Image from Georg Willmerdinger
Amsterdam Innovates for People
Updated 10 June 2026 at 07:43
Amsterdam Innovates for People represents the commitment shared between research, development, innovation and business professionals in Amsterdam – to continued investment in innovation that places people and enterprise at its heart. What is created here has significance far beyond the city's boundaries. Strengthening innovation means building the future. The programme supports innovation in multiple sectors including life sciences and health, the circular transition, mobility and AI.
Amsterdam: innovation for a new era
Amsterdam – but also the Netherlands and Europe as a whole – is facing significant economic and societal challenges. The world around us is changing rapidly: technological breakthroughs, climate change, an ageing population and geopolitical uncertainty all call for new solutions. It is only when businesses, research institutions, social organisations and government all work together that we can preserve our prosperity and wellbeing, and strengthen our economic position.
Amsterdam evolves through the ages
Amsterdam has a long tradition of humanism and entrepreneurship, and has harnessed the power of innovation for hundreds of years. In the seventeenth century, the Marineterrein was an incubator for ship design; in the nineteenth century, the city led the way in water management; and a century and a half later, the first transatlantic email was sent from here. Innovation is in the DNA of Amsterdammers: we are known for being entrepreneurial, creative, curious, and bold. So why stop now?
It is on these strong foundations that today’s businesses and institutions thrive and collaborate. This enables Amsterdam to offer a broad range of facilities – including quality education, accessible healthcare and a cultural climate – that supports a healthy, vibrant and innovative city where residents can grow and develop, and which attracts both national and international talent.
Amsterdam’s network for innovation
In this fertile ecosystem, Amsterdam’s research, education and cultural institutions and businesses are working together under one banner. Playing to our strengths, we collaboratively focus on several key sectors, listed below. These are focus areas for which Amsterdam has a proven track record, and where collaboration takes place between partners in the city and across the region – and beyond.
Focus areas for innovation in Amsterdam
Technological & social innovation in Amsterdam
Key to the success of this project is to prioritise progress for people. This means that we foster collaboration between research and business to ensure both social and economic value. The global talent within our businesses is encouraged to work with universities, as well as higher vocational and further education institutions, to create new combinations and technological cross-overs with a positive impact. These parties meet one another in Amsterdam’s innovation districts – key hubs where the knowledge economy clusters together and where connections are forged with innovation hubs and knowledge-intensive businesses across the wider metropolitan region.
Moving forward together
Amsterdam’s strength lies in collaboration, diversity and courage. By pushing boundaries and connecting disciplines, we create economic and social value in and beyond the region.