Innovative city

Rotterdam, leading European city for innovative business

Are you starting up an innovative business or planning to expand? Rotterdam, the world's leading smart city and port, is just the right place. Our bold entrepreneurial spirit, prominent research institutes, governmental support for innovative start-ups and our focus on digitalisation, cyber resilience, and sustainability ensure we set Europe’s smart city example.

Discover Rotterdam’s innovation ecosystem

Rotterdam has created a unique, innovative ecosystem, encouraging experimentation in real life and the development of cutting-edge technologies. Our goal as a city is to become a leading tech innovation city in Europe. Next to the Rotterdam Climate Agreement aiming towards a climate-neutral city, we strongly focus on innovation and digitalisation.

Rotterdam’s next-generation innovative projects

A small selection of some exciting, innovative projects in Rotterdam:

Floating Farm

Pioneering the future of mobility

Multifunctional roofs

Rif010: urban surf in the city centre

RDM EnergyLab: collaborating and innovating around hydrogen

Welcome to Rotterdam, your digital pioneer city

In 2021, Rotterdam proudly received the UNESCO Netexplo Linking Cities Award as a digital pioneer city on the national and European stage. Rotterdam is rapidly expanding its digital infrastructures, spreading 5G and creating a 3D city’s model, a digital twin that facilitates communication, improves our city’s ecosystem and leads to our more sustainable future. 

Rotterdam is also investing in transitioning its port, Europe’s biggest one, into the greenest and smartest port globally through projects like the Porthos and its successor Aramis, the Port Cyber Resilience programme, etc. 

Find out more about Rotterdam’s ambitions to become a resilient city:

Rotterdam, city of entrepreneurs and frontrunners, offers a nourishing environment for sustainable investments and businesses to prosper.

Sustainable city

Rotterdam is a resilient city with a focus on inclusiveness. Rotterdam offers you a great business ecosystem and many opportunities. 

Inclusive city

Explore innovative Rotterdam

Whether you want to set up or expand your innovative company or organise an event, Rotterdam Partners is your starting point.  We will share our broad expertise and network, dedicated guidance and up-to-date knowledge of of local, innovative businesses, projects and key industries. Get in touch, and we will guide you every step of the way and make it happen!