Digital technology

The greater Rotterdam- The Hague area is recognised for its innovative capabilities in digital technology and has a strong track record of businesses developing world-class technology. The leading sectors in the region are adopting the latest cutting-edge technologies at a fast pace. These sectors include horticulture, life sciences & health, maritime, port & logistics, government, high tech systems, aerospace and sustainable energy.

IT innovations surrounded by major industrial customers

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The IT sector in our region in numbers:

69,542

Professionals with technical IT skills (source: LinkedIn Talent Insights)

12068

Students enrolled in IT-related curricula across 2 renowned research universities and 4 universities of applied sciences. (Source: DUO)

2137

IT businesses with with > 5 employees in our region (source: Company.info)

2

Delft University of Technology is the second best for Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence (source: edurank.org)

#3

NL scores #3 overall in Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) and it is #2 for Human Capital and #2 for Connectivity

#1

TU Delft students is #1 in NL for Graduate Employability Ranking (Quacquarelli Symonds 2020)

Maritime & Port
The Port of Rotterdam’s reputation as an efficiency champion is due to its advanced IT systems. Both the Port and the local logistics industry are increasing their digital footprint in order to keep its lead.
Mobility
Our region offers a unique mobility ecosystem, with a highly favourable legislative framework for autonomous transportation, providing extensive space for businesses to develop and market their digital products.
Aerospace
Our space industry develops and implements sophisticated IT solutions that meet the ever growing ambitions of the global science and business community.

Horticulture
Westland is home to the largest high-tech greenhouse community in the world and is continuously implementing new technology to remain the most productive and efficient growers in the word.
Life Sciences & Health
The growing life sciences community in our region is committed to solving the world’s most imminent health related challenges. Digital technologies are an essential part of most new innovations in the sector.
Energy
Shifting towards a sustainable future requires advanced digital technology solutions for things like predicting energy consumption, planning distribution and storage solutions.

Major industries in our region

IT innovations in our region successfully find their way to the market due to the presence of large industrial clusters, for which digitalisation plays a major role. Industries like maritime logistics & port, horticulture, aerospace, life sciences & health, autonomous mobility and energy rely on digital solutions to secure their spot at the top of the world rankings.

Smart manufacturing

Our region has the highest concentration of manufacturers in the Netherlands, an industry which is rapidly implementing robotisation and automation to keep its competitive advantage in the global space. Programmes like SMITZH and HI Delta accelerate this transformation.

Major industries in our region

IT innovations in our region successfully find their way to the market due to the presence of large industrial clusters, for which digitalisation plays a major role. Industries like maritime logistics & port, horticulture, aerospace, life sciences & health, autonomous mobility and energy rely on digital solutions to secure their spot at the top of the world rankings.

Smart manufacturing

Our region has the highest concentration of manufacturers in the Netherlands, an industry which is rapidly implementing robotisation and automation to keep its competitive advantage in the global space. Programmes like SMITZH and HI accelerate this transformation. Needless to say, opportunities for digital solutions are up for grabs.

Maritime & Port
The Port of Rotterdam’s reputation as an efficiency champion is due to its advanced IT systems. Both the Port and the local logistics industry are increasing their digital footprint in order to keep its lead.
Mobility
Our region offers a unique mobility ecosystem, with a highly favourable legislative framework for autonomous transportation, providing extensive space for businesses to develop and market their digital products.
Aerospace
Our space industry develops and implements sophisticated IT solutions that meet the ever growing ambitions of the global science and business community.

Horticulture
Westland is home to the largest high-tech greenhouse community in the world and is continuously implementing new technology to remain the most productive and efficient growers in the word.
Life Sciences & Health
The growing life sciences community in our region is committed to solving the world’s most imminent health related challenges. Digital technologies are an essential part of most new innovations in the sector.
Energy
Shifting towards a sustainable future requires advanced digital technology solutions for things like predicting energy consumption, planning distribution and storage solutions.

The latest from our digital technologies community

Untappable internet for Port of Rotterdam offered by Quantum technology

Artificial Intelligence accelerating Energy Transition in the Netherlands

Dutch pioneers in Artificial Intelligence

2012 boompjes peter schmidt Peter Schmidt

Rotterdam is hotbed for future-proof economy: Startup Genome

Focus areas

The vast majority of digital innovations in our region take place within the major industries as discussed above. Three key driving digital forces are driving advances in these industries, enabling the digital leaps required to remain relevant in the future.

Artificial Intelligence
The AI community in our region is growing, developing applications such as harvest monitoring and quality control in horticulture, logistics planning in maritime & port and highly accurate image processing in life sciences & health.
Quantum technology
QuTech (Delft) is unique in the world for its quality, volume and combination of scientific and applied research. Intel and Microsoft are collaborating with TNO and TU Delft on hardware solutions for quantum computers. Algorithm developers for quantum computers are attracted by the opportunities for testing and demonstrating their applications here.
Blockchain technology
Our region is strongly represented in the Dutch blockchain community. The various incubators and accelerators in our region house numerous businesses developing blockchain-based energy, logistics and fintech solutions.

Business growth support

The multiple highly rated business accelerators in our region give innovative startups the network, growth support and – in some cases – the funding they need to make their business lift-off. IT is strongly represented at virtually all accelerators in the greater Rotterdam-The Hague region.

Business growth support

The multiple highly rated business accelerators in our region give innovative startups the network, growth support and – in some cases – the funding they need to make their business lift-off. IT is strongly represented at virtually all accelerators in the greater Rotterdam-The Hague region.

The Dutch IT industry

The Netherlands has an excellent digital infrastructure, which has catalysed the Dutch IT industry – currently among the largest and fastest-growing industries in the Netherlands. It enables established IT businesses to accelerate their growth and it attracts foreign IT businesses to our region.

Digital infrastructure

The Netherlands is one of the most connected and data-intensive countries in the world. The world’s 2nd largest internet exchange – AMX-IX and over 200 data centres are located here.

The world’s 2nd largest Internet Exchange, AMS-IX is located in Amsterdam

The Netherlands has the largest broadband penetration & fastest mobile internet in the EU

Our region has an exceptional, leading position in quantum technology

60% of all Forbes 2000 companies active in the IT industry have operations in the Netherlands

The Netherlands has a 20% share in the European datacentre market

Europe’s largest cybersecurity community is located in The Hague

Business community

The digital technology business community in our region is large and complementary. The large number of application fields for digital solutions minimises competition and has shaped our community to embrace collaborative innovation and knowledge sharing.

Business community

The digital technology business community in our region is large and complementary. The large number of application fields for digital solutions minimises competition and has shaped our community to embrace collaborative innovation and knowledge sharing.

Are you active in IT & Tech and would like to explore business options in the greater Rotterdam – The Hague area?

Reach out to Stef Prinsen for more information.

Discover more about our region:

Interested in other industries in our region?

Maritime & Port
Our region is renowned for our maritime expertise and excellent port infrastructure. In order to maintain our position at the forefront of the world’s trade and logistics rankings, the community is focused on digitisation and becomming more sustainable.
Horticulture
Our region is home to the largest high-tech greenhouse area in Europe, known for its highly innovative community with an excellent knowledge infrastructure and efficient logistics.
Aerospace
Our region is home to a unique aerospace cluster, including the complete chain of academic research – knowledge applications – OEM’s – first, second & third tier suppliers and end users.
High Tech
Dominant sectors in the region, such as horticulture, maritime, space and life sciences are increasingly dependent on technology, providing opportunities for suppliers of high-tech solutions.
Life Sciences & Health
We’ve got our pharma hotbed at Leiden Bio Science Park, the entrepreneurial medtech community around Rotterdam’s Erasmus MC, and our Delft high-tech heart beating in between.
Cyber Security
The Hague Security Delta, with ties to our national government, military and intelligence agencies as well as international organisations, provides access to markets, innovation, talent, knowledge and capital.
Sustainable Energy
The Dutch government has defined ambitious goals related to transitioning towards renewable energy. These ambitions create numerous opportunities for international cleantech businesses.
Biobased Industry
The presence of a large industrial cluster, world-leading logistics, the availability of feedstock, testing facilities and an extensive knowledge base in our region make a perfect mix that acts like a trampoline for biobased companies developing and growing their businesses.