Netherlands Innovation Leaders Explore Ecosystems in Dublin and Copenhagen
Amsterdam, Wednesday, 22 October 2025.
Dutch innovation leaders visited Dublin and Copenhagen to learn from their successful ecosystems, highlighting the importance of collaboration in fostering innovation.
Exploration of Successful Innovation Hubs
During their visit to Dublin and Copenhagen, Dutch innovation leaders underscored the significance of robust ecosystems in promoting entrepreneurship and innovation. Dublin, already recognized as a longstanding innovation hotspot, and Copenhagen, now emerging as Europe’s second innovation hub, served as ideal examples of how different stakeholders collaborate to nurture innovative startups. This approach involves the government, investors, knowledge institutions, and companies working cohesively to support the entire ecosystem, ensuring that innovative startups, scale-ups, and SMEs can thrive [1].
Lessons from International Ecosystems
The delegation’s observations in Dublin and Copenhagen highlighted the active application of knowledge as a vital component of an innovative economy. The Netherlands aims to emulate these successful models to enhance its own innovation landscape. The exchange of best practices in these cities emphasized the importance of collaboration for speeding up processes, improving decision-making, and fostering societal impacts through innovation [1][2].
The Role of Collaboration in Innovation
A key takeaway from the Dutch delegation’s visits was the role that collaboration plays in successful ecosystems. In both Dublin and Copenhagen, the integration of government, private sector, and educational institutions creates an environment conducive to innovation. In particular, the focus on reducing emissions, building new homes, and addressing climate challenges are areas where collaborative efforts have been particularly impactful [1][3].
Implementing Insights in the Netherlands
Back in the Netherlands, the insights gained from Dublin and Copenhagen are being applied to strengthen local innovation initiatives. For example, the regional development corporations (ROMs) and other entities are leveraging similar collaborative models to attract investment and foster innovation within their regions. This approach not only accelerates growth but also enhances societal impact, as evidenced by companies like DOPS Recycling Technologies, which exemplify the potential of a well-functioning ecosystem [1].