Campuses and science parks in the Netherlands are vital for fostering job creation and new business activities. Over the past 6.5 years, 22,000 new jobs have been created by 3,000 companies located on the 20 of the most prominent campuses and science parks in the country. South Holland leads this development, with Delft—a hub for South Holland’s startups—showcasing the highest growth in employment, according to a new research report by Buck Consultants International.
The Success of Campuses: Collaboration Between Knowledge Institutions and Companies
The success of these campuses lies in the synergy between knowledge institutions and nearby companies, enabling faster conversion of knowledge into new business opportunities, often through interdisciplinary collaboration. These innovations and partnerships contribute to solutions that accelerate societal transitions. Moreover, campuses play a central role in developing practical solutions for major societal challenges, such as economic innovation and sustainability, climate resilience, healthy food systems, and overall well-being.
South Holland: leader in Campus Development
The report highlights that the appeal of campuses and science parks to innovation pioneers and technology-driven companies has grown significantly in South Holland and the Netherlands. These campus environments make the Netherlands an attractive location for businesses. Campuses serve as incubators for startups evolving into scale-ups, while also acting as magnets for knowledge workers, talent, tech-driven companies, and investment capital. This strengthens not only local economies but also the international standing of the Netherlands as a hub for knowledge and innovation.
TU Delft Campus and Leiden Bio Science Park: leading in maturity level
The research categorizes campuses by their maturity level. South Holland boasts a relatively high number of campuses at various stages of development. The Leiden Bio Science Park (LBSP) and TU Delft Campus are the most advanced and rank among the top campuses in the Netherlands. They also show the largest employment growth among businesses located on top campuses nationwide.
“The research highlights the importance of further developing our campus and the wider Delft ecosystem. By fostering entrepreneurship, we create jobs at all levels and accelerate the adoption of innovations. This approach strengthens our regional and (inter)national standing—economically, socially, and technologically”, says Michael Wulfsen, account manager of TU Delft Campus.
TU Delft Campus Startups Triple
Since the last report, TU Delft Campus has achieved a 32% increase in the number of established companies. The number of startups on TU Delft Campus has tripled, now accounting for nearly half of all companies located there. With 156 startups, TU Delft Campus has become the cradle of South Holland’s startups. Furthermore, Buck Consultants reports a more than twofold increase in employment at the campus over the past six years, making TU Delft Campus the top contributor to job growth in the Netherlands.
Biotech Campus Delft: Doubling Employment
In the “Growth Campuses” category, the number of established companies on Biotech Campus Delft has surged from 4 to 32, with approximately 30% in the startup phase. Since 2018, employment at Biotech Campus Delft has doubled, now providing jobs for 1,400 people. This remarkable growth positions Biotech Campus Delft as one of South Holland’s standout gems in the category of emerging campuses.
