Netherlands Rises to 13th Place in Global Startup Ecosystem Rankings
The Netherlands climbs to 13th place in the Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2024, showcasing strong performance in tech, biotechnology, and agrifood sectors, with $96 billion in value created.
A Strong Climb in Global Rankings
The latest Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) 2024 by Startup Genome and Techleap places the Netherlands at 13th globally, a one-position improvement from last year. This ranking underscores the country’s robust startup ecosystem, driven by substantial growth in tech, biowetenschappen (biotechnology), and agrifood sectors. The Dutch startup ecosystem generated an impressive $96 billion in value from July 2021 to December 2023, marking a 32% increase from the previous 18-month period[1][2][3].
Key Sectors and Growth
The report highlights the Netherlands’ excellence in biotechnology, agrifood, and semiconductors, supported by a high density of talent and active startup activities. Amsterdam, the nation’s capital, outperformed other major European cities like Paris and Berlin, ranking ahead of them at 14th and 15th places respectively[1][4].
Investment Trends and Global Context
Despite a global decrease in total investments in 2023, the Netherlands saw a significant rise in investments in deep tech and generative AI. These sectors globally attracted nearly $200 billion in investments over the past year. This trend reflects a shift towards more specialized and advanced technologies within the startup ecosystem[1][2][3][4].
Supportive Environment and Talent Attraction
The Netherlands has been successful in attracting international tech giants such as Tesla, Meta, IBM, and Google, which have established offices in the country. This influx is partly due to policies like the 30% tax scheme, designed to attract highly skilled talent from abroad. Such initiatives have bolstered the country’s position as a leading tech hub in Europe[1][3][5].
Future Prospects and Strategic Focus
Constantijn van Oranje, special envoy of Techleap, emphasized the need for continued focus on deep tech and increased investments to ensure the Dutch tech ecosystem’s competitiveness on a global scale. The Netherlands’ strategic initiatives, including programs by Techleap.nl, aim to enhance access to capital, markets, talent, and technology, further empowering future technology leaders[1][3][4].