Category: Innovation Infrastructure | Published on 27/12/2022

Innovation hubs and incubators in the Greater Rotterdam – The Hague area

The Greater Rotterdam – The Hague area in the Netherlands offers a unique business climate for companies looking to establish themselves in Europe. With a solid political, economic, and cultural foundation, this region has created favorable conditions for the balanced development of the area in various fields. This region serves as the gateway to Europe and is a crucial distribution center, thanks to its bustling seaports and airports. Additionally, the area is home to several renowned universities that consistently produce talented individuals and innovative technologies for various industries. With its urban agglomeration, the region offers excellent market research opportunities and large-scale production environments. Different cities and regions in the province focus on various areas, such as renewable energy, start-up ecosystem, high tech & innovation, life sciences & health, and horticulture & food, maximizing their respective advantages. To maximize these advantages, numerous innovation hubs and incubators with different functions and focuses have emerged, creating a thriving innovative community.
Here are some of the representative innovation hubs in some of the key areas of the region:

The Hague: The City Of Renewable Energy

Campus@Sea

As the country’s administrative center, The Hague is also known as the “Renewable Energy Capital.” It has the most energy companies and related research institutions in the Netherlands, making it an ideal location for companies focused on renewable energy. The city is encouraging research and development in offshore energy and has already become one of the world’s largest wind energy production sites. The innovative hub Campus@Sea, located in the modern port of Scheveningen, supports maritime companies by providing funding, housing, and market access support. The hub organizes collaboration between educational and research institutions, companies, government, and social organizations to achieve sustainable and multiple uses of the North Sea. Adjacent to the area is a vast offshore test field referred to as the ‘Proeftuin op de Noordzee’ (Experimental Garden on the North Sea), which serves as an ideal on-site laboratory for companies to test and showcase their concepts.

Rotterdam: Gateway to Europe

Rotterdam Makers District

Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and is known as the “Gateway to Europe.” The city focuses on innovation, sustainability, and inclusiveness, creating a vibrant international business community. Rotterdam is the perfect destination for foreign direct investors looking to establish or expand their businesses in Europe, especially in the fields of clean energy, port logistics, life sciences and health, and horticulture. With advanced technology, professional partners, and favorable trade conditions, Rotterdam has it all.

Rotterdam Makers District (RDM), composed of RDM Rotterdam and Merwe-Vierhavens (M4H), is a makerspace for the innovative manufacturing industry, where businesses grow and new products and processes are tested in digitization, robotization, 3D printing, sustainable energy, and materials. Collaborating with local knowledge and educational institutions is crucial, as young minds learn about future technologies. As the partnership between industry, education, and investors strengthens, the Makers District thrives as a dynamic community of innovative entrepreneurs.

RDM_Rotterdam_makersdistrict_luchtfoto-fotocredit-Flying-Holland

Delft: Innovating for the Future

YES!Delft

Delft, one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands with a rich cultural heritage, is now a hub for innovative technologies. Students at Delft University of Technology (TUD) are developing ground-breaking technologies, such as hydrogen-powered aircraft, solar cars, and space exploration equipment, aimed at creating a more advanced and sustainable future. Tech incubator YES!Delft, located next to the TUD campus, is one of the leading tech incubators in Europe. They specialize in supporting and empowering tech entrepreneurs to bring their disruptive tech innovations to the market as fast as possible. Over years YES!Delft has built custom ecosystems around 9 focus areas to enable tech startups in Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, BioTech, CleanTech, MedTech, EdTech, Aviation, Robotics, and Complex Technology. In these fields, they provide startups with 360-degree support: custom startup programs, full-lifecycle services such as recruitment and funding, access to market and capital, and a community of experts, corporate partners, and mentors This non-profit prioritizes startups, enabling them to build complex products and overcome challenges in difficult markets. For startups looking to thrive, YES!Delft is the perfect ecosystem.

Westland: the Hub of Horticulture

World Horti Center (WHC)

Dutch horticultural technology is a global leader in professionalism, quality, and innovation and is a critical component of the national Topsectorenbeleid policy on leading sectors. Westland and the surrounding areas are a hub of Dutch horticulture, forming a complete industrial chain that includes breeding, supply, cultivation, trade, logistics, business services, and engineering, known as the Greenport Horti Campus. The World Horti Center (WHC) in Westland is an essential part of this campus, acting as an international window and knowledge and innovation center for Dutch greenhouse horticulture by combining research, innovation, education, businesses, and government. The 6,400 m² WHC facility houses 38 greenhouse departments where researchers, entrepreneurs, and educational institutions carry out research projects. WHC also collaborates with top universities to provide a learning environment for global talents. WHC’s mission is to ensure sustainable food supply and greening of the world, contributing to people’s health and well-being by offering solutions for relevant social themes such as food supply, food safety, water, well-being, and sustainability.

Leiden: Knowledge Hub

Leiden Bio Science Park

Leiden, the oldest university city in the Netherlands, has a rich history and deep roots in knowledge dating back to the Dutch War of Independence over four centuries ago. It’s home to the first university in Dutch history, established by Prince William I to reward the brave resistance of the Leiden people against the Spanish army. Today, Leiden Bio Science Park (LBSP) is the largest life science and health cluster in the Netherlands, located at the heart of the Randstad urban area with easy accessibility to surrounding sea- and airports and major cities. With over 215 organizations focusing on early diagnostics, drug development, regenerative medicine, lifestyle intervention, and vaccine production, LBSP provides a pleasant working environment, top-notch shared facilities, and comprehensive research and production support. LBSP’s close cooperation with the local government, Leiden University, and the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) offers resident companies convenience in terms of technology, innovation, markets, financing, and human capital. With its excellent hardware and software capabilities, LBSP is the best choice for life sciences and health in the region.

Looking to discover new business opportunities in the Greater Rotterdam – The Hague area?

Join us on a Fact-Finding Trip and dive deep into our thriving business ecosystem. During the trip, you’ll meet with service providers such as real estate agents, tax advisors, and recruiters, and visit potential technology partners, subject experts, and facilities. Get a firsthand look at how your company can benefit from being located in the region. InnovationQuarter offers Fact-Finding Trips both virtually and in person, completely free of charge. Learn more and sign up on our page here.

Tiffany Meijer

Project Manager Internationalization

Call me: +31 6 341 48 004

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InnovationQuarter is the regional economic development agency for the Province of Zuid-Holland, known as the Greater Rotterdam-The Hague area that includes Delft and Leiden, and is a non-profit publicly funded organisation.

Innovation hubs and incubators in the Greater Rotterdam – The Hague area

The Hague: The City Of Renewable Energy

Rotterdam: Gateway to Europe

Delft: Innovating for the Future

Westland: the Hub of Horticulture

Leiden: Knowledge Hub

Looking to discover new business opportunities in the Greater Rotterdam – The Hague area?

Tiffany Meijer

Discover more about our region:

How to get started in the Netherlands

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How innovation is accelerated in our region

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What it’s like to live in our region