Enterprise - Key Region Leiden

Strengthen entrepreneurship

As an entrepreneur, you have to deal with changes that are not always within your control. Key Region Leiden works together with entrepreneurs, knowledge institutions and governments to better anticipate this. Connecting parties creates new opportunities to grow, innovate and look ahead.

Soon to start our innovation manager for connecting the knowledge to the market and improving the start-up climate in the region. Sign up for the newsletter or follow us on Linkedin to not miss a thing.

Wondering how we help entrepreneurs with digitization? Then check out the examples and also take advantage of a voucher.

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Wij stimuleren digitalisering bij het mkb met praktische workshops, persoonlijke coaching en vouchers voor digitalisering.

We strengthen entrepreneurial networks by facilitating meetings, collaborations and knowledge sharing so that companies find and strengthen each other faster.

We collaborate with knowledge institutions on lifelong development programs that match market demand.

We link knowledge from research to business activity in the region. Think of knowledge and insights from the vocational schools, the lectrorates of the universities and research from the universities. In this way we bring initiatives around innovation even more in motion.

We invest in human capital: training and attracting talent. By improving the connection between education and the labor market and promoting technical professions.

Practice

IMPACTFUL PROJECTS

Innovation and growth does not just happen on campuses or in large companies. In the Leiden region, growth occurs through collaboration between entrepreneurs, knowledge clusters and government. Key Region Leiden brings these worlds together in projects and meetings. This creates a strong regional network in which entrepreneurship can grow.

Where knowledge and practice come together

Key Region Leiden has a well-organized network of business parks. This local economy needs space, well-trained professionals and access to innovation. The numbers show a powerful working field that we are future-proofing with our cooperation.

…. +

number of SMEs

Top 5

Number of self-employed workers

#..

Number of business parks

500+ mln

Earning power

37+ mln

economic
contribution

80.000

Employees working in SMEs

Where knowledge and practice come together

Key Region Leiden has a well-organized network of business parks. This local economy needs space, well-trained professionals and access to innovation. We are committed to that.

By startups we mean people who start their own business. Nationwide, a total of 253,823 startups registered with the Chamber of Commerce in 2024; 8% less than in 2023. This is the first time in a decade that the number of startups has declined.

By a self-employed person without staff (zzp’er) we mean an entrepreneur who works alone, without employees. In our region, this is a large group.

By small businesses we count companies up to 10 employees. This is by far the largest group of companies in our country: 83% (354,910) of the total.

Medium-sized companies include companies with 10 to 250 employees. In the Netherlands we are talking about 68,825 companies, most of which (56,675) employ 10 to 50 people.