Amsterdam Science Park’s startups are driving innovations across a variety of sectors. And you don’t have to be based at the Science Park to benefit from the exceptional new technologies developed here. Discover how working with this thriving startup network can help your business grow.
More than 60 science and deep-tech startups and spin-offs call Amsterdam Science Park home. Many startups are powered by accelerators and incubators based in the park. Mentorship from organisations such as ACE results in high-quality, high-potential startups. The dynamic environment is a wellspring of creativity. Startups become scale-ups. Young talents become established entrepreneurs. Transformative tech turns into commercial success.
Connect with us to find out more about how Amsterdam Science Park’s innovative startups can help your business
Collaborating with startups provides instant access to new technology, ideas and talent. It enables your company to innovate and gives you an edge over your competitors.
As companies grow, they often become less flexible – there are processes, systems, protocols; on-going work that needs doing to keep the business ticking over. All this means the time and resources for innovation can get squeezed and, before you know it, your products or services are no longer leading the pack. In contrast, startups are agile and fast-moving by their very nature. A small team just starting out will focus on creation and be willing to take risks and fail in a way that’s much more difficult for well-established companies. And startups are staffed by bright, ambitious strivers determined to make waves. Connecting with that entrepreneurial energy and innovative thinking can keep your business sharp and help you grow.
Different kinds of collaboration are possible, each requiring different levels of input and offering different benefits. From a one-day workshop to a fully funded in-house incubator, the choice depends on your company’s goals and resources. Forms of collaboration include:
If your company has a product or service it’s looking to improve, open innovation could be the answer. It provides an opportunity to tap into a startup’s technology and creativity to make changes or to develop a new business model together to bring an innovation to market. A successful example for this process is Aiir Innovations, which has worked with KLM to develop AI-powered software to inspect aircraft engines. The ACE incubator’s AI Lab connects world-class data-science talents with companies looking to accelerate their AI innovation.
If you prefer a more hands-off approach, you can consider investing in a promising startup or in a venture capital (VC) fund. VC firms raise money from limited partners to invest in promising startups. Often funding is provided in exchange for equity in the company. Larger VC funds may target a particular type of product or service and invest in multiple startups. Examples of startups and spin-offs at the park that are seeking or have attracted funds are Skytree and DuckDB.
Co-creation workshops are a chance to develop new ideas and explore potential partnerships. Startup Village, for instance, offers three-hour co-creation workshops that move from ideation to pitch, feedback from experts, then validation and final pitch. A ‘Dot on the Horizon’ workshop with industry experts will first assess your company’s know-how and setup for digital innovation and then guide you in bringing your digital innovation strategy to the next level.
Setting up an in-house incubator is a longer-term commitment, aimed at identifying and supporting innovative growth opportunities in collaboration with startups. Typically, the focus will be on early-stage ideas and the creation of a minimum viable product (MVP) for validation.
Femmie Geradts, Statutory director at Startup Village “The flexible nature of startups means large companies can work with them in many ways to find solutions, which at the same time helps the startups to scale. ”
ACE is a university incubator that supports students, academics and tech professionals who are starting or growing their business. Alongside training and coaching, ACE connects young entrepreneurs with Amsterdam Science Park’s extensive network of industry leaders, business professionals, investors and service providers. By supporting knowledge-based startups and scale-ups, they strive to build a learning ground for creating impactful companies of the future.
Startup Village is a community hub for AI and quantum computing. Almost 40 startups are based at the container village at Amsterdam Science Park, forming a lively ecosystem that facilitates interaction, collaboration and knowledge-sharing between startups, the academic ecosystem and larger businesses. Femmie Geradts, statutory director at Startup Village, says that while businesses are increasingly eager to take advantage of advances in AI, they often lack the specialist knowledge to do so. “The really innovative AI is often applied by startups. A lot of companies want to benefit from AI but are unsure how best to do this” – working with startups solves this problem.”
The flexible nature of startups means large companies can work with them in many ways to find solutions, which at the same time helps the startups to scale.
There are knowledge tours as well as a full-day programme of discovery, while workshops and hackathons can help companies develop their strategy on AI, data science and quantum technology. Events are tailored to a company’s activities to ensure that the relevant startups are involved. The village is also an inspiring location for company events, from team-building days to high-level corporate gatherings.
Success stories include Scyfer, AIIR Innovations, SIG, Skytree, SRXP and Metrica Sports among dozens of other promising startups.
The park’s active startup community fosters an atmosphere of innovation that positively impacts larger companies. If you want to be at the forefront of scientific discovery, team up with the startups at the heart of progress.
What are the benefits of collaborating with startups?
Collaborating with startups gives your company access to the latest technology, enabling growth and innovation. The flexible nature of startups means they can adapt their operations and products to fit your company’s needs. And startups bring an entrepreneurial energy and creativity that can keep your business sharp.
How can my company work with a startup?
Forms of collaboration include:
How do I become a partner of a startup?
Contact Amsterdam Science Park’s Science & Business team who will be happy to connect you with startups that match your company’s interests and are potential partners. You can also explore the Startup Village ecosystem which is open to approaches from companies of all sizes. Connections with startups can also be made via the Matrix Innovation Centers, Lab42, SustainaLab and networking events organised by Amsterdam Science Park’s Business Club.
Why are startups important for corporates?
Large companies tend to be less flexible. The processes, systems and ongoing daily activities needed to maintain a successful corporation can squeeze the space and energy needed for innovation. Connecting with startups means connecting with new technology and its potential applications. Collaborations facilitate learning and company buy-in to innovation and strengthen the overall value chain.
Are you looking for partners to collaborate with? Or searching for R&D expertise? Drop us a line and we help you find a perfect match.
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