Terug naar overzicht
Contact /Tanja Baars Datum /

InnovationQuarter invests in Tiledmedia to significantly increase reach of Virtual Reality-002-980x450

Unrealised potential of Virtual Reality

Despite the many potential applications, Virtual Reality (VR) is only slowly catching on, for two main reasons: the limited availability of content and the high bandwidth required to stream VR – too high for the average internet connection. Tiledmedia solves this problem by cutting up the content into so-called ‘tiles’ and only streaming those tiles that are in the users’ view. The user sees only 13% of the full image, which makes sending the entire panorama very inefficient.

InnovationQuarter brings experience and an extensive network to the table thanks to the many companies it funds. This will certainly help us in the further expansion of Tiledmedia. – Frits Klok, CEO at Tiledmedia

Tiledmedia’s ClearVR technology can either increase quality by a factor of five at the same bandwidth, or stream the same quality as current applications with up to 80% bandwidth reduction. Such substantial efficiency benefits cannot be matched by any competing technology.

Opening the door to a wider audience

Distributors of VR content benefit from the Tiledmedia technology because they can stream their VR productions in the highest possible quality to the widest possible audience at substantially lower costs. This makes it more attractive for media companies to produce VR content, overcoming any cost-related challenges, and serving as a catalyst for the VR market. The company’s technology makes it possible, for instance, to experience your favourite sports event or pop concert live as if you were there, while being at home on the couch with a VR headset.

International network

Founded in early 2017 by Frits Klok (CEO), Ray van Brandenburg (CTO), Arjen Veenhuizen (COO) and Rob Koenen (CBO), Tiledmedia has an experienced management team with a large international network. Rob Koenen is President of the Virtual Reality Industry Forum (VRIF) and plays an important role in international standardisation of media­ technology in ISO/IEC MPEG, known for its MP3 specification. Working at TNO, the founding team spent five years developing the tiled streaming technology, which achieved great commercial potential with the advent of VR.

Widely recognised name

Tiledmedia is a widely recognised name in the global VR ecosystem. In April, the company co-exhibited at the NAB Media Technology Show in Las Vegas alongside industry leaders Ericsson and Harmonic to showcase its ClearVR solution. Tiledmedia’s first customer will soon launch a spectacular VR service and various international parties have expressed interest in integrating ClearVR into their VR platforms.

“Welcoming InnovationQuarter to the existing group of angel investors means that we have the necessary fuel to further develop our marketing and sales, while bringing a professional fund on board,” says Frits Klok, Tiledmedia’s CEO. “InnovationQuarter brings experience and an extensive network to the table thanks to the many companies it funds. This will certainly help us in the further expansion of Tiledmedia.”

Francis Quint, head of InnovationQuarter Capital: “Tiledmedia is a spin-off from TNO, a partner of InnovationQuarter and an important organisation in our regional ecosystem. In addition to the capital injection from the consortium of business angels, this investment by InnovationQuarter will help Tiledmedia commercialise its VR technology and make the application of VR accessible to a wider audience.”

Terug naar overzicht
Contact /Niels Krol Datum /
Drecht Cities International

CEO Rientz Willem Bol (left) explains Bolidt’s transition plan to international companies from the Drecht Cities region

An impulse for international interaction

In addition to a number of local executives, the group consisted mostly of directors of foreign-owned companies from the Drecht Cities region and Dutch companies with a large international footprint. The aim was to promote interaction among these companies and to improve contacts with local and regional government.

After short introductions from Drecht Cities, InnovationQuarter and Deal, the CEO of Bolidt, mr.  Rientz Willem Bol, gave an insight into the ambitious plans he is carrying out to prepare his company for the future. A four-year transition plan is currently underway and causes an notable cultural change within the company. According to Bol, the company must abandon its’ traditional ways of operating, to stay ahead of global competition. Therefore Bolidt is now focusing on a future in which co-creation, innovation and customer experience are key, with the highlight being the completion of an Experience & Innovation Center in the spring of 2019.

The enthusiasm of mr. Bol inspired and motivated some of the participants to implement his fresh ideas within their own organizations. In addition, relevant business contacts were made during the networking part afterwards.

The international ecosystem in Drecht Cities

The Drecht Cities region is home to around 150 companies that are owned by foreign multinationals. In addition, hundreds of Dutch companies from this region are active in international markets and many SMEs and startups have international ambitions. Drecht Cities, InnovationQuarter and Deal assist regional businesses with their internationalization goals, for example by organizing international trade missions. In addition, InnovationQuarter and Deal actively attract new (foreign) companies to this region in order to draw new investments and create more jobs.

Terug naar overzicht
Contact /Nienke Vledder Datum /

Innecs Power-systems-haalt-ruim-4-mln.-op-voor-uitrol-energieconversiesystemen-002-989x450

Energy savings, CO2 reduction and attractive payback periods

Innecs started out as an engineering consultancy in 2004 and aimed to develop its own products. It has since developed three extremely efficient and robust devices: a low NOx burner (the BoilerBurner), a small steam turbine (the SteamExpander) and a small gas turbine (the PowerBurner). By applying extensive knowledge of turbine technology with smart control systems, Innecs has created premium products that can be used by a wide industrial audience. The smart design and modular production process keeps the purchase price down without compromising on quality. This, combined with the energy savings, results in attractive payback periods.

Industry bears a great deal of responsibility for achieving climate goals, and energy efficiency is the obvious way to give shape to the energy transition in the coming years. -Reidar Koolen, CEO of Innecs Power Systems

Made in Holland

Innecs Power Systems devices are an appealing example of advanced industrial products developed and produced on home soil. The extra bonus is that the Innecs products generate energy locally, thus enabling industry to make a substantial contribution to the energy transition. As industry is responsible for 68% of CO2 emissions in the Netherlands*, it is important to develop industrial applications for energy reduction: this is where genuine gains stand to be made in energy transition.

Reidar Koolen, CEO of Innecs Power Systems: “Industry bears a great deal of responsibility for achieving climate goals, and energy efficiency is the obvious way to give shape to the energy transition in the coming years. For our customers, the return on investment is and always will be their main consideration when investing. Innecs therefore regards it as its mission to provide affordable energy efficiency so that the energy transition is financially attractive and thus embraced.”

Innecs Power-systems-haalt-ruim-4-mln.-op-voor-uitrol-energieconversiesystemen-989x450

Finindus Investment Director Hans Maenhout: “The Innecs team has succeeded in developing, with relatively modest resources, no fewer than three high-tech products. The pragmatic design means that their solutions often have payback periods of less than three years, in some cases even less than two. This makes the technology very attractive to larger industrial clients too. It is not surprising, therefore, that international clients have also found their way to Innecs.”

ENERGIIQ Fund Manager Nienke Vledder: “Innecs Power Systems is an innovative company with its production and development based in the Netherlands. It aims to provide affordable technology that helps industrial clients increase their energy efficiency and make environmental gains. I am confident that it will achieve its goals, and we are glad to support the company in its further growth with this investment from ENERGIIQ.”

Director of BOM Brabant Ventures Miriam Dragstra: “Innecs Power Systems is not just accelerating the energy transition today but is also experiencing wonderful development as a future-oriented business. BOM looks forward to the international growth of this fantastic tech business.”

*Source: http://staatvan.zuid-holland.nl/Paginas/Factsheets/CO2-emissies.aspx

Terug naar overzicht
Contact /Philip Meijer Datum /

Fabrikant van supersnelle computers Maxeler kiest voor techincubator YES!Delft

Maxeler at YES!Delft

Maxeler was founded in 2003 and has branches in London, UK and Mountain View in California. It builds ultrafast computer systems that offer customised solutions for a variety of very specific problems. The new branch will initially employ three people but expects to have between 10 and 20 employees within three years. For Maxeler, the presence of talent in the neighbourhood was the decisive factor in choosing YES!Delft.

Director Georgi Gaydadjiev: “Delft University of Technology is a top European university. Its proximity is vital for ensuring close collaboration and the recruitment and training of talent. Our current collaboration with Stanford and Imperial College has yielded very good results and we want to repeat that success in Delft. With its fantastic facilities, YES!Delft has helped us get our Dutch branch up and running very quickly.”

The establishment of the British company is closely in line with other developments within the region, emphasises InnovationQuarter’s Head of Foreign Investments Chris van Voorden: “Maxeler is an asset to West Holland and will contribute to the region’s fast-growing digital economy. Its technology fits well with the digital transition that our region is going through. The company will therefore strengthen our position as the ‘Digital Gateway to Europe’.”

Revolutionary computing power

Just as Shell builds oil refineries that quickly and efficiently convert raw materials into usable end products, Maxeler builds advanced computer systems that convert raw data into valuable information. Where traditional computers consist of hardware and software (computer programmes), Maxeler has completely replaced the critical parts of the software with hardware. This revolutionary method makes its computers 20 to 50 times faster than the fastest traditional computers.

Georgi Gaydadjiev adds: “We have in the past helped US bank JP Morgan with critical risk analytics calculations for its large investment portfolios. A big computer system needed eight hours to achieve this. We designed and installed a much smaller computer that produces the correct answer every two minutes instead, moreover our system uses significantly less electricity.”

De speciale welkomstplaquette voor Maxeler IoT-Labs.

Internet of things

This enormous computing power enables Maxeler to solve problems that would need too much time, energy and physical space when using traditional computer systems. Maxeler benefits from an important development here: the exponential growth of data, due to, among other things, the internet of things (IoT). As more and more devices are connected through internet, massive streams of data emerge that are quite simply too big for traditional computer systems to efficiently process. In addition, the network wastes a lot of electrical energy to carry over the data from the location where it is produced to the large computers in the nowadays data centres.

The company’s Delft branch, Maxeler IoT-Labs, will focus on new application fields that involve a lot of data and computational power, such as personalised medical care, particularly the large-scale processing of DNA data and quick, accurate calculations for highly customised radiotherapy. Gaydadjiev and his colleagues will also concentrate on making computer networks and IoT solutions secure, developing advanced artificial intelligence solutions for self-driving cars and processing graphics data for ultra-low latency virtual reality systems.

Important role for InnovationQuarter and partners

InnovationQuarter, the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA), Delft Technology Partners (DTP) and the Department for International Trade (DIT) of the British Embassy were involved in bringing Maxeler to Delft. Through the DIT, Maxeler took part in the Cyber Security Week at The Hague Security Delta (HSD) Campus in 2017. It was here that the company first made contact with InnovationQuarter.

Gaydadjiev says: “InnovationQuarter played a very important role by bringing us into contact with the right parties in West Holland. Together with the British Embassy, they helped us make a quick analysis of the cybersecurity and automotive landscape and identify the important stakeholders. This honed our initial idea for a branch in Delft.”

Fabrikant van supersnelle computers Maxeler kiest voor techincubator YES!Delft

Maxeler and Delft: a good match

Deputy Mayor Ferrie Förster expects a lot from this branch of the British business: “Maxeler is at the top of its game regarding computing and the internet of things. We in Delft are at the technological summit in the broadest sense. Maxeler and Delft are therefore a good match and both the company and the city stand to benefit. I am thus very pleased with the arrival of Maxeler and convinced that Delft will be a good breeding ground for this fantastic company.”

Georgi Gaydadjiev also has high expectations of the new location and the opportunities the region presents: “In the Netherlands, we will of course be rolling out also our current products in the field of finance and risk analytics, but we eventually want to introduce new innovations as well. As already mentioned, we plan to grow our team within two years to over 10 employees. I see a very important role for Delft University of Technology in our recruitment process. By working with YES!Delft, we expect to embrace many exciting new opportunities as a result of the specific challenges that many of the young businesses at YES!Delft encounter.”

Terug naar overzicht
Contact /Niels Krol Datum /

Bundling of high-tech (composites) companies in The Hague strengthens international competitive position

Technology Park Ypenburg

The Ypenburg business park in The Hague houses several high-tech companies, as well as a field lab. Four companies (Airborne, KVE, Promolding and GTM) and the field lab DFC join forces to make The Hague an international hotspot for the manufacturing industry of products based on high-tech materials. High-tech companies are the companies of the future and also determine to a large extent the economic development and employment of the future. The demand for products from high-tech materials will grow strongly, both nationally and internationally in the coming years. That is why a joint investment of € 1.6 M is being made, which should form the foundation for strengthening the regional innovation power and the growth of business, jobs, knowledge institutes and investments aimed at innovative manufacturing industry, specialized in high-tech materials.

Jobs of the future

With this program, the initiators expect that an attractive business climate will be created for other companies at Ypenburg. They can benefit from the relevant infrastructure on the business park, mutual cooperation, cooperation with knowledge institutes and the municipality, and the presence of a diverse workforce in the region. The program also wants to give a positive impulse to local and regional training institutes through internships and workplaces. In addition, the innovative developments provide new employment for both higher and lower educated people.

Regional knowledge strengthens international competitiveness

A component in the program is the Digital Factory for Composites field lab (DFC). Entrepreneurs, regional educational institutions and investors can go to this field lab for workshops, knowledge sharing, and find interesting investment projects. As part of Smart Manufacturing: Industrial Application in West Holland (SMITZH (in Dutch)), the field lab will contribute to a strong region that can compete at world level. SMITZH aims to support the West Holland manufacturing industry in applying Smart Manufacturing. The ambition is to grow into a one-stop-shop where companies come for knowledge and technology to make their high-quality products competitive. Also in small series and/or single pieces.

Bundling of high-tech (composites) companies in The Hague strengthens international competitive position

High-tech companies in The Hague

Harm van Engelen, director, KVE Composites Group: “As literally the first company that established itself on this business park after Fokker’s bankruptcy, KVE has grown into a company with, among other things, unique knowledge in the field of welding thermoplastic composites. The collaborative project offers the possibility to link this knowledge to, for example, the injection molding knowledge of Promolding, the satellite design knowledge of GTM and the automation knowledge of Airborne in order to realize completely new product-market combinations. Through intensive cooperation with knowledge institutions in the region, missing input from adjacent knowledge areas is added, such as mechatronics, modelling, sensor technology and chemistry. KVE expects a lot from this collaboration.”

Jan Willem Gunnink, CEO/President, GTM Advanced Structures: “It is great that the city of The Hague supports the development of advanced products at the Ypenburg location. GTM is active in the field of advanced materials and constructions for aviation and space technology and appreciates this initiative of the municipality of The Hague. With this, she offers further possibilities to intensify the cooperation between the companies at Ypenburg and to serve the national and international industry even better with the high-tech products that are developed and made at Ypenburg. In view of the collaboration between GTM and the various training institutes in the Hague region (including the institute Advanced Hybrid Structures Center of Competence (AHSCC) with the TU Delft), GTM also sees the possibility of further developing these collaborations in projects and student counselling.”

The Hague is an international city with a strong, innovative economy. The business sector plays a crucial role in this, as a municipality we can facilitate and boost. This investment is good for the innovative strength, competitive position and employment in The Hague. The fact that the companies themselves also invest heavily shows the shared interest, commitment and confidence in the future.
~ Saskia Bruines, alderman Knowlegde Economy, International Affairs, Youth & Education, municipality of The Hague

Marcus Kremers, Chief Technology Officer, Airborne: “Automation and digitization of composite manufacturing is at the core of our business strategy. This program and the cooperation with the other companies at Ypenburg and DFC strengthens the technological foundation and ensures that we can develop and grow much faster. We welcome the collaboration with partners very much, because the need for automation of composites in the market is much larger than we can cover only by ourselves.”

Jac. Gofers, CEO, Promolding: “Now that the companies at Ypenburg have grown up, the time has come to offer a joint proposition that will mean a ‘not-to-refuse offer’ for the international business community. In the field of high-tech plastics and composites, top knowledge is available at both the companies and the educational programs in the region. It is great that we can now bring innovative products and processes to the Ypenburg Technology Park.”

Infographic

Here are 10 reasons Why West Holland is the hotspot for composites. Download the infographic via this link or request a hardcopy via communicatie@innovationquarter.nl.

Terug naar overzicht
Contact /Rinke Zonneveld Datum /

InnovationQuarter Jaarverslag 2017, de TerugblIQ

More collaboration and more implementation strength

Collaboration has been key to the success of InnovationQuarter since its inception in 2014. As the regional development agency for West Holland, InnovationQuarter works to strengthen the innovation eco system by working with companies, knowledge institutions, cluster and delta organisations and incubators, as well as financiers and investors, top sectors and government agencies. The aim is a West Holland ecosystem that helps parties to find each other easily, stimulates cross-pollination between the strong regional clusters, facilitates the growth of innovative firms and attracts foreign companies.

InnovationQuarter was evaluated in mid-2017. The evaluation report concluded: “With the arrival of InnovationQuarter, our implementation strength in terms of structurally strengthening the economy and stimulating innovation has increased considerably, and collaboration in West Holland has grown rapidly.”

More results

InnovationQuarter exceeded its ambitious objectives for 2017 in all areas.

  • InnovationQuarter Business Development achieved 56 business cases and innovation projects with an investment volume of €23 million. InnovationQuarter worked with several hundred companies on these partnerships. These were often trend-setting, cross-sectoral projects focusing on the transition to the ‘next economy’.
  • InnovationQuarter Foreign Investments helped 50 foreign companies to establish themselves, move to or expand in the region. Within three years, these enterprises expect to create 1,204 extra jobs in West Holland and invest an additional €78.4 million. Since InnovationQuarter started out in 2014, the number of foreign companies landing in West Holland has increased by no less than 76% (*), partly due to the joint efforts of our acquisition partners.
  • InnovationQuarter Capital invested in 23 companies during 2017. While IQCapital was responsible for 14 investments, UNIIQ funded the other nine. As a result of these investments, the amount of additional capital attracted to the region was €44.6 million. The companies in the agency’s portfolio expect to create 348 extra jobs over the next three years. What is remarkable is that IQCapital and UNIIQ were the most active investment funds in the Netherlands in 2017. Moreover, ENERGIIQ, the West Holland energy innovation fund, was launched in September 2017.

In addition, InnovationQuarter not only supports entrepreneurs based in the region to achieve their internationalisation ambitions but also serves as the link between the ‘top sector policy’ of the national government and the regional business community. Moreover, InnovationQuarter presents West Holland as a unique delta region, a 24/7 real-life testing ground for promising innovations.

“In everything we do as a regional development agency, we try to maximise our added value. We do this by drawing on the combined strength of various networks, knowledge sources and expertise”, says Rinke Zonneveld, director of InnovationQuarter. “This means we are more than a connector and a catalyst, more than an acquisition agency and more than an investor!”

 

Jaarverslag InnovationQuarter 2017: Meer samenwerking, meer uitvoeringskracht, meer resultaat in Zuid-Holland

Shareholders InnovationQuarter receive the first copy of TerugblIQ, the InnovationQuarter 2017 Annual Report.

Roadmap to the Next Economy

InnovationQuarter’s annual report gives a voice to entrepreneurs who make use of high-impact, leading-edge technologies: business people at the forefront of innovation and for whom collaboration is key for the future.

Rinke Zonneveld: “In light of our ambition to tackle important social issues in fields such as healthcare, security and energy, these are the entrepreneurs we like to help. This enables us to bring the ‘next economy’ closer within our region. This year, InnovationQuarter and our many partners will provide a strong boost in this area by assuming responsibility for launching the Roadmap for the Next Economy.”

* This concerns the projects completed by the regional acquisition agencies Rotterdam Partners, The Hague Busines Agency and InnovationQuarter in collaboration with the NFIA (Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency).

TerugblIQ – InnovationQuarter 2017 Annual Report

Curious about our results? View the InnovationQuarter 2017 Annual Report below (in Dutch). Would you like to receive a hard copy of the Annual Report? Send an email with your contact details to: communicatie@innovationquarter.nl.

Terug naar overzicht
Contact /Tanja Baars Datum /
LeydenJar-ontvang-kapitaalinjectie-van-UNIIQ-en-de-BOM_001-980x450.jpg

© Verkijk.nl

Battery development can’t keep up with market demand

Better and more compact batteries are instrumental in allowing technological breakthroughs in various sectors. Further development and adoption of wireless technology and electric vehicles largely depends on current battery performance. It is therefore crucial to improve both battery capacity and cycle life. However, the battery industry has proven able to only incrementally improve the current lithium-ion batteries (Li-ion) year-on-year. The bottleneck lies in the fact that the negative electrode of the battery, the anode, is currently made of graphite. Graphite is limited in the amount of lithium ions it can bind, thereby limiting battery energy density.

Greatly increased battery capacity due to LeydenJars silicium anode material

LeydenJar replaces the graphite anode with a 100% silicium anode. This leads to a tenfold increase in the capacity of the anode, which is currently the bottle neck to improve the energy density of the cell. The industry has been experimenting with replacing the graphite anode with silicium for years. The problem with the material, however, is that it swells and shrinks upon charging and discharging, making it unsuitable for use in a battery. Silicium therefore currently only makes for a small part in the battery anode composition.

This round of funding allows us to take significant steps in improving lithium-ion batteries over a short time span, making use of a process that is fit to use in current Li-ion battery production facilities – Christian Rood, founder LeydenJar Technologies

Technology from the solar cell industry is key in realizing 100% silicium anodes, and superior battery capacities

LeydenJar has found a way to buffer the shrinking and swelling of the silicium by giving the material exactly the right level of porosity. The material was originally developed by ECN for application in solar cells, but proved to be more fitting in batteries. The utilized plasma process (“PECVD”), which was also developed by ECN, deposes the silicium directly and with the right morphology, allowing for mass production of the anodes.

Over the past year, LeydenJar tested the pure silicium anodes in coin cells, a small battery format. The test results are promising to the extent that several parties are interested to incorporate the material in their test programs. This active market interest is illustrated by the fact that LeydenJar won the BMW Startup Challenge, a competition for innovative startups that help shape future worldwide mobility.

Proof-of-concept fund UNIIQ, BOM Brabant Ventures and private investor Energy Professionals now invest a lump sum of € 550.000. The funding adds to the TKI-subsidy the company raised with partners TU Delft and ECN in the final quarter of 2017, and a subsidy of Metropole Region Eindhoven. With this capital injection, the company is able to further development of both the anode material and the PECVD production process. Research and development activities take place in both the province of Zuid-Holland (material engineering) as the province of North Brabant (process- and machine engineering), covering the regions where respectively UNIIQ and BOM Ventures/Metropole Region Eindhoven are active.

The current round of funding allows LeydenJar to develop a battery prototype fit for use in consumer electronics, an important milestone on the road towards developing superior batteries with applications in energy storage and electric vehicles.

Christian Rood, founder LeydenJar Technologies: “272 years after invention of the Leyden Jar, another Dutch invention will greatly impact energy storage solutions. In our development trajectory, we work closely together with top notch Dutch and German research institutes, the European battery industry, and our financial partners. This round of funding allows us to take significant steps in improving lithium-ion batteries over a short time span, making use of a process that is fit to use in current Li-ion battery production facilities.”

Liduina Hammer, UNIIQ fund manager: “UNIIQ invests in promising and innovative technological ventures in the proof-of-concept phase. The transition towards renewable energy is a relevant theme, and one of the focus areas of the Province of Zuid-Holland. We are pleased to be able to support further development of LeydenJar’s technology, thereby realizing our first investment in this domain.”

“BOM Brabant Ventures, the venture department of the Brabantse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij, is pleased to invest in an early-stage company developing groundbreaking technology for optimizing energy storage”, says senior investment manager Jurgen van Eck. “In the development of the anode production process, the company will make optimal use of the strong machine- and manufacturing industry that is so characteristic for the region of North-Brabant, to ultimately contribute to the transition towards sustainable energy.”

Terug naar overzicht
Contact /Chris van Voorden Datum /

Sterke groei buitenlandse bedrijven in Zuid-Holland / RDM Rotterdam
RDM Rotterdam

Most investments are from China and the United States

Most foreign companies that made a new or expansion investment in West Holland in 2017 came from China (27) and the USA (21). In recent years, the majority of firms investing in the region have come from these two countries.

Chinese companies that have set up business in West Holland include Nuctech (a security company with its European head office in Rotterdam), Astronergy (marketing and sales office for solar panels in Zoetermeer) and ZoneCom (active in the gaming sector, with its European head office in The Hague).

Major names from the US include Cisco (establishment of a local branch in The Hague), Rambus (expansion of its office and activities in Rotterdam) and DXC Technology (new Dutch head office in Rijswijk).

Sterke groei buitenlandse bedrijven in Zuid-Holland / Skyline Den Haag
Skyline Den Haag (© Arjan de Jager)

New countries of origin, new sectors

What is striking about the figures for 2017 is the strong growth in the number of companies from India and South Africa. Eight companies from India and five from South Africa chose West Holland as their base in the Netherlands.

Also noteworthy in recent years has been the growing presence of firms active in the Next Economy. This includes a significant number of young tech companies that have made West Holland their base due to the region’s strong innovation ecosystem. No fewer than 27 of the 115 newly-established foreign firms in 2017 operate in the high-tech and IT sectors, followed by 14 in the maritime/offshore sector, 11 in life sciences & health and 10 in safety & (cyber)security.

Investor Relations programme: 289 companies visited

In addition to attracting new companies, The Hague Business Agency, Rotterdam Partners and InnovationQuarter also actively support foreign firms that have already set up business in the region. This is part of the national Investor Relations programme, which is partly financed by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, the Rotterdam The Hague Metropolitan Region (MRDH) and the Province of Zuid-Holland. In 2017, the three acquisition partners visited a total of 289 companies through the programme.

Sterke groei buitenlandse bedrijven in Zuid-Holland / Leiden Bio Science Park
Leiden Bio Science Park (© Hielco Kuipers)

Successful cooperation on acquisition in West Holland

Attracting and retaining foreign investment is of great importance to West Holland and the Netherlands, not least in terms of economic growth and job creation. The 115 international companies supported in 2017, for example, are expecting to create 1,986 new jobs within three years and to secure 366 existing jobs. These companies are jointly investing 543.79 million euros in the region.

The 115 investment projects are the result of a joint effort by the regional agencies Rotterdam Partners, The Hague Business Agency and InnovationQuarter in association with the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA), an operational unit of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, and strong clusters such as Medical Delta, Maritime Delta and The Hague Security Delta. The acquisition partners have been collaborating closely since 2014, both strategically and in practice, and have achieved great success. Over the last three years, the number of projects implemented in cooperation with the NFIA has risen by no less than 76% (*). Moreover, 31% of all foreign companies that established themselves in the Netherlands during 2017 opted for West Holland, well above the region’s share in the national economy. In 2014, it was 20%.

 

* This concerns the projects completed by Rotterdam Partners, The Hague Business Agency and InnovationQuarter in collaboration with the NFIA (Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency).

 

Terug naar overzicht
Contact /Bert Klarus Datum /

Unmanned Valley Valkenburg

Hotspot for drones

One of the Unmanned Valley Valkenburg projects concerns students from the Leidse Instrumentenmakers School (LiS) who will develop drones and unmanned technology that will be tested at Unmanned Valley Valkenburg. The school, specialised in precision engineering, is based in Leiden and Unmanned Valley lies just around the corner.

‘Great opportunity’

It offers a ‘great opportunity’ for the school, director Dick Harms tells the daily Leidsch Dagblad. “Students can learn the most if the setting resembles a real environment.” One of the first drones the school wants to develop is a fire-fighting drone: machines that can detect fires in an early stage. The teachers are enthusiastic about the collaboration. “I think Unmanned Valley will become very popular”, one of them says.

Several companies have settled in Unmanned Valley Valkenburg, like the RoboValley startup Aerovinci. Drone Center Valkenburg opened its doors as well. Located nearby major cities like Rotterdam and The Hague, it is a great place to host an event as well. In February, the first edition of DroneClash took place in one of the hangars.

Unmanned Valley Valkenburg

2,000 jobs

It is expected that the development of Unmanned Valley creates around 2,000 jobs and will give the regional economy a boost. “The hotspot of drone companies already based in Valkenburg really takes off”, alderman Jan Klaas van der Bent from the municipality of Katwijk says. To drive the further development, Katwijk and Delft University of Technology have launched the Unmanned Valley Valkenburg Foundation.

The foundation has set up a three-year programme together with 17 partners from government agencies (Rijksvastgoedbedrijf), knowledge institutions (Hogeschool Leiden, Leidse instrumentenmakers School) and the industry. RoboValley is one of the partners as well. Amongst other things, the foundation makes sure the fieldlab meets all safety requirements and the testing of drones doesn’t have a negative impact on the living environment.

Research

Delft University of Technology will use Unmanned Valley for scientific research, the dean of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering Henri Werij says. “It is extremely valuable to have a good testing location for drones nearby. Not only for students and researchers of Delft University of Technology. A great part of the space sector is located in the Province of Zuid-Holland as well.” Besides, many related companies and spin-offs are looking for a good place to test. “It is important to test new inventions outside, in all weather conditions.”

 

Source / RoboValley

Terug naar overzicht
Contact /Niels Krol Datum /

InnovationQuarter supported the West Holland composite cluster with a regional stand at the pavilion. At the stand, the following initiatives were presented:

  • SAM | XL from Delft, a test and development center for automating the production of large-scale composite parts;
  • InfraCore  from Rotterdam, supplier of technology and products in the infrastructure, such as lightweight composite bridges;
  • Technology Park Ypenburg a cluster of closely cooperating composite companies in The Hague.

The aim was to promote the West Holland composite cluster internationally, to find new partnerships and to interest foreign companies into to expanding into this region.

10 Reasons why West Holland is the Hotspot for Composites

The parties mentioned above were also able to present themselves during the 1.5-hour “Country on Stage” session. At the end, the Dutch sector offered the National Composite Agenda to Maarten Camps, Vice Minister of Economic Affairs & Climate and Marc Hendrikse special envoy to the Dutch HTSM top sector.

The agenda was drawn up by the private sector, the public sector, various research institutions and the top sectors HTSM and Chemistry and bundles all innovation activities within the Netherlands. Besides more unity and better coordination, the agenda also strengthens the competitive position of the Dutch composites sector on a global scale.

Composites are increasingly being used in various market sectors, from aerospace to deep sea offshore, from maritime to automotive, and from bridges to consumer products. The ambition of the agenda is also to make the sector more sustainable and to set an international example.

Terug naar overzicht
Contact /Philip Meijer Datum /

Cisco 2018 Annual Cyber Security Report

Highlights Cyber Security Report

Here are a few of Cisco’s important findings. For the full report, please visite www.cisco.com.

  • Supply chains
    Attacks can impact computers on a massive scale and can persist for months or even years. Defenders should be aware of the potential risk of using software or hardware from organizations that do not appear to have a responsible security posture.
  • Security is getting more complex
    Defenders are implementing a complex mix of products from a cross-section of vendors to protect against breaches. This complexity and growth in breaches have many downstream effects on an organization’s ability to defend against attacks, such as increased risk of losses.
  • Behavioral analytics tools
    92% of security professionals said behavior analytics tools work well in locating malicious actors in networks. Two-thirds of the healthcare sector, followed by financial services, found behavior analytics to work extremely well to identify malicious actors.
  • Use of cloud is growing:
    In this year’s study, 27% of security professionals said they are using off-premises private clouds, compared with 20 percent in 2016. Attackers are taking advantage of this lack of advanced security

Last year’s evolution of malware demonstrates that our adversaries continue to learn. We have to raise the bar now – top down leadership, business led, technology investments, and practice effective security – there is too much risk, and it is up to us to reduce it.
~ John N. Stewart, Senior Vice President, Chief Security and Trust Officer at Cisco

Recommendations for defenders

  • Adhere to corporate policies and practices for application, system, and appliance patching.
  • Have access to timely, accurate threat intelligence data and processes that allow for that data to be incorporated into security monitoring.
  • Perform deeper and more advanced analytics.
  • Back up data often and test restoration procedures, processes that are critical in a world of fast-moving, network-based ransomware worms and destructive cyber weapons.
  • Conduct security scanning of microservice, cloud service, and application administration systems.

More information (English / Dutch) or listen to an interview with Michel Schaalje from Cisco on BNR Newsradio (in Dutch).

 

Source / The Hague Security Delta, Cisco

Terug naar overzicht
Contact /Stef Prinsen Datum /

YES!Delft en UtrechtInc bij internationale top universitaire bedrijfsincubators

World Top Business Incubator

This year, UBI global defined 4 categories. YES!Delft and UtrechtInc were respectively ranked 2 and 10 in the category: World Top Business Incubator – Affiliated with University. In 2015 YES!Delft ranked 9th on the global list.

This result proves that our programs really are of world class. With our Discovery Track, Validation Lab and Accelerator program we help startups grow successfully within 9 months from business idea to investor-ready.
~ EJ Lugt, Managing Director at YES!Delft

UtrechtInc

UtrechtInc also maintains a top position on the international international list by UBI Global and is glad to receive this recognition. Managing Director Jorg Kop: “We offer supporting programs to researchers of Utrecht University and UMC Utrecht to bring research to the market. This way, we contribute to the valorization of scientific knowledge and making this publicly accessible.” Since 2009 the incubator supported 184 startups.

Proud

Startup Envoy Prince Constantijn at StartupDelta congratulates YES!Delft and UtrechtInc. “Incubators and accelerators can play a crucial role in the valorization of scientific data and supporting academic startups. The universities of Delft and Utrecht must be proud of the successes of YES!Delft and UtrechtInc, who are contributing immensely to the Dutch startup and scale-up ecosystem.”

Research

Every two years UBI Global, a renowned Swedish research- and advicebureau in the field of business incubation, conducts research amongst 500 incubators and accelerators in over 70 countries. An example of a selection criteria are the accessibility to capital and economic impact of the incubators. In 2016, the 259 participating programs supported over 10.000 startups in total, research shows. The total number of employees was 72.000. In the past 5 years, the startups raised a total of 4,7 billion euros and had a total of 3,2 billion in revenue.

The ranking list was announced at the World Incubation Summit in Toronto (CAN). Curious for the entire global ranking? Please visit www.ubi-global.com.

 

Source / YES!Delft

 

Terug naar overzicht
Contact /Johan Stins Datum /

Slimme parkeeroplossing ParkBee wint Internationale vastgoed innovatie competitie

The round is led by German-based Statkraft Ventures, with participation from existing investors such as InnovationQuarter. Statkraft Ventures is backed by the Statkraft Group, which claims to be Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy.

Originally launched in Amsterdam in early 2016 where it now has over 60 parking locations, ParkBee says the new capital will be used for further U.K. expansion after the burgeoning company recently brought its offering to London. It already has over 20 private car parks using the startup’s wares in the U.K. capital city.

Specifically, this consists of hardware ParkBee had to develop that is retrofitted to a private car park’s existing barrier or security system. Then there is a cloud platform that controls the bookings and unlocking of spaces and lets the car park owner handle inventory management.

The whole thing is also integrated with consumer-facing car parking space booking apps RingGo and Parkmobile, which let you unlock your booked space.

Parking is an enormous hassle in every large city, and streets are only getting fuller, whilst the parking capacity is there but not yet accessible for the general public. – ParkBee commercial director Wouter de Bruijne.

“It’s hard to believe that there are so many unused parking spaces in London, Amsterdam and almost any large city. The car parks of office buildings, apartment buildings but also hotels, business centres or sport venues have a lot of capacity, usually secure behind a closed speed gate or barrier. ParkBee opens up these locations to the public”.

Furthermore, de Bruijne argues there is major upside for landlords and other private car park owners with underutilized inventory. “The real-estate sector is always looking for ways to optimise the use of space. We optimise the use of their buildings and provide an additional revenue stream, he says.

To that end, the list of private property companies ParkBee is already working with include JLL, BT and local councils in the U.K.

Meanwhile, the ParkBee business model is straightforward. The company shares revenue generated through hiring out each parking space with the owner or at a larger location it rents the parking spots directly from the owner, therefore taking on a little more risk. In addition, the startup splits the fee it charges consumers with RingGo or Parkmobile.

Source / TechCrunch

Terug naar overzicht
Contact /Annette van Elswijk Datum /

Speed reducers are used to ensure that the right amount of speed or torque by an (electric) motor is delivered for a specific application. IMSystems is one of the first companies that has been able to successfully apply the principle of frictional contact for speed reduction in a compact and lightweight gearbox, resulting in the Archimedes drive. The Archimedes Drive will know many applications in various industries, and especially in the robotized manufacturing industry.

We are convinced that the Archimedes Drive is a significant hardware breakthrough that allows robots to function optimally, with higher precision, less maintenance and at a fraction of the weight of competing drives – Jack Schorsch, founder and CEO of IMSystems

Industrial robots highly depend on the quality of gear teeth transmission. While software developments are moving rapidly, the lack of significant hardware breakthroughs is hampering robotic development. The Archimedes Drive is able to deliver the same amount of torque while being a fraction the weight of competing drives. Besides, it enables robots to operate with a much higher precision due to the lack of backlash traditional gear teeth do have. Furthermore, power transmission through friction nearly eliminates the need for lubrication, thereby lowering maintenance costs.

Jack Schorsch, founder and CEO of IMSystems: “The investment of UNIIQ will enable us to optimize our product more quickly, to ultimately get our product faster to market. We are convinced that the Archimedes Drive is a significant hardware breakthrough that allows robots to function optimally, with higher precision, less maintenance and at a fraction of the weight of competing drives.”

With the investment of UNIIQ the precision, reliability and lifetime of the Archimedes Drive will be tested in various setups. Following the technical validation, IMSystems expects in collaboration with leading robotics manufacturers to release a commercial product later this year. “And this focus on realizing commercial traction in an early phase is equally important”, says UNIIQs fundmanager Liduina Hammer. “We primarily invest in companies with pro-active teams that focus on both the technical and commercial part of their organisation”.

Terug naar overzicht
Contact /Chris van Voorden Datum /

Attractive business climate in the Netherlands

Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, Eric Wiebes, commented: “The presence of foreign companies is important for our country. Some 1.4 million Dutch people have a job directly or indirectly thanks to these companies. The excellent annual NFIA results confirm that we benefit from a good investment climate. Our highly educated population, good infrastructure, pleasant housing and living conditions and competitive fiscal climate attract foreign companies and employees. For our future economic growth and employment it is important that the Dutch business climate remains attractive. We all benefit from that. ”

Sigrid Kaag, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, under whose responsibility the NFIA falls as well, commented: “The Netherlands has an attractive business climate, and the Dutch economy is in good shape. Also, with a view to Brexit, there is increasing interest from international companies to move activities to the Netherlands or to establish themselves in the Netherlands. It is therefore important that the NFIA, Dutch embassies and consulates overseas continue to put the Netherlands on the map abroad.”

Distribution centers and headquarters

Within the Invest in Holland network, the NFIA was directly responsible for 8,158 of the 12,686 jobs. In 2017, the NFIA registered 224 foreign direct investment projects for the Netherlands, corresponding to 1.23 billion euros in investments. The NFIA results show that most new jobs were created in distribution centers (1,864), at headquarters (1,345), in marketing & sales offices (1,316), R&D (1,259) and production sites (1,081). To illustrate, Netflix expanded its European headquarters in Amsterdam with a customer contact center of 400 jobs. Merck Performance Materials invested 15 million euros in its production plant for so-called liquid crystal glass in Veldhoven. Meanwhile, Japanese gelatin producer Jellice expanded its production plant in Emmen, resulting in 25 additional jobs.

US companies lead employment creation

As in 2016, the majority of ‘foreign’ jobs were created by companies from the United States. NFIA results for 2017 indicate some 2,516 jobs created by US companies, bringing 110 million euros in investments.  Companies from within Europe also provided a substantial number of jobs (2,879), including the UK (872). Japan and India provided 655 and 423 jobs, respectively.  Majority of jobs from foreign investments in 2017 came from creative industries such as fashion and entertainment & media (2,126). Additional jobs by sector include agrifood (1,788), IT (1,219), life sciences & health (600) and business services (457).

Brexit

Within the Invest in Holland network, including West Holland acquisition partners The Hague Business Agency, Rotterdam Partners and InnovationQuarter, special attention was on Brexit last year. The NFIA is in contact with more than 200 foreign companies that are considering a switch to the Netherlands in the wake of Brexit. Many companies choose to wait before they announce their plans for the future, due to the lack of clarity about the new relationship between the UK and the EU. In 2017, 18 companies made a Brexit-related move to the Netherlands. These re-locations accounted for 483 jobs and 19 million euros added to the Dutch economy. In these results, the relocation of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to Amsterdam is not yet included.

 

Source / NFIA