Amsterdam Leaders Call for Urban Innovation Investment
Amsterdam, Thursday, 27 November 2025.
On November 25, 2025, Amsterdam’s leaders urged national investment in urban innovation to enhance competitiveness and tackle climate and health challenges, emphasizing urban areas’ critical economic role.
Unified Call for Government Support
On November 25, 2025, leaders from the Amsterdam Metropolitan Region, encompassing sectors such as business, healthcare, technology, and aviation, convened in The Hague. Their aim was to prompt the national government to invest significantly in urban innovation. This coalition highlighted the indispensable role urban regions play in bolstering national economic growth and competitiveness [1].
Strategic Economic Initiatives
The Amsterdam Metropolitan Region has outlined key ambitions that include becoming climate-neutral and circular, enhancing competitiveness and innovation, and ensuring sustainable and affordable transportation. These initiatives are part of the NOVEX MRA strategy, which seeks to address significant urban challenges like climate change and public health [1].
Voices from Key Stakeholders
Ingrid Thijssen, Chairman of VNO-NCW, stressed the potential for Amsterdam to become a hub for artificial intelligence development. This requires attracting skilled expats. Similarly, Jeroen Tiel, CEO of Randstad Groep Nederland, called for a modernized labor market focusing on technology and AI. Barbara Baarsma, Chief Economist at PwC Nederland, argued for a reconfiguration of the economic portfolio to foster growth through innovation [1].
Challenges and Policy Recommendations
Notable figures like Arjen Brussaard from Amsterdam UMC and Ingo Uytdehaage, co-CEO of Adyen, emphasized the need for stable government policies and legislation that align with European standards. The discontinuation of the National Growth Fund was noted as a significant loss, highlighting the need for reliable government instruments to support economic initiatives [1].
Investment in Infrastructure and Talent
Esmé Valk of the Royal Schiphol Group underscored the necessity for a competitive playing field in Europe, as Schiphol plans to invest €10 billion over the next decade. Mayor Femke Halsema of Amsterdam stressed the importance of collaboration between urban regions, citing projects like the Zuidasdok and the extension of the North-South line as crucial for sustaining regional strength [1].