Toespraak van minister Kamp bij de How To Get There Summit

Toespraak | 19-11-2015

Ladies and gentlemen, 

I don’t think I need to tell this audience why startups are so important. You all know they make a key contribution to our economy and our future. They account for 14 per cent of new jobs. And they are worth much more when we look at deliverables that are difficult to quantify − like innovations, and the contribution startups make to developing talent and keeping existing companies focused.

I don't think I need to tell you either why corporates are so important for our economy. They've already proved their worth: starting out as innovative young ventures and growing into major enterprises, often multinationals. These multinationals generate 40 per cent of our jobs, and account for two-thirds of our private sector turnover.

And I probably don't need to tell you here why cooperation between startups and corporates is so important for our economy and our future. You're all here at this summit. You've already seen that the two kinds of businesses not only compete, but also complement each other: the versatility, flexibility and innovative drive of startups, and the resources, experience, networks, data and distribution channels of corporates. Bringing the best of both worlds together, they can gain more by working together than acting alone. But the big question is: how to get there.

Let me start by saying that we’re on the right track. The startup ecosystem in the Netherlands is growing fast. Only Berlin's and London's grew faster in 2015. And the Dutch private sector leads the European field when it comes to fast-growing companies. In a single country we combine the best of what hubs like Silicon Valley and Tech City have to offer. The hubs in our ecosystem are no more than 90 minutes apart. And we’re the gateway to Europe: the leading multinationals based here provide access to the rest of the continent. I was recently in Tel Aviv to see how they’re facing up to this challenge. In some ways, they’re a lot further than we are, but when it comes to product-market fit we have plenty to offer. Because not only do we have many corporates, but they’re also available for and committed to being part of the startup ecosystem.

For instance, corporates have their own incubator programmes, offering startups financing, networks, publicity and business coaching. Other corporates take part in external programmes, like Ahold in the E-commerce startup bootcamp. The startups benefit from nearly 130 years’ experience in retailing. In exchange, Ahold is alerted to new trends and innovations.

There's also energy company Eneco, which worked with startup Quby to develop Toon, the smart thermostat. Now, Eneco’s become the majority shareholder in Quby, so that it can launch this successful concept abroad. And this summer ABN Amro Bank and The Startup Orgy opened TSO Munt Square: vacant offices that startups can rent, and where they can benefit from the bank’s advice and expertise.

It's important to share excellent initiatives like these, to inspire other startups, and give them new ideas. That’s why the Ministry of Economic Affairs together with StartupDelta and the innovation hubs have organised this event.

This ties in with the corporate launchpad we set up with our partners. It facilitates and accelerates cooperation between corporates and startups. By organising meetings like this summit today. By coordinating initiatives. By pooling information on parties that want to cooperate on startupdelta.org. And by promoting these unique partnerships abroad, for example through executive startup bootcamps like the two we organised to Silicon Valley.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Everything I've said about corporates also applies to governments. We too should be working with startups and learning from their innovative ways of working. Of course, we want to give startups space to power the economy. But we also want them as partners. So that they can use all their knowledge of new technologies and their innovative drive to help us seek solutions to some of the problems facing society.

There are plenty of good examples. Like the Startup in Residence programme, where the municipality of Amsterdam gives startups working space and access to its network to seek solutions to concrete problems. Or 4Silence which makes revolutionary, silent road surfacing, with the municipality of Enschede as launching customer. Or Innovatiestraat Eindhoven which gives startups the opportunity to use technology and design to make neighbourhoods safer.

One project in particular stands out. And that is the partnership between the Province of Gelderland and Declaree. This Rotterdam-based startup developed a special module, so that expenses claimed by members of the Provincial Council are posted directly onto the province’s website after approval. This has made the province’s work more efficient and more transparent. It also has great potential for Declaree. Because every government organisation can now buy this module. An example like this deserves an award: the Most Entrepreneurial Government Award. So I’d like to invite the King’s Commissioner for the Province of Gelderland, Mr Cornielje, to join me on the stage.

I hope this example will inspire other government bodies to work with startups. The Ministry will certainly continue to stimulate this.

Ladies and gentlemen,

We can inspire, stimulate and facilitate. But in the end the only real way to get there is simply by doing. We need startups, corporates and government authorities with courage, who want to share their ambitions, are willing to try and aren’t afraid of failing, falling or asking for help to get back on their feet. Like Drew Houston, CEO of Dropbox, said: ‘Don’t worry about failure, you only have to be right once.’ And the chance of success is much greater if we bring our unique qualities together.

Thank you.