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Start a Business in the High Tech Industry of the Netherlands

Updated on 19 February 2024

The Dutch high technology industry is one of the most inventive worldwide due to the modern facilities and the innovations in the field of development and research. The Dutch high-tech products and expertise are in high demand and are subject to global export.

In case you are interested in starting a business in the Dutch high tech industry, please do not hesitate to contact our incorporation agents. They will assist you with information and legal advice on how to start your business in the Netherlands.

Achievements in collaboration and technology

The long-lasting Dutch tradition of entrepreneurship, creativity, openness, collaboration and pragmatism is a perfect match for the sector of High Technology Materials and Systems. These characteristics make the country the ideal place to seek solutions related to the contemporary challenges of society in the fields of wellness, health, renewable energy, security, climate and mobility. These challenges are quite complex and such solutions are mainly found through achievements in collaboration and technology. The key to success in this complex and fiercely competitive sector lies in active collaboration and innovation across the whole value chain and establishment of an effective network (or ecosystem) of institutions and companies. The Netherlands has such ecosystems, competency centres scattered on its territory. Perhaps the main centre is Brainport in Eindhoven, located in the south-eastern part of the country. In 2015 it was voted the most innovative region in the world. Other Dutch areas, in particular Delft and Twente, also boast good concentrations of universities and companies working in the field of high technology. The sector encompasses many industries that are closely related to each other, such as high technology systems, aerospace, materials (incl. steel) and automotive.

Five reasons why the high technology industry in the Netherlands is crucial to meeting contemporary global challenges

1. The Dutch tradition of openness, creativity and entrepreneurship

The long lasting Dutch tradition of pragmatism, creativity, openness, collaboration and entrepreneurship is the ideal match for the sector of high technology materials and systems. There are many examples of the nation’s ingenuity, including the sawmill, the rotary screw pump, the submarine, the microscope, the Variomatic, the  six-cylinder engine, various systems for navigation and methods for transformation of food crops and waste into energy. All these characteristics make the country the ideal place to seek solutions related to the contemporary challenges of society in the fields of wellness, health, renewable energy, security, climate and mobility. These challenges are quite complex and such solutions are mainly found through achievements in collaboration and technology.

2. Excellence in technology: The Netherlands is leading on the market of high technologies

The sector of high technology encompasses many industries that are closely related to each other, such as high technology systems, aerospace, materials (incl. steel) and automotive. National knowledge institutes and companies working in this sector are famous with their technological competence and leadership in their segments of the market. Fast advancement and strong collaboration within the whole value chain is necessary in this complex and competitive sector.

The country is among the leaders in nanotechnologies. Publications from the Netherlands yield more citations in relation to patents than studies from any other country worldwide. The nation ranks third with respect to citation impact. It is also a global leader in design, development and production of micro – and nanocomponents and high technology equipment. The characteristics of the high tech products are:

  • high intelligence (embedded software, systems and sensors);
  • impeccable precision (precision manufacturing, nanoelectronics);
  • high efficiency (smart electronics and mechagronics).

The high technology sector in the Netherlands strives for value, diversity and complexity. It is generally directed towards niche markets and small product patches, relying on high technological competence for success.

3. A population with advanced computer skills

The Dutch are advanced computer users with an exceptionally high rate of broadband / computer penetration and use of mobile services. The IT infrastructure in the Netherlands is among the most developed worldwide and has specialized networks that power global efforts in Research and Development. This environment supports the rise of world-class hardware companies, IT consultancies and software developers working in the fields of safety, healthcare, mobility, business and simulation. Furthermore, a lot of companies develop gaming content for the internet, mobile telephones and major platforms. The country is ranked first in Europe in the embedded systems industry and first in the world in equipment for manufacturing of microchips.

About seventy percent of the Dutch innovations are related to Information Technologies and enable key developments in many fields, e.g. water management, production of ornamental plants and foods, and the automotive industry. The considerable number of partnerships between public and private institutions, where the Dutch government collaborates with the private and educational sector, leads to active development in the diverse fields of embedded systems, modeling, multimedia technologies, virtual laboratories and parallel computing.

4. Specialized networking between institutions and companies, and leadership in open innovations

It is crucial to have an efficient network (or an “ecosystem”) of institutions and companies specializing in the high technology industry. One region with high concentration of entrepreneurs in the sector of high technologies is Brainport, Eindhoven, located in the southeastern part of the country. Other regions, such as Delft and Twente (Yes! and Knowledge park), also boast numerous universities and companies working in the field of high technologies.

The country is a global leader in open innovations and public-private collaborative research. In 2011, the region of Brainport, Eindhoven was voted as the smartest region in the world. This is a good example of collaboration between researchers, companies and governmental institutions with the aim to accumulate knowledge and deliver innovative technologies that set standards worldwide. The result is extensive cooperation between specialized suppliers, OEMs and academia.

5. Always considering future perspectives

The Dutch sector of high technologies is a global frontrunner in the creation of novel materials and technologies for applications in state-of-the-art communication systems, safe and economical aircraft, electric and hybrid cars, large scale production of solar energy and its storage, and modern medical equipment for early detection and effective treatment of diseases.

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