
The Dutch government has announced a new action plan to strengthen the country's startup and scale-up ecosystem. The plan includes measures such as extending the Techleap program, investing in the European Tech Champions Initiative, and setting up a national investment institution. With these steps, the government aims to ensure that innovative companies can continue to grow in the Netherlands to secure future prosperity and earning power.
"We are proud of the continued trust and support for Techleap. Over the years, through our programs and ecosystem interventions, we have built a thriving community of startup and scale-up founders in the Netherlands," said Techleap.nl in a LinkedIn post.
The Netherlands drops in ranking of most competitive economies
Despite efforts to create a favorable environment for startups and scale-ups, the Netherlands has dropped on the list of the world's most competitive economies from 4th place in 2022 to 10th place in 2025. This drop highlights the need for the action plans and investments now announced to maintain and build on the Netherlands' position as a leading economy. The Dutch government recognizes that it is essential to invest in innovative companies to ensure the country's future prosperity and earning power. The new action plan "Building tomorrow's tech champions" is a direct response to this challenge, aiming to strengthen the startup and scale-up ecosystem and ensure fertile ground in which tech companies can grow and prosper.