Neelie Kroes has been named a special ambassador of the Dutch government for 18 months, with the goal of improving the international position of Dutch start-ups and attracting more new companies to set up operations in the country. She will be based in Amsterdam with an office at the Marine site on Kattenburg island.
The former EU commissioner will lead the new initiative 'StartUpDelta', in which government, research institutes, start-ups, financiers and established businesses will work together. The ministry of economic affairs will support projects to deliver the resources for quickly growing a start-up, including financing, supportive regulation and new admissions criteria for ambitious businesses from outside Europe.
Established businesses can join StartUpDelta to help start-ups develop and grow their activities. StartupDelta also will work with existing hubs in the Netherlands, such as High Tech Campus Eindhoven and Kennispark Twente as well as leading international incubators.
