Amsterdam-Rotterdam ranked among Top 30 Global Science and Technology Clusters
The Amsterdam-Rotterdam region has once again demonstrated its prominence in the global innovation landscape, securing the 26th position in the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) latest ranking of the Top 100 Global Science and Technology Clusters. This achievement solidifies the region’s standing as a key driver of innovation in Western Europe, ranking third among fifteen clusters in the subregion.
According to the pre-release of the 2024 Global Innovation Index (GII), the Amsterdam-Rotterdam cluster has shown exceptional performance across several key metrics. Between 2019 and 2023, the region filed 4,322 Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications, with a significant 8% of these applications in the Pharmaceuticals sector. The region is also a leader in scientific research, with 52,439 journal publications between 2018 and 2022, 17% of which are focused on Clinical Medicine.
Collaboration
Collaboration is at the heart of the cluster’s success. Notably, 24% of the region’s PCT patent applications involve partnerships with inventors from other leading innovation hubs such as Nijmegen, Eindhoven, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Similarly, 72% of scientific articles from the region are co-authored with researchers from international institutions, with London and Paris among the top collaborators.
Daren Tang, WIPO Director General, highlighted the importance of such clusters: “Science and technology clusters are among the most-critical components for the innovation performance of any economy. By bringing together science, businesses, and entrepreneurs, these regions create ecosystems that translate scientific ideas into impactful innovations.”
Top academic and research institutions
The region’s top academic and research institutions, such as Utrecht University, Delft University of Technology, and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, continue to play a pivotal role in driving this innovation. These institutions are not only leading in scientific publications but also in patent applications, with organizations like TNO and Shell contributing significantly to the region’s intellectual property output.
As the Amsterdam-Rotterdam cluster continues to grow and attract global partnerships, it remains a beacon of innovation, driving advancements in science and technology that have a profound impact both locally and globally.
For more details on the 2024 Global Innovation Index and the performance of the Amsterdam-Rotterdam cluster, visit WIPO’s GII website.
Date: September 6, 2024
Source: Rotterdam Innovation City
