The Netherlands ranked 3rd most innovative country in the EU
EIS results for 2025
According to the European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS) 2025, released by the European Commission, the Netherlands has climbed to third place among the most innovative countries in the European Union and fourth among the EU and neighbouring countries. Backed by a world-class digitalisation and talent pool, as well as a growing R&D ecosystem, the country now sits firmly among the EU’s top five innovators. Much of the momentum can be attributed to Amsterdam’s thriving innovation economy.
The report shows that the Netherlands continues to outperform the EU average across nearly all indicators, with notable leadership in digital connectivity, education, and investment in future-facing sectors. It ranks 1st in digitalisation within the EU and remains a top destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) in innovation.
The Dutch innovation ecosystem shines in several key domains:
- Digitalisation: The Netherlands leads the EU in overall digital skills and digital infrastructure access.
- Education & Research: High tertiary educational attainment, strong international co‑publication rates, and the presence of foreign doctoral students continue to underpin the country’s research reputation.
- Public‑private cooperation: Collaborative scientific output surpasses EU peers, signalling a robust innovation culture.
- Resource productivity: The Netherlands leads in resource efficiency and sustainable productivity metrics.
However, some structural weaknesses remain. The country lags in R&D investment, ranking just ninth overall, well behind leaders such as Sweden (3.6 % of GDP), Austria and Belgium (3.3 %), and Germany (3.1 %). Moreover, performance on commercialisation is muted: sales of new‐to‐market innovations and exports of high‑tech goods remain below the EU average.
In response to the downward trend, the Dutch government has reaffirmed its commitment to raising R&D expenditure to 3 % of GDP by 2030, with efforts focusing on scaling innovative firms and attracting investment.
What this means for Amsterdam’s sectors
For the city-region, the EIS results reinforce Amsterdam’s role as a beacon in key growth sectors:
- Fintech & Finance: Amsterdam ranks among Europe’s top hubs, thanks to companies such as Mollie and Adyen.
- AI & Tech: With the presence of world-class institutions like the Innovation Centre for AI at Amsterdam Science Park, the capital is engaging in trustworthy and applied AI innovation.
- Mobility, Food & Circular Economy: Strong resource productivity performance aligns with the Netherlands’ push on mobility transition, circular economy, and cleantech initiatives.
The Netherlands remains firmly in the innovation leader group, third in the EU and fourth in broader Europe, but the latest EIS 2025 edition reminds us that talent, scientific excellence, and digital strength must now be translated more effectively into commercial and high‑tech trade success.