TNO launches venture branch to boost startup growth
TNO introduces TNO Ventures to speed up tech innovation, aiding startups from lab to market with strategic investments.
Published on May 15, 2025
© TNO
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The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) launched TNO Ventures, a new initiative designed to accelerate technology transfer from the laboratory to the market. In addition to creating more spin-offs, the venture will also assist in scaling technologies developed outside of the organization.
TNO Ventures will facilitate access to TNO's advanced technologies, expertise, and facilities in areas such as AI, medical technology, and integrated photonics. Startups participating in this initiative can pay in shares, reducing their initial cash outlay. This approach positions TNO as a strategic partner in the growth and development of innovative enterprises. TNO Ventures has already directly invested in the quantum startup Equal1 and is involved in 12 Dutch early-stage investment funds, including DeepTechXL, Innovation Industries, and PhotonVentures.
TNO currently has over 40 spin-off companies, including Nearfield Instruments, LeydenJar, and Peregrion. In 2024, 8.7% of the total capital invested in Dutch startups went to TNO spin-offs. With about 25 TNO projects ready to become spin-offs in the near future, TNO is actively seeking experienced entrepreneurs to strengthen these founding teams.
TNO to accelerate the growth of Dutch startups
Dutch tech startups and scaleups are growing more slowly compared to their European and American counterparts. In the Netherlands, an average of 21.5% of startups grow into scaleups, compared to 23% in Europe and 54% in the US, says TNO. The Netherlands, known for its knowledge base, struggles to convert this knowledge into applications, business activities, and economic value. Factors such as a lack of risk-bearing capital, talent, housing, and space on the power grid are causing R&D-intensive companies to move activities abroad.
Hans Boumans, director of TNO Ventures, emphasized the importance of applying innovations to societal challenges and implementing technology on a large scale to make an impact. “With TNO Ventures, we support spin-offs and startups through the ‘valley of death’ so that promising innovations scale up from research to broad practical application more often and faster. In addition to our technological expertise, including due diligence, we ensure the availability of facilities such as labs and cleanrooms and IP guidance from TNO.”
The establishment of TNO Ventures aligns with TNO's strategy to bring technological innovation to the market faster and to better scale and make startups competitive. TNO has also allied with Techleap and Invest-NL to tackle these challenges together.
