About RVO (Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland)

RVO is the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, an executive agency of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs & Climate Policy (Ministerie van Economische Zaken en Klimaat). Its task is to support, advise and stimulate enterprises and organisations — nationally and internationally — in innovating, working sustainably, internationalising and developing.
 

RVO’s strategic ambition (“Kompas voor een duurzame toekomst”) emphasises that its work goes beyond the Netherlands and involves bringing governments, businesses, organisations, chain & collaboration partners together to create a more sustainable society: for energy systems, food & agriculture, climate change. | Sources: About RVO | Business.gov.nl ; Over ons | RVO.nl ; Onze strategie | RVO.nl

Mission & Focus Areas:

  • Support sustainable entrepreneurship (green economy, circularity, renewable energy)
  • Support innovation and internationalisation of Dutch businesses and organisations
  • Execute subsidy-schemes, regulatory advice, knowledge networks and international partnerships
  • Bring public & private actors together to tackle systemic challenges such as climate change, agriculture/food systems, digital economy. | Source: RVO.nl

Collaborations with GHH-partners

Universities & academic partners:

  • TNO – RVO works with knowledge institutes such as TNO to implement innovation & sustainability programmes, which could intersect with global health system strengthening, climate & health, and preparedness.

NGOs / global health / system-partners:

  • Given RVO’s role in international development and sustainable food/agriculture/entrepreneurship, potential for collaboration with NGOs focusing on health systems in low‐income countries exists (funding, capacity building); like HealthNet TPO and WEMOS.

Overview of characteristics

Activity:

Where is RVO active:

  • Primarily the Netherlands; but also operates internationally (supports organisations abroad, trade missions, international entrepreneurship, subsidy and knowledge networks). | Source: RVO.nl

How is RVO active:

  • Funding and subsidy execution (e.g., for sustainable innovations, export, agriculture) | Source: bedrijvenbeleidinbeeld.nl
  • Knowledge & network facilitation (connecting businesses, governments, chain partners) | Source: RVO.nl
  • Regulatory / advisory support for entrepreneurs and organisations (laws, subsidies, internationalisation) | Source: business.gov.nl

Sector focus: sustainability/green economy, agriculture/food systems, innovation/entrepreneurship, among others.

International & global health relevance: While RVO is not primarily a global health agency, its programmes on sustainable development, innovation and international entrepreneurship make it a potential enabler in health-system strengthening, pandemic preparedness (innovation, supply chains) and climate & health (green/healthcare systems).

Community of Practice (CoP):

CoP1: Strengthening health systems

CoP2: Pandemic preparedness

CoP3: Climate change and health

Themes & subthemes within CoP1, CoP2 and CoP3:

CoP1: Strengthening health systems

Themes:

  • Innovation in healthcare delivery and supply-chains (funding entrepreneurship and tech)
  • Capacity building of organisations/institutions through subsidy and advisory support
  • Strengthening linkages between private sector, knowledge institutes and health service providers

Sub-themes:

  • Health innovation financing (medical devices, health IT)
  • Public-private partnerships in health value chains
  • Internationalisation of health organisations and export/import of health solutions

CoP2: Pandemic preparedness

Themes:

  • Support for innovation and supply-chain resilience (e.g., startups, export missions) that could relate to pandemic tools
  • International network building and export of Dutch solutions tied to health/emergency sectors

Sub-themes:

  • Emergency preparedness funding instruments for health-tech
  • Export and scaling of diagnostic, tele-health or logistic solutions relevant to pandemics
  • International cooperation programmes (supported by RVO) in low- and middle-income countries that might strengthen pandemic resilience

CoP3: Climate change & health

Themes:

  • Sustainable healthcare and green economy link to health sector (RVO promotes sustainability across systems)
  • Climate-resilient business models and innovation in health/green sector

Sub-themes:

  • Circular economy in healthcare supply chains (supported via RVO sustainability schemes)
  • Renewable energy / low-emission infrastructure for healthcare facilities (as part of sustainability transition)
  • International partnerships for climate & health innovations supported via RVO’s global activities

Organization type:

Private company

Available resources:

  • Knowledge & expertise:
    • Expertise in subsidy frameworks, internationalisation, innovation funding and regulatory compliance. For example, “Help entrepreneurs with innovating and working sustainably” is a core part of RVO’s mandate. | Source: RVO.nl
    • Strategic insight into sustainable systems, chain partnerships and linking organisations across sectors (public, private, knowledge). | Source: RVO.nl
  • Networks:
    • Broad networks with entrepreneurs, knowledge institutes, governments, international organisations. RVO acts as a connector bridging sectors. | Source: RVO.nl
    • International reach: helps organisations work abroad, join trade missions (e.g., startup missions 2025). | Source: AI-hub Oost-Nederland
  • Influence / advocacy capacity:
    • As a government agency, RVO holds a central position in Dutch policy‐implementation and funding programmes; can convene and mobilise resources and actors in public‐private setups.
    • Ability to shape programming and funding schemes relevant to health systems, preparedness and climate & health via linkages to ministries and international agendas.
  • Financial & funding resources:
    • Executes subsidy schemes and has budget for innovation, sustainability, export etc. For example, RVO had large budgetary outlays for entrepreneur support and subsidised funding. | Source: bedrijvenbeleidinbeeld.nl
    • Ability to provide grants, guarantee instruments, export support, internationalisation funding. (E.g., described in AECM PDF: loan guarantees etc.) | Source: AECM
  • Coordination capability:
    • Can coordinate multi‐actor initiatives: public agencies, private sector, knowledge institutes and programmes.
    • Experience in running international missions, trade fairs, connecting Dutch organisations with global markets and partners. | Source: AI-hub Oost-Nederland

Contact information RVO

Website: