Ten Years of Insight into the Regional Entrepreneurial Climate: The Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Index 2026

Utrecht University and Birch Consultants today present the 2026 edition of the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Index, marking a decade of systematic insight into the regional entrepreneurial climate in the Netherlands. While the overall picture shows remarkable continuity, underlying dynamics reveal important shifts, from the rise of ASML to the growing importance of foreign talent and new structural bottlenecks.

Professor Erik Stam, member of the Bottom-Up Initiatives for Societal Change platform and Professor of Strategy, Organization and Entrepreneurship, emphasizes that the Netherlands displays large and persistent regional differences in entrepreneurial conditions. “It is not a simple story of the Randstad versus the rest,” he notes. “Regions such as Southeast North Brabant, Groningen, and Twente performed strongly ten years ago and continue to do so today.”

A Decade of Data: How the Index Emerged

The concept of the entrepreneurial ecosystem was still relatively unknown when Stam introduced it at an OECD meeting in The Hague in 2013. Subsequent commissions from the Ministry of the Interior (2014) and the Chamber of Commerce led to a collaboration between Utrecht University and Birch Consultants to systematically collect data on regional entrepreneurship conditions.

This work expanded internationally when the OECD requested a cross-country comparison in 2016. Since then, the research program has grown into a global effort, with Utrecht University contributing to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, collaborating with the Faculty of Geosciences on regional development and sustainability transitions, and building an OECD‑aligned platform to measure entrepreneurship across Europe and Africa.

What the 2026 Index Shows

The Index measures “slow structures” that shape entrepreneurial potential: legislation and regulation, infrastructure, culture, leadership, networks, R&D investment, institutions, demand, talent, and finance.

Despite stability over time, several developments stand out:

• Southeast North Brabant/Brainport, Delft–Westland, Greater Amsterdam, and Leiden remain top performers.
• Utrecht, Twente, and Arnhem/Nijmegen follow closely behind.
• Greater Rijnmond faces challenges, particularly in Rotterdam South and the port area, due to competitive pressures and lagging social integration.
• Groningen has made a significant leap, driven by stronger leadership and networking.
• Zeeland and much of the North have declined, reinforcing their peripheral position.
• South Limburg has improved notably, especially in leadership, networks, and financing.
• University regions consistently perform well due to talent attraction, collaboration opportunities, and knowledge investment.

ASML: A National Strength and a Vulnerability

One of the most striking findings is the outsized role of ASML in Southeast North Brabant. The company alone drives 8% of the region’s Gross Regional Product in R&D investment, more than the rest of the Dutch top ten R&D investors combined.

Stam warns, however, that this concentration creates vulnerability: “If geopolitical tensions were to restrict the Netherlands from producing or exporting chip machines, our only major R&D engine would be at risk.”

The State of Entrepreneurship in the Netherlands

Although the Index focuses on regional variation, Stam’s broader research shows that:

• Even the weakest Dutch regions score above the European average.
• Overall, the entrepreneurial climate in the Netherlands has improved over the past decade.
• Structural challenges persist:
  • A tight labor market
  • Suboptimal employment regulations
  • Energy shortages (a new bottleneck)
  • Barriers for foreign talent
  • Increasingly unpredictable policy environments

At the same time, the ecosystem has strengthened through the rise of Regional Development Agencies (ROMs), startup organizations, TechLeap, and strong corporate anchors like ASML.

A Growing International Research Program

Utrecht University now hosts a thriving research community studying entrepreneurship and economic development. Numerous PhD projects have examined ecosystems across Europe, Africa, and beyond — all rooted in the foundational work that began in the Netherlands a decade ago.

“It is especially meaningful,” Stam reflects, “that we can celebrate ten years of this work here in Utrecht.”

Anniversary Event on June 18, 2026

The tenth anniversary of the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Index will be celebrated at Dotslash Utrecht. Speakers include:

• Chantal Dietvorst-ten Tije, Managing Director Ecosystems Development, Brabant Development Agency
• Anne-Wil Lucas, former Member of Parliament, now at the Water Institute Leeuwarden

Utrecht University and Birch Consultants will present the 2026 figures and reflect on a decade of insights into the Dutch entrepreneurial landscape.

More information

Would you like to know more? Then download the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Index 2026 or contact Erik Stam: e.stam@uu.nl