Spring has begun. With sunshine in your face and daffodils on the roadside, it creates space to look ahead. What do I want to accomplish this year?

For entrepreneurs, this is not always easy. Daily work swallows you up, leaving little time for reflection and looking to the future. At such times it is nice to have someone to spar with. But with whom?

The answer is closer than you think: in our own workshop, the region. And your company is at the center of it.

That workshop has everything you need: knowledge, talent, space to experiment, companies willing to collaborate and a network that gets stronger the more often we meet. Such a network only really works when we use it. Then new ideas arise, professionals come together and projects grow.

Does the region already work this way? Sometimes yes, but not everywhere yet. At the same time, we are in good shape: a strong economy, committed entrepreneurs, developing business parks, education at all levels and municipalities that facilitate. All signals are green.

What is still needed? That we actually start doing it.

Too often we wait for each other, while municipalities, entrepreneurs and educational institutions often have the same questions. It is precisely in the joint workshop that the solutions emerge. There are the heads and hands needed to move forward. And your company is one of them!

My call: take advantage of that workshop, in a way that suits you. Join a network, project or collaboration. Visit a meeting, listen, share, ask, contribute. From the local business association to Key Region Leiden or VNO-NCW: there is always a place to start.

Not because they have to, but because it works. Because like the daffodils in the spring berm, enterprises bloom best when they are firmly rooted in the region.

This column is the first in a series and will appear in the Into Business issue over the next two years.

Why this works.

🔹 We connect knowledge and innovation with SMEs, strengthening the entire regional economy.
🔹 We create jobs close to home, reduce travel time and increase livability.
🔹 Each government euro provides at least €3.50 in value.
🔹 We are committed to future-proof business parks, strong supply chains and an attractive business climate.

What we ask of local politicians

What it delivers

The symposium “Working together on broad prosperity in Key Region Leiden” focused on the opportunities and challenges of our growing knowledge region. In the opening speech, Hester Heringa (Platform Social Domain), Wietske Veltman (municipality of Leiden) and Christine Carabain (Knowledge Center Applied Broad Prosperity) emphasized that economic growth must go hand in hand with broad prosperity: a development in which not only economic progress is central, but also the well-being of residents and a fair distribution of opportunities within the region.

On June 18, VNO-NCW Rijnland, Key Region Leiden and Rabobank will organize a Defense Summit meeting with the theme Doing Business with Defense: ‘Strong, smart and together’. For innovative entrepreneurs and SMEs that can provide a product or service to these entrepreneurs and/or to Defense. The meeting will be held at Unmanned Valley in Katwijk. Mark the date in your agenda!

Purpose of the meeting

The changing geopolitical situation and a sharply increasing defense budget create great opportunities for entrepreneurs to contribute to security, resilience and economic growth with innovative solutions. Key Region Leiden has a strong starting position where innovation power and the growing importance of the defense and security industry come together. We want to exploit that potential!

Format of the meeting

Inform, inspire and provide entrepreneurs with concrete insight into:

• Defense’s strategic needs and “shopping list,” particularly in the areas of technological and operational innovation.
• The action perspective for entrepreneurs: how do I navigate the complex Defense organization and bring dual-use innovations and technologies from idea to application within Defense?
• The opportunities for collaboration with partners within innovation region Key Region Leiden where entrepreneurs, researchers, education and municipalities work together in the fields of bio science, space tech & data and autonomous tech at Leiden Bio Science Park, NL Space Campus and Unmanned Valley.

This is what you take home

At this meeting, you will be informed and inspired, gain insight into Defense’s strategic priorities, hear how to seize opportunities as an entrepreneur and supplier in the supply chain, and meet a relevant network.

Program

• 2:30 p.m. – Walk-in: meet the innovation ecosystem
• 3 p.m. – Opening ‘Doing Business with Defense: Strong, Smart and Together’
• 3:10 p.m. – Program: from need to business including partial sessions on cybersecurity, reservists, dual-use and chain collaboration
• 5:30 p.m. – Networking with Defense, VNO-NCW and Key Region Leiden
• 6:30 p.m. – End

Sign up

Registration for this meeting starts soon. Mark Thursday, June 18 in your calendar now. Subscribe to our newsletter to not miss a thing.

• Thursday, June 18, 2026
• 2:30 – 6:30 p.m.
• Unmanned Valley, Katwijk aan Zee

Creating sensor-based impact

On June 18, we will be guests at Unmanned Valley in Katwijk. This is the Netherlands’ largest field lab for drones and autonomous tech on former naval airbase Valkenburg. Here, high-tech applications are literally getting off the ground. https://unmannedvalley.nl/

Key Region Leiden has received a contribution of €100,000 from the Ministry of Economic Affairs to better support entrepreneurs in our region*. The allocation from the SME Services Action Agenda will be used to improve the connection between innovation campuses and entrepreneurs and to make the knowledge present in the region more available to SMEs.

*The municipalities involved are Katwijk, Leiden, Leiderdorp, Noordwijk, Oegstgeest, Voorschoten and Zoeterwoude.

Finding each other faster

The Leiden region has a lot of knowledge and innovation, but not all entrepreneurs know how to make use of it. At the same time, entrepreneurs have much to offer that the knowledge clusters can benefit from, but these worlds do not meet enough. “We are going to strengthen the interaction between our strong knowledge economy and the diverse SMEs in our region so that knowledge, innovation and market demands find each other better and faster,” said Leonie Hussaarts, director of Key Region Leiden.

Doing, learning and improving

The approach is concrete. “We want to land more procurement in the region, create more chain cooperation and ensure optimal interaction between supply and demand. The most important thing is that we are going to do, learn from it and improve ourselves,” Hussaarts adds. “In doing so, companies must also take a step forward themselves. With interested parties, I’m happy to engage in conversation.”

Get in touch

Broad prosperity

On behalf of the region, the Municipality of Leiderdorp was the lead agency for the application. Responsible Alderman Herman Romeijn: “We are happy to get to work for all those entrepreneurs who work hard every day in and on our local and regional economy. The stronger connections will have a positive effect on the earning capacity of the region and everyone benefits from that.”

• Luister ook naar het radio-item van Sleutelstad (duur: 18 min) in het programma Kennismakers.
• And the short radio interview (duration 5 min) with Central+.

Here’s what we’re going to do

• Demand activation: making entrepreneurs aware of their future questions and helping them translate them into concrete steps.
• Making connections: better access to knowledge institutions, innovative companies and regional networks.
• Pilots and collaboration: joint projects between SMEs, knowledge institutions and government to try out new ways of working.
• Learning and adjusting: continuously monitoring what works in our region and sharing these insights with other knowledge regions in the Netherlands.

Stay informed through the project page and our newsletter. Also, follow us on Linkedin.

The end of the year invites looking back. Leonie Hussaarts: ‘For me, this means looking back on my first 8 months as director of Key Region Leiden, an organization in development with a clear mission:

• Accelerate innovation & connect knowledge clusters;
• Preserve space for work through future-proof business parks;
• Strengthen broad-based SMEs.

Our credo: without strong SMEs, no strong knowledge economy. And without strong knowledge clusters no future-proof region.

Results

A sampling of what we have put together since May 1:

• Kicking off Key Region Leiden on July 7: Science for life!
• ROM-B’s exploration of how to keep room for entrepreneurship in business parks in the future.
• Opening House of Quantum at BioPartner Leiden: key technologies reinforcing each other.
• Strengthening the team with colleague Jarra Schroijen, a nice next step in further building Key Region Leiden.
• Opening Comet Lab at NL Space Campus and designating Unmanned Valley as official BVLOS test area.
• Investments that carry through to the entire region: from Eli Lilly’s €2.6 bln to €146 million for accessibility and housing.
• Dozens of SME vouchers for digitization, because SMEs are the backbone of our economy.
• International recognition: DutchReview calls Key Region Leiden a science hub of significance.
• Leiden Bio Science Park at the forefront of the Red Biotech proposal “Biotech Nexus” as part of the Wennink Report.
• Valuable conversations with government, education, entrepreneurs and major companies from across the region.
• Meeting administrative Europe table and working visits to Brussels for international positioning and presentation of our white paper Quantum Life Sciences.

And last but not least: incredibly fun and valuable meetings with enterprising, smart, fine and motivated people from our region. What a joy to work here!

Why does this matter?

Because everything is connected and we need each other. Large knowledge clusters strengthen local and regional businesses. And precisely the broad SMEs form the backbone of our economy and the knowledge economy. Key Region Leiden is the place where 8 of the 10 key technologies from the National Technology Strategy come together. Together we make impact. Together we are the key to innovation.

Samen maken we de kenniseconomie waardevol voor iedereen

WE ARE KEY!

You are KEY, We are KEY! Follow us on Linkedin to not miss a thing and help build a strong, innovative region!

Key Region Leiden has the highest knowledge density in the Netherlands around eight of the 10 prioritized key technologies. Innovation and collaboration is key. In doing so, we are in close contact with our network of partners to quickly capitalize on opportunities. Short lines, lots of energy. With the drive to achieve social impact at all levels. For the region, for South Holland, for the Netherlands, for Europe, for life! Science for life.

At the time of writing, Key Region Leiden is five months underway and director Leonie Hussaarts has been in office for almost 150 working days. Time for an interview about what regional cooperation can mean for the knowledge economy and the broad range of SMEs in the Leiden region. [This article can be read in the December issue of Into Business].

Opportunities and growth

Much attention is paid to business activity at Leiden Bio Science Park, NL Space Campus and Unmanned Valley. The local economy also runs on entrepreneurs in business parks. Is there attention for both? “As director of Key Region Leiden, let me be clear about that,” says Leonie Hussaarts. “Without strong SMEs, there is no strong knowledge economy. And vice versa: the strength of our knowledge clusters actually provides opportunities and growth for the wider business community. Both can count on our attention.”

When knowledge clusters do well, SMEs benefit along with them.

Everything is connected

The national government announced major investments in our region. What is the connection with local business? “It all hangs together. From big to small,” Hussaarts explains. “Take the arrival of pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly in Katwijk. They are investing 2.6 billion euros in a new drug production facility. This not only strengthens the Leiden Bio Science Park, but also creates 500 new jobs, 1,500 construction jobs and accelerates the construction of housing and roads. For example, the national government is investing millions in renovating Leiden Central Station and improving the rail connection to Utrecht. The new station will be the gateway to our region for visitors, residents, workers and new talent. The plumber or baker around the corner will also benefit from these developments.”

The plumber or baker around the corner also benefits.

Living and working in balance

The region has a major housing challenge. You often hear it said that housing cannot exist without work. How does Key Region view this? Hussaarts: “Maintaining space for work is essential. Business parks are the lungs of our local economy. However, these sites are nearly full. That is why we are exploring with partners the establishment of a Spatial Development Company for business parks (ROM-B). This investment fund can create space by redeveloping unprofitable real estate and building more compact and higher. Proceeds go back into the fund. This is how we enable growth for existing and new businesses. We will now enter into discussions with city councils about this approach and hope for support from the province and national government.”

Welcome to KRL! Who are you and what are you going to do?

Thank you! My name is Jarra Schroijen and I started as the new secretary of Key Region Leiden since last week. Before I started at Key Region I was a student of history and then I completed the master African studies. In my new position as secretary, I help with practical matters such as structuring our documents and helping with communication. I also contribute to the content of how Key Region Leiden can strengthen our economy by focusing on our important themes: innovation, entrepreneurship and space & infrastructure.

Why did you want to work at Key Region Leiden?

During my internship at the municipality of Leiden, I found out how cool our Leiden region is. Where I previously knew there was a business park behind LUMC, I now became aware of how important the Leiden Bio Science Park is for the Leiden region and the Netherlands. I also found out that we have two more leading clusters in our region, NL Space Campus and Unmanned Valley. To contribute to those gives a lot of energy, so the choice was quickly made.

What struck you most in your first week?

The energy that radiates from Key Region Leiden. The various partners who have one goal in mind: a strong economy for the Leiden region. It is great to see that, when you work together, a lot is possible.

What do you do outside office hours?

In my free time, I like to engage in volunteer work, play music and read. Books about history and Africa I find interesting, but I’m sure that was obvious.

Good luck Jarra!

We are looking forward to the European Week of Regions in Brussels. With a delegation from Key Region Leiden, we are eager to engage in discussions with members of the European Commission and other regions we can work with.

Smart collaboration

Together we face the challenge of keeping start-ups and scale-ups in Europe. How can we cooperate in a smart way for this? From Key Region Leiden, we see many opportunities for developments in the field of Quantum Life Sciences.

Pilot region Quantum Life Sciences

Quantum Life Sciences is an emerging field that can make a big difference to people’s well-being worldwide.

Key Region Leiden is excellently positioned for this new field and is poised to serve as a European pilot region for Quantum Life Sciences, bringing together leading expertise in quantum technology, AI and life sciences/biotech/health. Science for life!

We look forward to meeting the network in Brussels!

• Check out our infographic (NL/ENG).

The Key Region Leiden Foundation Board, in addition to the incumbent chairman, has been joined by two new members. The board now consists of three members coming from the fields of government, education and entrepreneurs. They are the following directors:

• Chairman Wietske Veltman, alderman for the economy of Leiden municipality (center in photo);
• Secretary Willem Jan Zirkzee, chairman Entrepreneurship Leiden (pictured left);
• Treasurer Joeri van den Steenhoven, a member of the Executive Board of Leiden University of Applied Sciences (pictured right).

For now, representation from the knowledge clusters is through our director Leonie Hussaarts.

‘Together we are committed to strengthening the innovative power of our region. We are intensifying cooperation with the province, state and Europe and ensuring a stronger connection between innovative clusters and the local economy.’

We sincerely thank our former board members Martijn van Pelt (VNO-NCW Rijnland) and Otto Jelsma (mboRijnland) for their years of commitment to our agenda.

The photo below shows a large part of Key Region Leiden Steering Committee. Check out our partner page for more information.