ROMs support the Ministry of Defense in finding innovative companies in the region
In order to have the right equipment at its disposal, the Ministry of Defence is investing heavily in innovation. Among other things, the Ministry is focusing on dual-use applications: products and services that can be used for both civilian and military purposes. Innovative SMEs are crucial suppliers and make an important contribution to our autonomy, security and the future earning capacity of the Netherlands.
On 6 November, State Secretary for Defence Gijs Tuinman and the regional development agencies (ROMs), provinces and business community signed a letter of intent (LOI) in the regions of East and Central Netherlands, North Holland and Zeeland. They too are committed to further strengthening the innovative power of the Ministry of Defence. Agreements had already been made with South Holland, Limburg and North Brabant.
“Cooperation between industry and defence is improving, which is good for overall innovation capacity. We are seeing more and more opportunities to bring innovations with dual-use applications to market faster: a win-win for all parties.”
Brigit van Dijk – van de Reijt, on behalf of ROM Netherlands.
The official signing of the LOI took place during the Purple Nectar Event 2025 in Nijkerk. This knowledge and innovation event organised by the Ministry of Defence focuses on the exchange of the latest technological applications.
Faster innovation
One of the aims of the LOI between the Ministry of Defence and the regions is to identify regional solutions. Ideas that can help the Ministry of Defence to innovate faster and in surprising ways, for example in the field of smart materials, maintenance, ICT and artificial intelligence. Concrete examples of such innovations include a solution to jamming, the deliberate disruption of wireless communication, as well as advanced drone technology for automated mapping of areas.
The Ministry of Defence has already made agreements with the regions of Limburg, South Holland and North Brabant. With this signing, we are very close to achieving nationwide coverage.
State Secretary Tuinman, Ministry of Defence
Opening of knowledge centre in Limburg
In the spring of 2025, LIOF signed a letter of intent with the Ministry of Defence, the Province of Limburg and Brightlands Chemelot Campus. As an accessible knowledge centre, we bring companies, knowledge institutions and the Ministry of Defence together to collaborate on innovation. In this way, we ensure that new ideas and technologies find their way into concrete applications more quickly.
As the national point of contact for smart materials, we help entrepreneurs establish the right contacts, translate technical ideas into practical applications, and guide promising initiatives towards suitable financing.
In addition, we are working on other themes that fit in with the Ministry of Defence's innovation agenda. We are doing this together with ODIN and our partners. The collaboration with VDL and Brightlands in Limburg is also a result of this earlier connection.
Defence and ROMs support companies with a comprehensive range of tools
With venture capital, including via SecFund, innovation hubs, venture building via the NATO incubator DIANA, and trade missions such as those recently to Riga and the USA. The relationship between defence and the ROMs goes back decades. In some regions and municipalities, defence is an important employer and therefore of economic value to the overall ecosystem.
Want to know more?
Want more information or to know how LIOF can help your company move forward? Feel free to contact us!
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