Up!Rotterdam has been recognized by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and Mind the Bridge as one of the winners of the Startup Ecosystem Stars (SES) Awards 2025. This award was presented on December 2nd in Paris.

With these Stars, the organization expresses its appreciation for leading organizations that have demonstrated leadership, lasting impact, and perseverance in supporting startups and scale-ups, as well as driving innovation ecosystems.

The award places special emphasis on the role of the public sector in stimulating dynamic, competitive, and impactful startup ecosystems. This year, 36 organizations were named ‘Stars,’ and 18 as ‘Rising Stars,’ reflecting the diversity and strength of ecosystems worldwide.

“Innovation remains the cornerstone of global economic growth.” – John W.H. Denton AO, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce

Rotterdam as a leading example

With this Star, Rotterdam is positioned alongside other European cities such as Hamburg and Barcelona as an example of how public-private collaboration can contribute to the success of startups. The city of Rotterdam views this award as a recognition of years of commitment to innovative, emerging companies.

Through the Up!Rotterdam program, the city has been collaborating for years with many innovative partners in the city, such as CIC, BlueCity, 42Workspace, Erasmus Enterprise, Innovation Quarter, and Rotterdam Partners.

This recognition is also seen by the city as an important result of the SME Action Program, aimed at growing the SME sector as the engine of the city’s economic development, with a special focus on innovative startups. It is a confirmation of the impact Rotterdam has been able to achieve alongside its partners.

Future Plans: continuing to build a strong ecosystem

The city of Rotterdam wants to use this recognition as motivation to continue building the startup ecosystem in the coming years. Emphasis will be placed on strengthening the connection between startups and other SMEs, enabling the city to benefit even more from the innovations these companies bring.

A special thank you goes out to all Up!Rotterdam partners for their ongoing dedication and collaboration. Together, Rotterdam continues to place itself on the global map as an innovative, future-oriented city.

On December 4th, the city of Rotterdam will also have the chance to be named the Innovation Capital of Europe. The announcement will take place in Turin. This nomination further confirms that Rotterdam is internationally recognized for stimulating and supporting innovative companies in the city.

Together, we continue building a future where innovation and entrepreneurship thrive!