Cambridge Innovation Center Opens in Rotterdam

The arrival of CIC is a huge boost for Rotterdam’s innovation ecosystem. The Center will house 550 innovative companies and build upon CIC’s international community of entrepreneurs, investors, and established businesses.

The City of Rotterdam has put a lot of effort into drawing CIC’s attention to the city, aiming to be a beacon for successful Dutch start-ups and a landing pad for international businesses. CIC Rotterdam will provide the missing link in both the Rotterdam and Dutch national innovation ecosystem, giving start-ups the potential to develop into world players.

«We chose Rotterdam after careful consideration of the best location for our first center outside of the US,» said CIC Founder and CEO Tim Rowe. «The Dutch have one of the most entrepreneurial cultures in Europe, and we believe there is incredible potential in Rotterdam. Rotterdam is a future-oriented, design-centric city that is increasingly being recognized on the world stage. It benefits from some of the strongest universities in the region, is a major maritime and rail hub, and, most importantly, its people have a powerful work ethic similar to that in our home town of Boston. We think this is going to be a great partnership.»

CIC will establish a 13.000 m2 innovation center at the iconic Groot Handelsgebouw in Rotterdam’s Central District, opening in late 2015. The City of Rotterdam, Rotterdam Partners and the NFIA have worked hard to promote Rotterdam as a suitable location for CIC.

The Rotterdam region is known as a steppingstone for young, culturally diverse, highly skilled and talented entrepreneurs who want to make their start-up dreams come true. Erasmus University Rotterdam, Erasmus MC and Delft University of Technology are appealing to both Dutch and foreign talent and form important links in Rotterdam’s innovation economy.

The majority of start-ups are concentrated in and around Rotterdam, for example at RDM Campus, Erasmus Center for Entrepreneurship and YES! Delft.