The Netherlands among top of Global Innovation Index

A sophisticated business environment

Riva houses a lot of international professionals. They settled in the Netherlands at the request and invitation of world-renowned companies with their home base in Rotterdam. Riva has close contact with a lot of multinationals and other companies, asking us to help get their employees fine apartments in Rotterdam. The presence of Erasmus University and various colleges also contribute to the energetic atmosphere in this city. Talented students also approach us for housing. So we certainly profit of the measures the municipality of Rotterdam takes, supporting entrepreneurial spirit, innovative people and start-ups and scale-ups.

Rotterdam is internationally renowned for its passion for innovation. Rotterdam offers unparalleled scope for innovation and entrepreneurship. With the port as the hub of Europe’s largest Maritime cluster and ample activity in traditional industries such as Logistics, Energy, and the Chemical industry. And with an impressive performance in industries such as Life Sciences & Healthcare, Agri & Food, CleanTech and Business Services. 

They make innovation possible in rotterdam

Global Innovation Index ranks Holland second in the EU

Rotterdam is not the only city in the Netherlands that focuses on innovation. Eindhoven and Amsterdam also invest in innovation. As a result, the Netherlands is always present in the Global Innovation Index! According to INSEAD, Cornell University and the World Intellectual Property Organization – WIPO, the Netherlands scores highly for innovation output, digital infrastructure, knowledge absorption and business sophistication. 

According to recently published GII 2020, the Netherlands is one of the best-equipped countries to develop innovative solutions for the pandemic. Ranking No. 2 in the EU, the Netherlands is joined in the global top 5 by Switzerland, Sweden, the United States and the United Kingdom.

Science and Technology Cluster

The initiators recognize the fact that innovative activity usually transcends a city. That's why it also has identified the world’s most vibrant clusters of science and technology (S&T) activity and has ranked the top 100. The cluster Amsterdam-Rotterdam (also incorporating Delft, Utrecht, Leiden and The Hague) ranks 18th. It's logical this area bundles knowledge. Traveling time between these cities is negligible and a lot of prominent schools can be found in this part of the Netherlands. There is a constant exchange in knowledge between residents of these cities. An example is the start of Upstream this September.

Upstream Rotterdam

The region of Rotterdam, The Hague and Delft are launching Upstream: a platform and week-long festival (from September 21s to 27th) to
explore the new economy and foster connection, collaboration, and inspiration to scale change.

Upstream is a new initiative to facilitate intensive collaboration and exchange of knowledge and networks between a large number of ‘co-creators’ in the new economy space. It offers year-round knowledge sessions, training and workshops via an online platform, and this
September will launch ‘Upstream Festival’ to spotlight innovative and impactful developments in, and outside of the region.
Together for the new economy

While many individual companies and initiatives are working to design and develop solutions for the ‘new economy’, a lack of collaboration and cross-learning is a challenge. Upstream provides the opportunity for partners to expand horizons through shared expertise and networks; working to ensure companies, start-ups, entrepreneurs, investors and talent can connect, and learn from one another to accelerate change.
The region including Rotterdam, Delft and The Hague are home to nine leading industries such as aviation, aerospace, maritime, bioscience, energy and digital technologies with much to learn from one another. Promising start-ups such as SKOON Energy and transport-disruptor Hardt Hyperloop, are examples of ‘new economy’ innovations born in this region.

Rotterdam is part of this Innovation Ecosystem

During the festival visionaries such as Katherine Trebeck (Oxfam), Suzanne Lee (Biophillia, BioDesigner), Ted Howard (Democracy
Collaborative) and Tim Houter (Hardt - Hyperloop) share their perspectives on the new economy. 

Rotterdam Alderman Barbara Kathmann (Economy, districts and small locaties) will open Upstream Festival on September 21st. “I think it’s fantastic that together with other municipalities and so many different co-creators we can offer an international platform for the frontrunners that help our region move forward to a new economy that is digital, carbonneutral, circular and inclusive. I am very much looking forward to all digital and physical meetings with these inspiring people during the festival and for the rest of the year.”

Upstream partly stems from the Rotterdam Capital Days event and is an initiative of the City of Rotterdam in collaboration with the City of Delft, Rockboost, 42Workspace, Blue City, ECE, Erasmus University, Golden egg, Innovation Bridge Europe, Innovation Quarter, IT
Campus, KPN, The Mobility Campus, NLGroeit, PHX, Rabobank, RVO, Techstars Startup Weekend, TU Delft, Unknown Group, Venture Café, CIC, Worldstartup and YES!Delft.

Together with Riva tenants and landlords can benefit from the positive conditions and initiatives in Rotterdam. Expats and international students can easily find housing in the city through Riva. And homeowners can earn a return when they rent out homes to our ambitious international clientele. Contact us if you want to partner up with us. 

Coverphoto: Titia Hahne