{"id":161884,"date":"2018-12-25T06:00:25","date_gmt":"2018-12-25T05:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/innovationorigins.com\/?p=161884"},"modified":"2018-12-25T06:00:25","modified_gmt":"2018-12-25T05:00:25","slug":"zeeland-no-eindhoven-or-amsterdam-but-definitely-not-quiet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/en\/zeeland-no-eindhoven-or-amsterdam-but-definitely-not-quiet\/","title":{"rendered":"Start-ups in Zeeland: No Eindhoven or Amsterdam, but definitely not quiet"},"content":{"rendered":"

If there is one category of companies that are responsible for innovation in the Netherlands, it would have to be the start-ups. Innovation Origins<\/a> is always looking for relevant innovations, therefore there is every reason to really capture the complete Dutch start-up ecosystem. Armed with the data sets of\u00a0 StartupDelta<\/a>, we visited all Dutch provinces. In 14 episodes, published between December 24, 2018, and January 7, 2019, we’re giving an overview of the start-up ecosystem in the Netherlands. The series has been made by the journalists of cooperation PitchProducties<\/a>, commissioned by Innovation Origins. Today: Zeeland.\u00a0Read the other episodes of the series here<\/a> (as far as already published).<\/em><\/p>\n

Although many Dutch people know Zeeland from the huge and innovative Delta Works<\/a>, the province seems inferior in terms of start-ups compared to the rest of the Netherlands. There aren’t any well-known success stories of start-ups or scale-ups with their origin in Zeeland. Besides, even the data of StartupDelta appears to present few start-ups from Zeeland.<\/p>\n

However, it would still be a misconception to say that nothing is happening in Zeeland in terms of innovation. Claims are definitely made on funds like the Zeeuws Participation fund<\/span><\/a>, says Jo-Annes de Bat (CDA), deputy of the Province of Zeeland. His portfolio includes economy, grants and innovation policy.<\/p>\n

Also according to Marjolein Sponselee, involved in the Zeeland innovation organisation Dockwize<\/span><\/i><\/a>, it’s not the case that nothing is happening in the province. However, she thinks the province might not always be as visible. “It’s not our thing to shout it out: look at how well we’re doing.”\u00a0Sponselee also points out the Innovation Prize, which has been rewarded to the most innovative company or organisation in Zeeland since 2003.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dockwize <\/strong><\/h3>\n

According to De Bat, Dockwize is the central organization within the start-up and innovation climate of Zeeland. “It starts with making sure that Dockwize exists because Dockwize is a very important player in being able to help beginners”, he states. “Beginners from university, but also beginning companies are welcome to go there for questions, advice and financing.”<\/p>\n

Dockwize is an organization in Vlissingen that “stimulates innovation and entrepreneurship in Zeeland”, says Sponselee. “Non-profit and for different target groups: namely enterprising students, start-ups and SMEs”, she adds.<\/p>\n

The organization offers housing, has its own incubator and offers several entrepreneurs and innovation programs, says Sponselee. For example, Dockwize organizes\u00a0start-up boot camps<\/a>\u00a0for students.\u00a0<\/span>Dockwize has existed in the current form since only this year, but it came about due to a combination of previous stimulation activities in Zeeland such as\u00a0DOK41 and Kenniswerf Zeeland.<\/span><\/p>\n

Extra money<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The emergence of Dockwize earlier this year was described by, among others, the Provincial Courant of Zeeland, in which it was stated that “finally, serious money for innovation in Zeeland<\/a>” had become available.<\/p>\n

“At the beginning of this year in the first tranche, we have received thirty-five million euros from the\u00a0Regio Deals<\/a>“, says De Bat. He says that a part of that thirty-five million euros will be used for instruments around SMEs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Moreover, De Bat says that in 2017, twenty-five million euros had already become available from The Hague for SME financing. As a region, another twenty-five million euros were added to that at the time. “One reason for that was to set up an innovation instrument”, says De Bat.<\/p>\n

“Now we can take a huge step forward.”<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Sponselee confirms in her reply to the question about whether a switch has been flipped in the last few years. “More money from The Hague has gone towards Zeeland for innovation”, she says. “Before that, we solved it in a different way, but now we can take a huge step forward.”<\/p>\n

According to Sponselee, money for innovation also used to come from the stimulation programs\u00a0OPzuid<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Interreg<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n