SecFund marks its first anniversary with a strong start in dual-use investments
Today marks the first anniversary of SecFund. Over the past year, the fund has grown from a €100 million initiative into the national investment vehicle supporting Dutch startups, scale-ups and innovative SMEs developing dual-use technologies—innovations with both civilian and military applications. Together with co-investors, SecFund has already completed six investments.
Interest from entrepreneurs has been strong. Since its launch, more than 250 companies have expressed interest. Investments to date span the defence priority areas identified by the Ministry of Defence, ranging from advanced communication technologies and autonomous systems to medical applications. Early experience also shows that demand for risk capital in defence-related technologies currently exceeds available investment capacity.
Hugo Leyte, Head of Orchestrating Defence Innovation (ODIN), adds: “Over the past year, SecFund has proven to be more than just a financing instrument. It has not only helped companies accelerate innovation, but has also stimulated the wider financing market. Its impact has exceeded our initial expectations.”
SecFund is an investment fund providing early-stage financing to Dutch startups, scale-ups and innovative SMEs contributing to the innovation needs of the Ministry of Defence. The fund focuses on dual-use solutions—technologies and products that can be applied in both civilian and defence contexts—and always invests alongside private co-investors. This approach strengthens market dynamics and increases the availability of risk capital for defence-related technologies.
Brigit van Dijk – van de Reijt, CEO of the Brabant Development Agency (BOM), speaking on behalf of ROM-Nederland: “In just one year, SecFund has demonstrated that targeted early-stage investments in dual-use technologies can truly make a difference. Together with co-investors, we have supported six companies and continue to see a strong pipeline of high-quality propositions from across the Netherlands. This confirms that business-driven innovation is a crucial engine for both our resilience and our economy.”
SecFund is a collaboration between the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, and the regional development agencies (ROMs), united in ROM-Nederland. BOM manages SecFund on behalf of all ROMs and works closely with the Ministry of Defence to align investments with the most relevant technology areas. In doing so, SecFund combines regional execution power with national strategic priorities.
SecFund is also part of a broader set of instruments aimed at strengthening Defence’s innovation capacity. Beyond investment, venture development plays a key role in supporting companies to scale into mature suppliers and long-term partners. In close cooperation with Defence, efforts have also focused on developing regional innovation hubs and strengthening the international positioning of Dutch defence innovations within strategic value chains.
