Innovation Fund, East Netherlands

This study explains how the Innovation Fund in East Netherlands, co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in the 2007-2013 programming period, addressed a regional market gap for access to finance. Target recipients were small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the food, health and technology sectors, with no track record and in the early development stage. The fund manager, Participatiemaatschappij Oost (PPM Oost), provided equity and loans combined with non-financial support such as networking, training and coaching.