Rotterdam Havens-based Value Group (Value Maritime and Value Carbon) announced on Monday, November 25, that it has secured €2M from Energietransitiefonds Rotterdam (‘ETF-R’).

The ‘Energietransitiefonds Rotterdam’ is a €100M investment fund of the City of Rotterdam.

The fund finances innovative companies and large sustainable projects that can contribute to Rotterdam’s energy transition and circular economy.

Fund utilisation

The ETF-R’s fund investment will drive the further development of the Value Hub for CO₂ offloading and processing in Rotterdam.

The technology captures CO₂, stores it, and allows it to be effectively reused or stored elsewhere.

Value Group Co-Founder and Director Maarten Lodewijks says, “With Energietransitiefonds Rotterdam as a new shareholder, Value Group gains a strong strategic partner to accelerate the development of our Value Hub in Rotterdam for CO₂ offloading and processing. This partnership not only strengthens the realisation of this Value Hub as a blueprint for future Value Hubs but also drives the ongoing expansion and innovation of our patented Carbon Capture technology.”

With ETF-R’s €2M investment and further active support from InnovationQuarter, Value Group aims to accelerate the development of its Value Hub in Rotterdam.

The Value Hub will manage the CO₂ offloading from ships and ensure efficient, sustainable processing.

On the other hand, a pilot programme in South Holland greenhouses demonstrates the technology’s practical application. Captured CO₂ is released during the day to enhance photosynthesis and plant growth, showcasing a sustainable solution for agriculture.

InnovationQuarter/ ETF-R Senior Investment Manager Reinaud Struycken says, “We are very happy to be able to invest in a sustainable company that supports the reduction of CO₂ emissions in Rotterdam and beyond. Their innovative ‘catch & release’ technology perfectly aligns with our vision for a cleaner and more sustainable Rotterdam. They serve as a prime example of how carbon capture and storage technology can benefit this and other sectors. ETF-R is looking forward to helping Value Group grow.”

Value Group: Drive decarbonisation across shipping and industry

Value Maritime, part of the Value Group, is a developer and installer of one of the first commercially viable hybrid CO2 capture and exhaust gas cleaning systems, known as Filtree.

This system not only captures and stores CO₂ but also cleans sulphur, ultra-fine particulate matter, and CO2 from ships’ exhaust emissions and oil residue and particulate matter from the vessels’ washing water.

As a result, the Filtree System supports compliance with current and future environmental regulations.

On the other hand, Value Carbon focuses on land-based carbon management, addressing the entire carbon value chain.

From carbon capture and handling to innovative reuse strategies, it aims to create efficient systems for storage and “catch and release” initiatives.

Value Group Co-Founder and Director Maarten Lodewijks says, “With Energietransitiefonds Rotterdam as a new shareholder, Value Group gains a strong strategic partner to accelerate the development of our Value Hub in Rotterdam for CO₂ offloading and processing. This partnership not only strengthens the realisation of this Value Hub as a blueprint for future Value Hubs but also drives the ongoing expansion and innovation of our patented Carbon Capture technology.”

ChatLicense, a Dutch startup that helps kids and parents navigate online life, won the Global Impact Challenge hosted by Singularity University and SYNC Ithra earlier this month. The challenge sought to crown a startup developing solutions in the fields of misinformation, cyberbullying, and social polarisation, and ChatLicense won out of more than 500 global entries.

Pew Research found that parents find parenting harder today than it was two decades ago and they mainly cite technologies such as smartphones or social media as a reason. While parents are willing to give their kids smartphones, they are worried about their intended use. Marjolein van Tilburg, who co-founded ChatLicense with Martine de Leeuw and Jasper Wessels in 2022, is no different.

Van Tilburg says her daughter and her first smartphone motivated her to create ChatLicense. “The first weeks she started using the device, I noticed how she and her friends used it quite differently than I had anticipated,” she says.

She likens the conversation Gen Alpha, those born between 2010 and 2024, have with their peers to that of a Wild West situation. While restricting screen time or grounding kids can have negative effects, Van Tilburg found a solution that not only brings moderation but also improves digital well-being. It’s called ChatLicense.

Licence to chat

ChatLicense is like a driver’s licence. When kids get their first smartphone, ChatLicense becomes the first app on their device. Like a driver’s licence, the app starts by teaching kids what they will experience on their phones and helps them learn how to deal with certain situations.

“The program is based on a scientific method to install media literate behaviour,” explains Van Tilburg.

In order to make learning fun and engaging, ChatLicense combines the journey with film, animations, and quiz questions. The idea is that by the time they complete their media literacy on the app, the kids are prepared for a digital world where they will engage by chatting, gaming, surfing the web, social media, online payments, cyber fraud, fake news, and other online influences.

While the app is aimed at kids, it also helps parents deal with their digital natives. Van Tilburg says they designed the app to be a digital learning platform for kids but parents are not left out. The app offers information and support parents need in this digital age since “we are the first generation of parents who have this added responsibility.”

The harm caused by social media is well documented and parents often tend to restrict access or take phones away as a way to protect their kids. While it is counterintuitive, the parental controls built into most smartphones haven’t proven to be entirely effective either. With its science-backed learning approach, ChatLicense is helping both kids and parents navigate a digital world where kids use technology and apps differently than their parents.

ChatLicense 2.0

As a B2B2C platform, ChatLicense works mainly with telecom operators, smartphone manufacturers, banks and municipalities to reach a large user base. “As all of them have a large customer base, with enough of these partnerships we reach all families, country by country and language by language,” says Van Tilburg.

I feel calling ChatLicense an app does a great disservice to the product that Van Tilburg and her team have built. It is a family tech solution that empowers parents and their kids to use their phones effectively and reliably. With a $250,000 cash prize from the Global Impact Challenge win, the startup is already setting its sights on scaling its solution.

“While introducing the smartphone later, screen time, and the right settings are all crucial, we know it’s not enough. We can give children a better start online by teaching them all about what they can expect as soon as they get their first smartphone, and that’s exactly what ChatLicense does for families,” co-founder De Leeuw says about the win.

Van Tilburg sees the victory as an important validation of their solution in Silicon Valley, the heart of technology. While De Leeuw gave the pitch, Van Tilburg says even the capital of tech realises that humans will play a crucial role even as tech continues to develop and adds that the cash prize will help them develop version 2.0 of ChatLicense while also enabling them to scale and deepen their data science approach.

The Rotterdam solution

ChatLicense is a quintessential Rotterdam venture, delivering a solution in one of the four key transition areas and making it happen with a clear focus on science and data. While it helps that both Van Tilburg and Wessels studied in Rotterdam and the startup has its HQ in Rotterdam,the real difference comes in the form of support and partnership.

Van Tilburg tells me that Erasmus University, one of the leading research universities in the Netherlands, is their scientific partner. The startup also counts the City of Rotterdam as a partner from the start, even before the app went live when the startup made it to billboards all over the city as part of “Rotterdam Digital Metropolis.”

She further adds the City Council of Rotterdam is invested in youth and supporting the next generation through Be The Future Festival. Rotterdam’s Digital Inclusion team gave school kids access to ChatLicense at the beginning of the school year as a digital well-being initiative.

When you make it happen, the ecosystem always helps but in the case of ChatLicense, Rotterdam has not only been a backbone but has also opened the door to many other opportunities. Van Tilburg says the “support of the Rotterdam ecosystem really came into motion” after their win at Upstream Festival.

During Upstream Festival 2024, Van Tilburg took part in the VIP roundtable on diversity and inclusion alongside Jörgen Raymann while back in 2022, the festival’s ‘Meet The Buyer’ event helped them meet KPN, which became ChatLicense’s first customer.

“It opened the door to many opportunities, such as participating in the Entrepreneurship World Cup in Riyadh. There, together with two fantastic other startups Kumasi and Pal, we were able to present our app on a global stage,” she says, before adding, “It is amazing to be able to say that we are in the top 8 of best growth stage startups of the world.”

Connected generations

The startup world can often look like a lonely place for women entrepreneurs but Van Tilburg, who has a background as a litigation lawyer, says she isn’t intimidated easily. A believer in the saying “It takes a village to raise a child,” Van Tilburg says Rotterdam feels like a village even though it is a city and calls it “our village” and a support system.

With the support of the port city and a capable team behind her, she says they are looking to a future where ChatLicense is the first app on every child’s first smartphone around the world. “This way we tackle the root cause of many issues families encounter,” she adds.

With ChatLicense as a starting point, she not only envisions enabling a safe and sane digital environment for kids but also relieved and supported parents. The net result, she says, is connected generations showcasing “Happy Cyber Vibes” and ends by saying this result is only possible if they all go “hand in hand.”

In the past few decades, the Netherlands has established itself as a key player in the startup ecosystem, facilitating an environment where innovation can thrive and grow.

Having said that, South Holland is taking things to the next level thanks to its dynamic ecosystem, promoting creativity and driving economic growth.

The rise of South Holland is no accident. 

According to Techleap’s State of Dutch Tech 2024 report, South Holland is home to 21 per cent of all startups and scale-ups in the Netherlands and an impressive 29 per cent of all Dutch deep tech startups. 

Beyond deep tech, South Holland is becoming a powerhouse of impact-focused startups and scaleups, showing steady growth over the last ten years. 

On top of that, the region holds strong position in energy transition, sustainability, health, and digital technology, connecting with the Sustainable Development Goals.

In a testament to the region’s potential, 22 startups from the South Holland region have been named in the 19th edition of the KVK Innovation Top 100 list. 

KVK Innovation Top 100 list

Every year, the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KVK) publishes the KVK Innovation Top 100, showcasing successful innovations from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Netherlands.

Each time, expert panels and a jury draw up a new ranking list based on impact, originality, availability, realised turnover, and growth potential.

The finalists were divided into five categories:

• Circular economy
• Energy transition
• Labor market and society
• Food, water, and infrastructure
• Health and care

This year, Leiden-based Concord Neonatal—part of the Health & Care category, has been crowned the 19th KVK Innovation Top 100 winner. This startup helps caregivers provide lifesaving care right after birth while the umbilical cord is still attached. 

It seeks to improve maternity care with the Concord Birth Flow, which enables the stabilisation and resuscitation of newborns with an intact umbilical cord, keeping them close to their mothers.

Here are the remaining 21 most innovative companies from South Holland, according to the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KvK).

Voca Care

Category: Labour Market and Society

Rankings: 7

Voca Zorg offers a marketplace platform that connects healthcare institutions with ZZP’s (self-employed individuals). This helps ensure proper handling of fiscal matters and makes the invoicing and hiring processes clearer.

Baggie

Category: Labour Market and Society

Rankings: 8

Baggie has developed a signal-blocking phone pouch with special foil on the inside. The signal-blocking phone pouch allows students to go offline within seconds and helps them stay focused during important moments, such as classes at school, without distractions from their phones.

Scenebrook

Category: Labour Market and Society

Rankings: 12

Scenebrook is a no-code Mixed Reality platform that allows you to quickly and easily create and share Mixed Reality experiences. And all from the browser with WebXR. As per the company’s claims, it is being used by various customers, such as educational institutions, companies, and municipalities, and helps hundreds of users create and experience VR experiences.

upUco

Category: Labour Market and Society

Rankings: 13

upUco is an HR consultancy and IT company focusing on talent-oriented recruitment and employee development within organisations.

Roboworks

Category: Labour Market and Society

Rankings: 15

Roboworks develops robotic solutions for efficiently unloading, sorting, and stacking boxes from incoming shipping containers.

Tolly Wolly Studio

Category: Labour Market and Society

Rankings: 16

Tolly Wolly Studio specialises in creating innovative concepts from design to execution. With its in-house design studio and workshop, the team offers services in interior design, art installations, playground equipment, and theater decor.

Corekees Management

Category: Labour Market and Society

Rankings: 17

Corekees connects profitable investment projects with a social and sustainable impact to investors who want both positive change and financial returns.

Solinatra Europe

Category: Circular Economy

Rankings: 3

Solinatra is the developer and producer of a unique biomaterial that can replace single-use plastic. Solinatra is 100 per cent natural, made from waste streams from agricultural and food production, and biodegrades in all situations without leaving behind microplastics or harmful substances.

Biosphere Solar

Category: Circular Economy

Rankings: 10

Biosphere Solar makes renewable energy production more sustainable by using circular principles in making solar panels. The design ensures that the panels are easy to repair and take apart, making them last longer. This also makes it easier to recycle valuable materials.

Candy Converters

Category: Circular Economy

Rankings: 15

Candy Converters produces biodegradable confetti using candy wrappers that would otherwise end up in landfills. This Conscious Confetti, made from potato starch, gives these wrappers a circular lifecycle, reducing the need for new raw materials while maximizing reuse.

Nature’s Principles BV

Category: Circular Economy

Rankings: 17

Nature’s Principles is creating a new way to produce lactic acid by improving the fermentation process. Unlike the traditional method, the company developed a method that uses potato residue and a mix of different bacteria to produce lactic acid. This new technique can handle tough leftover materials and doesn’t require sterile conditions.

New Returns

Category: Circular Economy

Rankings: 18

New Return focuses on the purchase and sale of consumer goods that cannot be sold as new online. This gives a second chance to internet returns, ensuring they are properly disposed of instead of destroyed, thus supporting the circular economy and reducing waste.

Lobster Robotics

Category: Energy Transition

Rankings: 3

Lobster Robotics is a Dutch deep-tech startup developing autonomous underwater robots that precisely and systematically capture maps of the seafloor using optical sensing and photogrammetry techniques.

DYSECO

Category: Energy Transition

Rankings: 5

DYSECO supplies innovative technical air treatment solutions for critical sectors such as museums, cleanrooms, and hospitals. Utilising dynamic climate control, DYSECO matches the indoor climate to the process so that the air treatment becomes more effective and energy-efficient.

The Warmth

Category: Energy Transition

Rankings:6

The company specialises in the development, sales, and installation of designed heat pumps.

Top Systems

Category: Energy Transition

Rankings: 10

Top Systems specialises in providing sustainable and reliable battery-based power solutions for locations without a power grid, during power shortages, and for energy storage. They work with high-quality brands to deliver innovative systems, including their latest product, the Li-Swap interchangeable battery system for electric construction equipment.

Juvoly

Category: Health & Care

Rankings: 2

Juvoly has developed an AI-powered speech technology that automatically summarises a conversation with a patient into a medical record.

ChatLicense

Category: Health & Care

Rankings: 4

Chatlicense offers an app that helps children learn safe internet practices. Through the game “Netflix meets Klokhuis,” kids learn about passwords, safe surfing, and social media influence. Parents can join and access a guide with expert tips and discussion starters to engage with their children.

UbiOps

Category: Health & Care

Rankings: 5

UbiOps is a Dutch AI software platform designed to help data scientists easily convert their AI models, such as large language models (LLMs), into scalable APIs on any type of on-premise or cloud infrastructure.

Plant Partner

Category: Food, Water & Infrastructure

Rankings: 8

Plant Partner provides tailored solutions and consulting in the bulk material handling industry. With over 20 years of experience in the international bulk material technology market, the company serves clients across various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, food, and chemicals.

Urban Reef

Category: Food, Water & Infrastructure

Rankings: 17

Urban Reef 3D prints nature-inclusive elements for biodiversity and climate adaptation in the city. They print with circular materials such as clay from dredging.

The Province of Zuid-Holland, the Metropolitan Region of The Hague Rotterdam (MRDH), and the cities of Delft, The Hague, Leiden, and Rotterdam have agreed to work more closely together to enhance the environment for startups and scale-ups.

On November 13, they signed a letter of intent to create a programme focused on developing startups and scale-up in the region by early 2025.

Other stakeholders, including educational institutions, are also encouraged to participate.

The province of Zuid-Holland has been named number one in the Netherlands for startups working on innovative technology and making a positive impact.

However, the main challenge is to adopt smart working methods, as noted by expert Ruben Nieuwenhuis. He explored how Zuid-Holland can become a prosperous area for innovative entrepreneurs.

“The world is in transition and Zuid-Holland wants to stay at the forefront of this. Entrepreneurs working on tomorrow’s solutions are a huge part of this. They contribute to broad prosperity, for example by creating jobs and overcoming societal challenges.”

“We need to look beyond The Hague’s city limits in order to support them as best we can,” Saskia Bruines explains, Councillor for Economic Development in The Hague and Chair of the MRDH’s Economic Establishment Climate Executive Committee.

Collaborating to encourage innovative entrepreneurship

The collaboration should lead to less fragmentation of knowledge and effort and economies of scale by pooling activities. This will improve the impact.

“We are facing some major joint challenges, for example, the energy transition in our Rotterdam port, one of the region’s major economic drivers. The innovative power of startups and scale-ups is essential for accelerating this process and strengthening our competitive position. This collaboration will ensure we, as a region, are better prepared for the opportunities and challenges of tomorrow,” says Robert Simons, Rotterdam Councillor for the Port, Economy, Hospitality and Administration.

The global focus on sustainability, energy transition, and the circular economy is rapidly intensifying. 

A growing number of startups are leading the way, reshaping industries to be more environmentally conscious and resource-efficient. 

At its core, this shift aims to transform the way energy is produced and consumed, reduce waste, and promote sustainable practices. 

As awareness of environmental issues and climate change grows, cities around the world are becoming hotbeds for energy transition and circular economy initiatives. 

One such city is Rotterdam in the Netherlands. 

Upshifting Rotterdam’s green future 

Rotterdam has an extensive energy ecosystem, and the city is leaving no stone unturned to accelerate energy transition. 

The city’s energy transition and circularity ambitions are fueled by the close collaboration between the government, businesses and entrepreneurs, knowledge and research institutions. 

At the heart of Rotterdam’s efforts is Up!Rotterdam, an initiative dedicated to providing startups and scale-ups with better access to talent, (international) markets, and capital.

Connected ecosystems are the strongest ecosystem,” states Up!Rotterdam. 

Circularity is also one of Rotterdam’s top priorities. Through its Circular Economy Roadmap, Rotterdam aims to reduce raw material usage by 50 per cent by 2030, prioritising sectors like construction, green energy, consumer goods, and healthcare. 

Rotterdam’s municipality has also introduced the Smart Energy Systems (SES) subsidy program to support the development of smart energy networks. 

This program offers up to €100,000 for feasibility studies, experimental development, or pilot projects aimed at advancing the energy transition.

Fostering entrepreneurs contributing to a circular, inclusive, and digital city

Besides supporting initiatives and organisations, numerous startups are also working towards addressing some complexities to accelerate the adoption of energy transition and circular economy. 

Up!Rotterdam supports these innovative entrepreneurs in scaling up their businesses by providing them with better access to capital, talent, and new markets and shaping a community that enhances peer learning.

It has gained insights into challenges faced by local startups and scale-ups, helping them identify effective approaches to support their growth. 

Up!Rotterdam does this through a targeted approach — by connecting relevant parties, strengthening existing initiatives, and developing new programs as needed.

They also work closely with over 60 co-creation partners to connect, strengthen, and innovate, and provide access to a range of programs from organisations such as Techleap, RVO  (Netherlands Enterprise Agency), Innovation Quarter, SES, CVN, EIT, and Dutchbasecamp, among others.

One of the key strategic partners of Up!Rotterdam is BlueCity, Rotterdam’s hotspot for circular companies. This model city now hosts more than 55 sustainable, circular entrepreneurs.

The startups’ creative solutions take a unique approach to reducing waste, enhancing energy efficiency, or reimagining resources, making a tangible impact on the journey to a greener, circular economy. Some provide offshore floating solar solutions, while others clean up the oceans and even bring human nutrients back into the cycle of life. 

The Rotterdam region is a hotbed for such innovative and impactful startups and scaleups, and we spotlight 12 of these remarkable startups. These companies are redefining what’s possible in energy transition and circularity, paving the way for a brighter future. Let’s dive into the promising work each of these startups is doing to transform the Rotterdam region and inspire global change.

Battolyser Systems

CEO: Mattijs Slee

HQ: Delft

Hiring: Yes| Click here

Battolyser Systems is a tech company that creates Battolysers, the first system that combines a battery and an electrolyser. It stores and provides electricity like a battery, and when charged, it can split water into hydrogen and oxygen.

The company claims that Battolyser can be used in various industries, including energy, oil and gas, chemicals, steel manufacturing, transportation, and fertilisers.

The technology was invented by Prof. Dr. Fokko Mulder and his research group at Delft University of Technology. Battolyser Systems was subsequently founded in 2018 as a spin-out from the university and set for growth in 2020 following investment by Koolen Industries.

Solarduck

Founder/s: Koen Burgers, Ewoud Huiskamp, Don Hoogendoorn and Olaf de Swart

HQ: Rotterdam

Hiring: Yes| Click here

SolarDuck is a cleantech company that offers an Offshore Floating Solar solution.

The company was established following a spin-off from Damen Shipyards (the largest shipbuilder in the Netherlands).

The Dutch company generates offshore solar energy with its advanced technology, which can be adjusted to fit local needs worldwide.

The Dutch company generates offshore solar energy using its unique, state-of-the-art technology, which is fully scalable to match specific local requirements worldwide.

SolarDuck’s technology can be used in different situations, including sunny islands and hybrid offshore energy parks in the North Sea, like those in the Netherlands.

Gradyent

Founder/s: Hervé Huisman and Robert Vrancken

HQ: Rotterdam

Hiring: Yes| Click here

Gradyent has developed software based on the Digital Twin technology. The company’s real-time Digital Twin Platform creates a digital replica of an entire heating grid that operates in real time.

This software solution allows users to optimise their grid, enhance control, and run simulations for future scenarios.

As a result, companies can improve performance, reduce CO2 emissions by up to 10 per cent, save on operating costs, achieve up to 20 per cent lower capital expenditures (CapEx), and make informed operational and business decisions.

Rocsys

Founder/s: Crijn Bouman, Joost van der Weijde and Kanter Van Deurzen

HQ: Rijswijk South Holland 

Hiring: Yes| Click here

Rocsys is a company specialised in hands-free charging solutions for electric vehicles.

The company integrates soft robotics, AI-based computer vision, and data-driven services to offer fleets and customers an effective and affordable charging experience.

Even if drivers forget to plug in on time or employees are barred from handling electrical cables, the company’s platform ensures that all vehicles are charged and ready to operate.

Rocsys’s solution works for consumer and fleet vehicles, including port equipment, industrial applications, heavy-duty, and more.

CarbonX

Founder/s: Rutger Van Raalten and Daniela Sordi

HQ: Delft

Hiring: No

CarbonX has developed a solution to source anode active materials locally and break free from China-dominated graphite supply chains.

The company does this by setting up localised supply chains and utilising a unique emulsion feedstock technology to produce a new carbon anode material in high volumes in regional carbon black manufacturing facilities.

CarbonX’s unique feedstock technology consumes less energy than synthetic or natural graphite, resulting in lower costs and a reduced carbon footprint. 

Originally the company developed the technology for the tire industry with Dutch investor Sequoia BV and is now entering the battery market, providing a cost-competitive and more sustainable alternative to graphite.

Skoon Energy

Founder/s: Peter Paul van Voorst tot Voorst

HQ: Rotterdam

Hiring: Yes| Click here

Skoon Energy is an AI-powered software platform for clean mobile energy. Founded in 2017, the Dutch company aims to transform on-site energy supply. 

The company’s marketplace connects users of traditional fossil fuel powered generators with suppliers of zero-emission energy systems (which include batteries, hydrogen, and solar generators) for temporary applications, such as construction sites, events, and film sets. 

Skoon’s software platform is powered by AI, enabling customers to choose the most suitable energy system for their needs. 

The company operates an online marketplace with over 150 verified suppliers offering clean 

mobile energy systems.  This marketplace facilitates the supply and demand for clean energy solutions across industries and end users.

The Ocean Cleanup

Founder/s: Boyan Slat

HQ: Rotterdam

Hiring: Yes| Click here

The Ocean Cleanup is a global non-profit organisation that develops technologies to rid the world’s oceans of plastic.

It does that by employing a dual strategy – stopping the inflow through rivers and cleaning up legacy plastic accumulated in the ocean. 

For the latter, the company creates large-scale mechanisms to concentrate the plastic for recurring cleanup. When recycled into new goods, this plastic is monitored and traced using DNV’s chain of custody approach to verify origin claims. 

To curb the inflow, The Ocean Cleanup has developed Interceptor solutions to halt and extract plastic in rivers before it reaches the ocean.

As of August 2024, the non-profit has collected over 16 million kilograms (35.3 million pounds) of trash from aquatic ecosystems worldwide.

Meatable 

Founder/s: Krijn de Nood, Daan Luining, and Dr Mark Kotter

HQ: Delft

Hiring: Yes| Click here

Meatable is a startup specialising in cultivated meat technology.

Cultivated meat, which is produced from a single sample of animal cells, is set to be a viable alternative that could mitigate the environmental and societal impacts of conventional meat production. 

Meatable’s technology platform aims to partner with the meat industry to scale up the production of cultivated meat products.

Paebbl

Founder/s: Andreas Saari, Jane Walerud, Pol Knops and Marta Sjögren

HQ: Rotterdam

Hiring: Yes| Click here

Paebbl is a climate-tech startup that turns captured CO2 into building materials that store carbon permanently.

The company is on a mission to create a large-scale carbon removal solution within the next decade.

Since its inception, Paebbl has progressed from lab tests to a pilot unit that produces 250kg of CO2-storing material daily.

In May 2024, the Rotterdam company achieved a milestone by sequestering its first ton of CO2 and casting its first concrete structures using captured carbon, demonstrating the practical impact of its technology.

Pryme

CEO: Christopher Hervé

HQ: Rotterdam

Hiring: Yes| Click here

Pryme is a cleantech company focused on converting plastic waste into pyrolysis oil through chemical recycling on an industrial scale. 

The company’s Rotterdam factory converts 40,000 tons of waste plastic into 30,000 tons of Liquid Plastic Waste (LPW) annually. This LPW is processed into naphtha, a raw material for new plastic with properties equivalent to fossil plastics.

The company’s mission is to contribute to a circular plastic economy with a low carbon footprint.

To achieve this, the company plans to develop a wide range of owned-operated plants with strategic partners to maximise the potential of its technology. 

Valyuu

Founder/s: Ferhat Topuz, Arvin Esterabadi, and Jingwei Ren

HQ: Rotterdam

Hiring: No

Valyuu is a marketplace for the circular economy, assisting people in buying and selling second-hand consumer electronics. 

Through the platform, users can easily buy and sell used electronic devices in different categories at a fair price without intermediaries. 

The company also offers a ‘product passport’ for each product, which offers full transparency on the product’s condition, complete with unique photos and access to test reports. 

As a result, consumers know exactly what they are buying. All products are validated using software and tested for functionality.

Loop Biotech

Founder/s: Bob Hendrikx

HQ: Delft

Hiring: Yes| Click here

Loop Biotech is addressing the growing demand for biodegradable funeral products.

The sustainable coffin, urn, and carrier are living objects made from upcycled hemp and mycelium, the underground root network of mushrooms. 

The company’s product — Loop Living Cocoon, is a sustainable alternative to the traditional coffin. It contributes to the efficient composting of a body, thus providing an enriched nutrient medium for trees and plants. 

A Loop coffin is grown in seven days and, in ideal conditions, fully absorbed by nature in only 45 days. This burial method then forms an organic source for new life. 

Additionally, the company also launched a carrier (Loop ForestBed), and an urn (Loop EarthRise). 

Check out these and more vacancies via hackyourcareer.com

Rotterdam-based Passionfruit, a software startup, has secured €350K in fresh funding from UNIIQ, the innovation investment fund for South Holland. 

Passionfruit’s platform aims to simplify and speed up the labour-intensive task of responding to questionnaires related to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), safety, and quality standards.

Jasper Geselschap, Fund Manager at UNIIQ, says, “Passionfruit solves a major problem that companies face every day. Through the expertise of the team, combined with the power of their AI-driven platform, we see enormous potential to unburden companies and at the same time increase their impact on sustainability.”

Earlier this year, the company received investments from Antler and an innovation loan from Rabobank, bolstering its platform development.

Automate any ESG, quality, or safety questionnaire

Passionfruit’s solution is designed to cut down the time compliance, quality, and sustainability teams spend on manually completing questionnaires—a process that often requires extensive document searches and data entry into various formats like Excel or proprietary portals. 

With its AI-driven technology, the platform automates up to 90 per cent of these tasks, offering companies insight into data sharing, reducing repetitive workload, and enhancing the efficiency of responses for clients and auditors alike.

Passionfruit was founded by Maikel Fontein, a former business lead at Unilever with extensive compliance experience, and Lars Kuijpers, a seasoned product designer and software engineer.

Co-founder Fontein, says, “Transparency in sustainability is essential, but sharing information efficiently remains a challenge. Companies in different supply chains are inundated with hundreds of customer questionnaires every year, each with their own requirements and formats. Every customer has their own online portal or a specific Excel file that needs to be filled in.” 

Co-founder Kuijpers, adds, “Sustainability and quality managers can spend up to 40 per cent of their working week filling in these questionnaires. That is simply not why they chose these positions.”

“Furthermore, many companies are not aware of what information they share externally and with whom, which can lead to significant risks. With Passionfruit we make this process smoother and give companies more control over what they share and with whom.”

The company claims to have gained traction, especially in the food and logistics sectors, with clients such as FrieslandCampina.

Capital utilisation

Passionfruit will use the funds to refine its platform and expand into new markets, as demand grows for compliance solutions that meet standards like CSRD, CSDD, and EUDR, as well as ratings like Ecovadis and CDP.

By streamlining compliance responses, Passionfruit offers a scalable platform that helps companies navigate the increasing regulatory demands in a manageable, transparent way.

After challenging years of the pandemic and economic downturns, tech ecosystems globally are getting back. The Dutch tech ecosystem remains one of the most robust and valuable hubs, particularly in South Holland. This vibrant region, known for its deep-tech focus, has become a hotspot for startups, with the city of Rotterdam frequently grabbing the headlines.

Focus on deeptech & deeper impact

South Holland’s emergence as the standout region for deeptech is evident in the sheer number of startups and scale-ups operating in the area.

According to Techleap’s State of Dutch Tech 2024 report, South Holland is home to 21 per cent of all startups and scale-ups in the Netherlands, and an impressive 29 per cent of all Dutch deeptech startups. 

In comparison, North Holland accounts for 23 per cent of deeptech startups, while North Brabant is home to 19 per cent.

These statistics position South Holland ahead of other regions, emphasising its growing influence and critical role in fostering the deep-tech ecosystem in the Netherlands.

Beyond deeptech, South Holland is also establishing itself as a leading hub for impact-driven startups and scaleups. It has experienced consistent year-over-year growth over the past decade.

According to Techleap.nl’s report, the region excels in energy transition, circularity, well-being, and digitalisation, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals.

In a testament to the region’s potential, five campuses in South Holland received €3M in subsidy to enhance their research and innovation capacity and to propel advanced technologies.

Rotterdam’s Nearfield Instruments tops the funding list

According to the recently published Quarterly Startup Report, €424 million was invested in Dutch startups in Q3 2024, on par with the same quarter in 2023 (+0.3%).

Investments in cleantech and high-tech companies drove Q3. Nearfield Instruments in Rotterdam stood out, especially by raising €135 million, the second largest capital raise in the semi-conductor fabrication equipment market in Europe and the US in the past five years, according to Mergermarket.

The company develops Metrology & Inspection (M&I) solutions for semiconductor manufacturing.

The Thriving Rotterdam – The Hague Metropolitan Area

The Rotterdam – The Hague metropolitan area has emerged as a leading hub for startups and scale-ups, that accelerate transitions in the Netherlands. 

Its ecosystem drives towards a future-proof economy, focusing on sustainability, inclusivity, and digitalisation.

At the core of this thriving ecosystem is Up!Rotterdam, an initiative dedicated to providing startups and scale-ups with better access to talent, (international) markets, and capital.

Up!Rotterdam works closely with over sixty partners and provides access to programs from leading organisations to support the growth of these companies.

As part of this flourishing landscape, many startups that raised funding in Q3 are now looking to expand their teams with top talent. Below is a list of startups and scaleups from Rotterdam and the South Holland region that raised funding in Q3 2024; fourteen are hiring right now.

Nearfield Instruments

Founder/s: Hamed Sadeghian and Roland van Vliet

HQ: Rotterdam

Fund raised in Q3: €135M

Hiring: Yes| Click here

Nearfield Instruments is a developer of Metrology & Inspection (M&I) solutions for the semiconductor manufacturing industry.

The Rotterdam-based company addresses the complexities of advanced semiconductor manufacturing with process control solutions, including the QUADRA 3D metrology system. 

QUADRA offers non-destructive, high-throughput, high-resolution metrology capabilities and is validated and deployed in high-volume manufacturing by major chip manufacturers worldwide.

Paebbl

Founder/s: Andreas Saari, Jane Walerud, Pol Knops and Marta Sjögren

HQ: Rotterdam

Fund raised in Q3: €22.81M

Hiring: Yes| Click here

Paebbl is a climate-tech startup that turns captured CO2 into building materials that store carbon permanently. The company is on a mission to create a large-scale carbon removal solution within the next decade.

Since its inception, Paebbl progressed from lab tests to a pilot unit that produces 250kg of CO2-storing material daily. In May 2024, the Rotterdam company achieved a milestone by sequestering its first ton of CO2 and casting its first concrete structures using captured carbon, demonstrating the practical impact of its technology.

Battolyser Systems

CEO: Mattijs Slee

HQ: Schiedam

Fund raised in Q3: €30M

Hiring: Yes| Click here

Founded as a spin-off of TU Delft, Battolyser Systems develops the world’s first fully flexible alkaline electrolyser with battery functionality for green hydrogen — Battolyser.

The company’s technology can switch on and off following intermittent renewable energy.

The next-generation Battolyser is a 2.5MW plug-and-play skid and 5MW module integrated with a Balance of Plants on site.

Meatable 

Founder/s: Krijn de Nood, Daan Luining, and Dr Mark Kotter

HQ: Delft

Fund raised in Q3: €7.6M

Hiring: Yes| Click here

Meatable is a startup specialising in cultivated meat technology. Cultivated meat, which is produced from a single sample of animal cells, is set to be a viable alternative that could mitigate the environmental and societal impacts of conventional meat production. 

Meatable’s technology platform aims to partner with the meat industry to scale up the production of cultivated meat products.

Momo Medical

Founder/s: Menno Gravemaker

HQ: Delft

Fund raised in Q3: €6.5M

Hiring: Yes| Click here

Momo Medical focuses on preventing pressure ulcers through a monitoring system, demonstrating its commitment to improving healthcare outcomes through innovative solutions.

The company’s BedSense App, a sensor plate placed under nursing home mattresses, offers caregivers real-time insights into memory care residents.

Nurses and carers can use this app’s insights to provide person-centred care and to gain an overview of all nursing ward residents.

This technology allows caregivers to proactively prevent falls by setting personalised alerts and detecting potential bed exits up to 70 seconds in advance, ensuring a safer and more comfortable night for all residents.

VSParticle

Founder/s: Aaike van der Vugt, Prof Andreas Schmidt-Ott, Tobias Pfeiffer, and Tobias Coppejans

HQ: Delft

Fund raised in Q3: €6.5M

Hiring: Yes| Click here

VSParticle helps scientists speed up material development and identify the materials that will support future sustainable technologies.

With its technology, materials can be reduced to nanoscale size and manufactured “at the push of a button.”

This enables university researchers and corporate R&D teams to explore and develop novel materials that serve as the foundation for ground-breaking technologies. 

Over the past year, VSP has shipped its flagship product, the VSP-P1 Nanoprinter, to research teams across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and North America, including institutions like Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Materials Discovery Research Institute, and the Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research. 

Blue Radix

CEO: Ronald Hoek

HQ: Rotterdam

Fund raised in Q3: €5M

Hiring: Yes| Click here

Blue Radix specialises in autonomous growing solutions for greenhouses.

The Rotterdam-based company creates AI solutions for almost all daily decisions and actions in greenhouses to solve the scarcity of experienced growers and to feed the growing world population sustainably.

With Integrated Autonomous Climate & Irrigation Control by Crop Controller growers can optimise and realise their unique crop strategy with AI and reduce their climate computer work by 80 per cent. 

Spatium Medical

CEO: Willem Mees van der Bijl

HQ: Rotterdam

Fund raised in Q3: €5M

Hiring: Yes| Click here

Experts at Erasmus MC and TechRes Lab founded Spatium Medical’s technology.

The company is developing an insufflator that can personalise and stabilise the insufflation pressure: the optimal pressure for each patient while maintaining the surgeon’s working space.

This leads to fewer postoperative complications and potentially faster recovery.

It uses turbine technology for consistent pressure management, achieving up to 7x more stability.

Additionally, the technology synchronises with mechanical ventilation, reducing required pressures by up to 10 per cent and minimising pulmonary complications.

Pan Cancer T

CEO: Rachel Abbott

HQ: Rotterdam

Fund raised in Q3: €4.25M

Hiring: No

Pan Cancer T is a spin-off from Erasmus MC, specialising in advanced T cell therapies for solid cancer treatment.

The company’s lead candidate, PCT1:CO-STIM, uses an IP-protected T cell receptor (TCR) developed with their TCR discovery platform.

This TCR targets ROPN1, a specific protein found in over 90 per cent of patients with triple-negative breast cancer and melanoma. 

The company’s strategy includes targeting unique targets present in various solid cancers and developing technologies to improve the longevity of T-cell therapies. 

Pan Cancer T is actively conducting R&D programmes aimed at creating safe and effective adoptive T cell therapies that can benefit a wide range of patients, including those with triple negative breast cancer, bladder cancer, ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, skin cancer, esophageal cancer, lung cancer, and brain cancer.

Kalpana Systems

CEO: Diederick Spee  

HQ: Delft

Fund raised in Q3: €3.5M

Hiring: Yes| Click here

Kalpana Systems claims to have transformed thin film production with a machine that uses Spatial Atomic Layer Deposition (sALD) for high-volume, continuous output.

Its flexible substrate transport system allows for rapid layer deposition, reducing costs significantly. 

The 3D helical design ensures consistent, high-quality sALD application at an industrial scale, increasing process speed by 1000.

The machine integrates into existing production lines, making it versatile for various applications. 

Equinox Ocean Turbines

Founder/s: Pieter de Haas

HQ: Gorinchem

Fund raised in Q3: €2.4M

Hiring: No

Equinox Ocean Turbines is a company dedicated to providing the world’s third clean energy source in the form of ocean current energy.

Equinox does this with its two-stage turbine technology, which concentrates energy before harvesting and uses intelligent materials to create a scalable and economical product.

The company focuses on boosting local economies and supporting developing countries by using local supply chains and production sites. 

IPD

CEO: Richard van de Wateringen

HQ: Leiden

Fund raised in Q3: €2.1M

Hiring: No

IPD (Implant Preservation Devices) is a startup specialising in treating prosthetic joint infections.

The company is developing a medical device using non-contact induction heating technology to treat prosthetic joint and metal implant infections. 

The implant is heated through induction technology while still inside the patient, eliminating bacteria on the implant and ultimately curing the infection. 

Sostark

Founder/s: Hans van Leeuwen

HQ: The Hague

Fund raised raised in Q3: €2M

Hiring: No

Sostark is a technology incubator with a track record of successful projects. It specialises in high-volume wireless solutions across various industries.

The company has developed several ventures through innovations, including:

• Wireless Sound Solutions (WSS)
• Event Wristbands
• Crowdband
• TokenMe

The company has received multiple subsidies and grants from the European Union and the Netherlands for various projects. 

It includes funding for the development of wearable systems for healthcare under Kansen voor West, support for the Crowdband project from the EIT European Institute for Innovation & Technology, and research into 5G applications for construction sites funded by Target-X.

XS Innovations

CEO: Toon Stilma

HQ: Leiden

Fund raised in Q3: €1.1M

Hiring: Yes| Click here

XS Innovations is a spinoff of Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) and Delft University of Technology (TU Delft).

The company has developed Dynamic AVF, a patented implantable device designed to control high blood flow and address the complications of hemodialysis treatment. 

Unlike traditional methods that maintain a constant high flow, the DAVF connects the artery and vein only during dialysis, keeping the AVF closed at other times to ensure normal blood circulation. 

This technology allows blood flow to be optimally controlled at 600 ml/min during dialysis and restored to normal levels during daily life.

By reducing the time high blood flow is present by 90 percent, the DAVF minimises complications and improves patients’ overall quality of life.

Speaksee

Founder/s: Jari Hazelebach

HQ: Rotterdam

Fund raised in Q3: €1M

Hiring: Yes| Click here

Speaksee is a speech recognition app designed to help hearing-impaired and deaf individuals participate in group conversations.

The Rotterdam company has developed an app that converts spoken words into written text, using colour-coded microphones to identify up to nine speakers. 

The app translates group conversations into accurate text in 40 languages, with colours integrated into transcripts to distinguish speakers. It filters out background noise, helping users follow the conversation and understand who said what.

The company aims to increase inclusivity by using technology to remove language barriers, enabling everyone to reach their full potential.

Engaige

Founder/s: Tijmen van den Elzen, Rory McElearney, Hans Scheffer and Michael Heerkens

HQ: Rotterdam

Fund raised in Q3: €1M

Hiring: Yes| Click here

Engaige aims to transform customer support by offering scalable, secure, and reliable AI-powered solutions. 

The platform helps companies streamline customer service, reduce costs, and enhance satisfaction while integrating with existing customer support systems for quick AI adoption.

The Rotterdam ompany’s automation platform utilises Agentic AI and large language models to streamline various tasks, such as resending orders and providing customer updates, while operating within a business’s specific constraints.

This technology enables companies to enhance efficiency and improve customer service.

Fluss

Founder/s: Gert Nutzel and Lucas Veel  

HQ: Leiden

Fund raised in Q3: Undisclosed

Hiring: No

Fluss is a Dutch company developing compact and affordable wastewater purification systems for recreational boats.

The company’s product, FlussGuard, is a compact wastewater purification system designed for boats. It offers automatic operation without needing land-based pumping stations. 

FlussGuard integrates into existing boat setups, providing a cost-effective solution to improve water quality and enhance boating sustainability.

SPHERICAL

CEO: Thomas Parry

HQ: Noordwijk

Fund raised in Q3: Undisclosed

Hiring: No

SPHERICAL is dedicated to designing semiconductors for satellite electronic subsystems, ensuring faster, more efficient, and superior systems. The company was incubated at the European Space Agency BIC Noordwijk. The company received capital from the EIC Fund in the form of blended finance. 

Shipping Technology

Founding Partner: Remco Pikaart

HQ: Rotterdam

Fund raised in Q3: Undisclosed

Hiring: Yes| Click here

Shipping Technology develops autonomous shipping and applications to support maritime management onshore and offshore through Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The company’s core product, the ST BRAIN integrates hardware and software to optimise nautical data, support autonomous sailing, and improve operational efficiency. 

The company also offers up to a 50 per cent insurance discount for vessels equipped with the ST BRAIN. 

Shipping Technology’s growth strategy focuses on expanding data capabilities for fleet management and advancing the digitisation of maritime operations through innovative applications and strategic partnerships.

Deepbreath

Founder/s: Daria Kozlova and Anton Balakirev

HQ: Rotterdam

Fund raised in Q3: Undisclosed

Hiring: No

Deep Breath is a medtech company that aims to optimise mechanical lung ventilation in ICUs through its AI-driven decision-support systems, enhancing patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.

The company’s AI-driven platform continuously monitors patients’ conditions and provides real-time recommendations to medical staff.

The system can detect early signs of complications, predict adverse events, and suggest optimal ventilator settings.

This technology allows healthcare providers to reduce the length of ICU stays, improve patient outcomes, and free up valuable resources.

Turff

Founder/s: William Lei

HQ: Rotterdam

Fund raised in Q3: Undisclosed

Hiring: Yes| Click here

Turff develops expense management software designed for the financial management of consumables. 

The software tracks expenses and provides features such as online payment and food and housing cost comparison, giving users real-time insight into their expenses.

Check out these and more vacancies via hackyourcareer.com

Rotterdam-based Floorplanner, a provider of digital space planning tools, announced that it has acquired homegrown ARspar technologies, an AI photo editing platform. However, the exact amount was not disclosed. 

The acquisition will help Floorplanner to integrate ARspar’s AI-driven photo editing platform into its platform, enhancing the visual quality and other aspects of its space planning tools. 

This integration allows users to create more compelling and detailed architectural visualisations with ease. 

Additionally, ARspar’s technology provides Floorplanner with advanced background generation capabilities, enabling users to design professional-grade images without requiring extensive technical skills. 

ARspar Technologies: all-in-one AI photo editing platform

In the world of e-commerce, product visuals are essential in convincing potential customers to make a purchase. Without visually appealing images, it can be challenging to capture shoppers’ attention. 

ARspar Technologies, based in Rotterdam, has developed an all-in-one AI photo editing platform that creates top-quality product visuals.

The company’s AI-powered background generator is the core of its technology. It creates studio-standard product images in just a few moments. 

ARspar’s photo editing platform is user-friendly, allowing users to edit images to their liking without the need for technical skills.

ARspar’s platform is also accessible from any device or platform, making it convenient for users. The company’s AI technology makes it possible to create product visuals that stand out from the competition, increasing the chances of attracting potential customers. 

“In this journey, I have learned so much about myself, startups, customers, and sales. I’m very grateful for everyone that was part of our journey and thanks a lot for your support along the way! Now, we’re joining Floorplanner as Product Managers to continue advancing the 3D & AI visualisation space with the amazing team led by Jeroen Bekkers and Gert-Jan van der Wel,” says Burhan Kocabiyik, co-founder of ARspar in a LinkedIn post. 

In the last 3.5 years, ARspar worked with 70+ enterprise brands, including Lamborghini and Westwing, and created four major 3D and AI visualization tools and applications. The company also delivered SaaS platform to 55,000+ users.

Floorplanner: Developing the best digital space planning tools

Floorplanner is a platform that provides an accessible and user-friendly solution for those who want to create architectural visualisations without the need for advanced 3D CAD software. 

Founded in 2007 by three architects and a civil engineer, the platform has grown to become the first fully browser-based 2D & 3D planner, with over 20M users worldwide.

The platform offers a lightweight floorplan editor that runs in every browser, allowing users to create images within minutes from any device, directly from their browser. 

Additionally, the platform provides powerful cloud-based rendering capabilities, making it ideal for professionals, students, or personal portfolio creation.

Since its inception, the company has been self-funded and profitable, allowing them to make significant platform investments and improve the user experience for all Floorplanner users. 

Rotterdam-based Infinity Recycling, an impact investment fund, has closed its first fund — Circular Plastics Fund, at €175M to invest in young recycling companies that have passed the startup phase.

The fund, with a target size of €150M, will support the industrial and commercial scale-up of companies enabling advanced plastic recycling.

The European Investment Fund (EIF) backed the fund with €50M along with Chevron Phillips Chemical, GC Ventures, a foreign pension fund, tank storage and transhipment company Vopak, and others.

 “We want to kick-start the raw materials transition,” says co-founder Jeroen Kelder to FD.nl. 

The fund supports companies with scalable technologies that need financing for the industrial and commercial scale-up of their operations. 

Supports advanced recycling technologies

As traditional (mechanical) recycling causes plastics to lose their initial properties (safety for food use, strength, or elasticity), the Circular Plastics Fund supports advanced recycling technologies. 

These include chemical processes that enable the full recycling of end-of-life plastic waste, producing new plastics with virgin-equivalent properties and reintroducing them into the existing value chain. 

Infinity Recycle’s founders, Kelder and Jan-Willem Muller started fundraising efforts four years ago, and they have recently exceeded their target of €150M.

According to FD.nl Kelder has now found a destination for €32M from the fund, which ranges from the Clariter company in Poland to Ioniqa in Geleen.

At Ioniqa, PET bottles are converted into reusable PET. Clariter ‘cracks’ plastic by heating it, turning it into oil used industrially.

Three of the five companies invested in use pyrolysis technology to recycle plastic. The waste processors heat the plastic in a vacuum, up to 350 degrees Celsius, resulting in a liquid called naphtha which is distilled oil from which new plastic can be made.

Building additional recycling factories 

Infinity Recycling plans to build five additional plastic recycling factories in the Netherlands and Flanders, returning plastic waste to its original building blocks. Pryme, a Rotterdam-based plastic recycling plant, is already in operation with investment from LyondellBasell, Indorama, and Invest-NL. 

Two more plants are being built at Chemelot in Geleen, and additional factories are planned for Moerdijk, Eemshaven, and the port of Ghent, reports FD.nl. 

Infinity Recycling: Creating markets for end-of-life waste stream

Infinity Recycling was founded in 2019 to create markets for end-of-life waste streams by investing in advanced recycling technologies that enable circularity in the plastics industry. 

The company’s first offering, the Circular Plastics Fund, contributes to solving the plastic waste problem and unlocking much-needed capacity in high-demand recycled commodities. 

The fund implements a return—and impact-driven investment strategy that creates value in advanced recycling and accelerates the transition to a circular economy for plastics. 

If you are a student at Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) then your access to Studocu, a student-to-student knowledge-sharing platform used by over 50 million students worldwide, could soon be in jeopardy.

The EUR has filed a lawsuit against Studeersnel B.V., which also operates under the name Studocu outside of the Netherlands, for copyright infringement. The lawsuit is related to a dedicated website called Studeersnel.nl operated by Studeersnel B.V., on which the startup makes educational materials accessible to students, which is used by over 80 percent of the Dutch student population.

The university named after Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus, a 15th-century humanist and theologian, alleges the website hosts syllabi, assignments, practice or past exams and other educational materials created by employees of EUR in which the university owns the copyright.

While Studocu dismisses the claim, the lawsuit could have serious implications not only for the students of Erasmus University Rotterdam but also for students at other universities around the world. As a platform used by over 50 million students worldwide, how the court decides on copyright infringement could change how study materials are accessed and distributed online by students.

Studocu: what you need to know

Studocu was founded by four students during their studies at the Delft University of Technology in 2013. They found there was an inequitable distribution of study materials, which they argue correlated to the “social status” of students. The co-founders say that students who were members of good associations and lived in associated students’ houses had access to practice materials where other students did not.

While they found this to be the case with Delft, they also found the problem to be global where some students had access to better practice or study materials than others. Their solution became Studocu, a platform that offers access to the best tools to study more efficiently with student note-sharing.

“From all the millions of study materials on Studocu, roughly 85 percent is freely accessible to anyone,” says Reynald Fasciaux, Chief Executive Officer at Studocu. He adds, “The other 15 percent is labelled as premium, but can be accessed for free as well, by simply uploading a document to the community. Students who don’t want to upload can pay a small fee to access the 15 percent. Studocu does this to cover the costs of hosting the content for students”

In simpler terms, Studocu is a platform that allows students at the University of Leiden to access study materials from the University of Amsterdam. While the idea is for students to share their study materials and notes, the type of material uploaded to the platform has evolved greatly since it was first founded.

Even professors at reputed universities have now come to use the platform to share their lecture notes. However, not every academic is on board with the idea of a platform like Studocu that is home to study materials. One of the biggest grievances against Studocu has been those from academics who have found their teaching materials on the platform without their consent.

Fasciaux cites Article 9 of its Terms of Service where the platform discourages students and users from uploading content that is in breach of copyright, infringes on IP, is discriminating or offensive, or does not support the goal of the platform.

“In emails to users, we explain that we do not allow for past exams or infringing content to be uploaded to the website,” Fasciaux tells me.

Platform versus the university

In its lawsuit, Erasmus University Rotterdam argues that it owns the copyright of materials generated by its professors and that the content should not be hosted on the Studocu website. By materials, the university is referring to certain syllabi, practice or past exams, assignments, and workbooks.

“EUR asks the court to determine whether Studeersnel B.V. infringes the copyright of EUR and asks for Studeersnel B.V. to take certain specific and proportional measures to prevent and discourage copyright infringements regarding educational materials created by employees of EUR taking place on its website,” a spokesperson for the university said in an email statement.

“As it is customary in The Netherlands not to comment on or share legal documents of a pending court case, EUR has no further comments or information to share at this time,” the spokesperson added.

The lawsuit by EUR against Studocu is reminiscent of the ones filed by news media against Facebook. It is a typical case of a legacy organisation taking on a new-age technology platform.

While the lawsuit might have its merits, Studocu claims that Erasmus is not only asking the platform to take down infringing materials but also going above and beyond what is legally required of it as a hosting provider under the Digital Services Act.

“We take down infringing material after receiving a notice of infringement,” says Fasciaux. “This Notice-and-Takedown is what all platform providers are required to do according to the DSA.”

He says EUR is asking Studocu to proactively monitor the platform and argues that the outcome would effectively mean that Studocu “has to filter and block all materials uploaded by students at Erasmus.”

“To date, we acted on all of their notice and takedown requests from Erasmus promptly and removed from the platform the allegedly infringing content that surfaced to us,” Fasciaux says, before adding, “We were quite surprised when we received the official legal case.”

As a hosting provider, Studocu also claims to do its best to protect the IP of copyright holders and does not agree with the claim of Erasmus University Rotterdam. The startup argues that they takedown content via their NTD process within 24 hours and claims to have indemnity under the Digital Services Act, an EU-wide legislation that governs hosting providers like Studocu or YouTube.

Larger implication

In its lawsuit, Erasmus claims that it has a copyright to the study materials created by its professors. With the professors being paid by tax dollars, that claim could come into contention. Fasciaux calls the whole situation convoluted but reiterates that summaries and lecture notes created by students from professors’ lectures are legal.

“We also have many professors who voluntarily upload their materials to the platform, and if the materials are their copyright, they would have the right to do this and blocking this would be in violation of their copyright,” he notes.

The case is currently not public and the students don’t seem to be aware of the lawsuit. The University Council, which represents the students and staff members of EUR on a central level, did not respond to a request for comment.

Erasmus wants Studocu to proactively monitor its platform and take down any documents that may originate from Erasmus professors. Fasciaux tells me the only way they can do this is by stopping Studocu for students at Erasmus University. “Students from Erasmus would be the only students in the Netherlands not able to use materials from fellow students through Studocu,” he adds.

When this case comes before a judge, there are implications not only for a platform and one of the greatest universities in the Netherlands but also for millions of students who rely on Studocu for quality study materials. Studocu’s legal defence will hinge on indemnity offered as part of DSA while EUR will argue its copyright to materials produced by professors on its payroll. Many students, I believe, will be watching nervously since their access to study materials is on the line.