Dutch organisations involved in FIERCE and what they offer SMEs
- Earth Funding NLSpace
Kacia Rutkoŭskaja
- 0
- 15 minutes read
Several organisations based in the Netherlands are involved in the EU-funded FIERCE programme. They support SMEs that want to explore, develop, or scale green solutions using downstream space data, such as Earth Observation. This article explains which Dutch organisations are involved in FIERCE, what they can support SMEs with, and how this connects to the wider FIERCE funding and support framework.
What is FIERCE?
FIERCE is a three-year EU-funded programme (2024–2027) designed to support SMEs that want to work with downstream space data but may face technical, financial, or organisational barriers.
The programme combines:
- financial support,
- expert technical and business services, and
- local ecosystem engagement,
to help SMEs explore, test, and scale space-enabled solutions in areas such as environmental monitoring, circular economy, sustainability reporting, and nature-based solutions.
Dutch organisations involved in FIERCE
Innovation Intermediary in the Netherlands
dotSPACE participates in FIERCE as the Innovation Intermediary in the Netherlands and is currently the only organisation in this role at national level.
As Innovation Intermediary, dotSPACE:
- acts as a local entry point for SMEs interested in FIERCE
- helps organisations understand where space data could be relevant in their business
- shares information about FIERCE calls, support schemes, and use cases
The focus of this role is guidance, outreach, and ecosystem support, helping SMEs navigate the programme and identify suitable next steps.
External Service Providers based in the Netherlands
Dutch SMEs that receive FIERCE funding can work with External Service Providers (ESPs) listed in the FIERCE catalogue. These organisations deliver technical, business, and advisory services under the voucher schemes.
As of the publication date, the following External Service Providers are listed in the Netherlands:
AeroVision
A consultancy specialising in geospatial and Earth-observation-based applications, supporting feasibility studies, system design, and business development in domains such as smart cities and agriculture.
Space4Good
A data and analytics company working with Earth observation and environmental data to help organisations design, validate, and scale sustainability-focused solutions across sectors.
Space Business Innovation Centre Noordwijk
A business incubation and support organisation helping space-related start-ups and scale-ups develop viable business models, access funding, and connect to industry and ESA networks.
Advance Insight
A digital transformation company supporting SMEs with ERP implementation, business process optimisation, and data integration. Advance Insight helps organisations move from fragmented or manual workflows to structured digital systems, particularly in agriculture and impact-driven sectors.
dotSPACE Foundation
In addition to its Innovation Intermediary role, dotSPACE is also listed as an External Service Provider, supporting SMEs with mentoring, market exploration, funding support, and ecosystem building across the Netherlands and Europe.
The External Service Provider catalogue is continuously updated, and additional providers may be added over time.
Access External Service Providers Catalogue
What support can SMEs apply for?
Through FIERCE, SMEs can access two main types of support:
Advisory support
SMEs can receive technical and business guidance to assess whether and how space data could be relevant for their activities.
Financial vouchers
SMEs can apply for:
- up to €25,000 for ideation or commercialisation activities
- up to €50,000 for scale-up projects
These vouchers are used to contract External Service Providers listed in the FIERCE catalogue.
Important: SMEs are not limited to Dutch providers
While this article highlights Dutch organisations involved in FIERCE, SMEs are not limited to working with providers based in the Netherlands. Funding recipients may select any eligible External Service Provider listed in the FIERCE catalogue, including providers based in other European countries.
How SMEs can get started
In practice, Dutch SMEs can:
- explore whether FIERCE is relevant to their business with support from dotSPACE
- apply for funding under the FIERCE calls
- use awarded vouchers to work with a suitable External Service Provider
This set-up allows SMEs to experiment with space data in a structured way, while reducing upfront costs and technical risk. More information about the FIERCE programme, including open calls and eligibility criteria, is available on the FIERCE website.
