groningen, Friesland, and Drenthe: NOM
- Gelderland and Overijssel: OOST NL
- Noord-Brabant: BOM
- Limburg: LIOF
- Zuid- Holland: InnovationQuarter
- Flevoland: Horizon
- Noord-Holland: ROM InWest
- Utrecht: ROM Utrecht Region
- Zeeland:Impuls Zeeland
Help with financing
Getting help increases your chances of financing. With the right adviser and a good financial basis, a 'yes' to your financing application is within easy reach. These advisers can help you.