20/10/2025
Automation with a RAP subsidy
No, this is not a typo, we do mean RAP instead of RPA this time. The Dutch labor market has been tight for years, and many companies in almost every sector have to deal with this. Retaining employees has never been more important, after all, finding a replacement has never been so difficult. Fortunately, the Rijnmond region is coming to the rescue by setting up the “Rijnmonds labor market perspective fund” (RAP). That is quite a mouthful, but we will explain in detail what it means and what it can mean for you.
Rijnmond region comes to the rescue
The Rijnmond region is helping local companies and entrepreneurs with its RAP initiative. The main goal of the RAP is to stimulate good ideas and reduce the staff shortage in the Rijnmond employment region. In addition, the RAP only focuses on a number of crucial sectors and some forms of economic transitions. The subsidy itself is a form of co-financing, up to a maximum of 50 percent of the relevant investment.
Focus on key sectors
According to the Rijnmond employer service point site, the RAP focuses on the crucial sectors. These are:
- public transport
- care
- childcare
- education
- construction and technology
- the safety chain
- the port and logistics
If you find yourself in one of these sectors, you can claim the subsidy anyway.
If this is not the case, you don't have to give up hope just yet. Indeed, the RAP is also intended for general economic transitions. According to the website of the Rijnmond region, they specifically refer to the following three types of transitions:
- the digitization transition
- the energy transition
- the transition to a circular economy
So are you part of a company that is not in a crucial sector but is working on one of the above economic transitions and are you located in the Rijnmond region? Then you still have a chance to get a subsidy.
How does it work?
For applications, an investment for the project must be at least 20 thousand and a maximum of 500 thousand euros.
You have to be quick to sign up, because there are only a few times a year when you can sign up for the RAP. The first opening starts on October 4, 2023 and ends on October 31, 2023. Before you can apply, it is important that you carefully review the exact conditions from the Rijnmond region. The site says under “Request” all the exact information and a step-by-step explanation of how to apply.
Use the grant to digitize with VionA
At VionA, we are working every day to help companies in their digital transition. As a result, a digitization and automation project with VionA qualifies for the RAP subsidy.
The payback period for automation at VionA is usually around six months, with a subsidy, this would mean that you would recoup the investment in three months.
With the lower limit of 20 thousand euros in mind, the following approach makes the most sense. VionA performs a business scan where all processes are analyzed. This involves identifying all digitization and automation potential. From this, priorities can be set to the processes that you would like to have digitized or automated. By determining which processes will be addressed in 2024, you can put together a package of more than 20 thousand euros and claim the 50% subsidy on the costs incurred. The payback period for automation at VionA is usually around six months, with a subsidy, this would mean that you would recoup the investment in three months.
Sam is ready to answer further questions and schedule the business scan.
