The Province of South Holland, the Metropolitan Region of Rotterdam The Hague (MRDH), and the municipalities of Delft, The Hague, Leiden, and Rotterdam will collaborate more closely in the coming years to create a better climate for start-ups and scale-ups.

On November 13, these parties signed a declaration of intent to formalize this commitment. Their joint ambition is to establish an implementation program by early 2025. The program focuses on the development of start-ups and scale-ups in the region. Other parties, such as knowledge institutions, are also invited to join this initiative.

Working on Solutions for Tomorrow

Start-ups and scale-ups significantly contribute to economic growth and create jobs for various education levels. A supportive business climate is therefore essential. Recently, the Province of South Holland was named the number one in the Netherlands for start-ups working on innovative technology and impact.* The main challenge is to work smarter together, as highlighted by a study from start-up and innovation expert Ruben Nieuwenhuis.

Saskia Bruines, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development in The Hague and Chair of the Economic Establishment Climate Committee of the MRDH, stated, “The world is in transition, and South Holland wants to stay at the forefront of this change. Entrepreneurs who are working on tomorrow’s solutions are incredibly important. They contribute to broad-based prosperity by creating employment and solving societal challenges, for example. To support them as effectively as possible, we need to look beyond the city limits of The Hague.”

Synergy: Achieving More Together

The collaboration aims to reduce fragmentation of knowledge and resources and to gain economies of scale by pooling activities. This strengthens effectiveness, making it easier to tackle challenges collectively. While it can sometimes be challenging for a new or growing company to find the right location within city limits, this becomes easier in a broader area.

“We face major joint challenges, such as the energy transition in our Rotterdam port, a critical economic engine for the region. The innovative power of start-ups and scale-ups is essential to accelerate this process and strengthen our competitive position. This collaboration ensures that we, as a region, are better prepared for the opportunities and challenges of tomorrow,” said Robert Simons, Rotterdam’s Deputy Mayor for Port, Economy, Hospitality, and Governance.

* Bron: Techleap, State of Dutch Tech, 2024, p80-83