SEO Economic Research

What SEO Economic Research does

SEO Economic Research (legal: SEO Economisch Onderzoek, DBA: SEO Amsterdam Economics), founded in 1949 and headquartered at Roetersstraat 29, Amsterdam, is an independent applied economic research consultancy affiliated with the University of Amsterdam. The firm delivers quantitative and qualitative economic research for Dutch national ministries (Financiën, SZW, EZK, IenW, LVVN, UWV, AFM, Invest-NL), the European Commission, international organizations (OECD, World Bank, IMF, African Development Bank), Dutch municipalities and provinces, and a smaller set of industry associations and large enterprises (Air France-KLM, Lufthansa, Royal Schiphol Group, ABN AMRO, Verbond voor Verzekeraars, Aedes, Goldschmeding Foundation). Its work spans 19 specialized expertise areas including labour market, social security and pensions, innovation, international economics, healthcare, housing, governance, education, aviation, sustainability, finance, and security.

The firm's core technology stack comprises a portfolio of proprietary econometric and policy models: a Global Trade Model that quantifies country- and sector-level impacts of trade-cost policies; a Global Migration Model for cross-border socioeconomic impact; a municipal Broad Stress Test Model built for the City of Amsterdam; the SEO NetCost Market and Aviation Models used in EU Fit-for-55 and Destination 2050 decarbonization work; the Bijstandsverdeelmodel for municipal welfare budget calculations; and the Dutch Innovation Monitor (Nederlandse Innovatie Monitor), a longitudinal annual survey covering hundreds of Dutch firms. These models underpin deliverables such as cost-benefit analyses, policy evaluations, macroeconomic projections, regulatory impact assessments, and aviation economics studies. The firm operates under ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certifications and is governed by a Raad van Toezicht and Raad van Advies with Barbara Baarsma as Managing Director.

SEO runs a professional services model with three revenue streams: commissioned government research (the dominant stream, sourced through direct ministry, EU, and international procurement), private-sector research for corporations and industry associations, and ancillary training courses and researcher secondment. Pricing is project-based and negotiated per engagement; no public pricing exists. Distribution is exclusively direct via enterprise field sales and long-standing institutional relationships — there are no channel partners, no self-service motion, and no productized SaaS offering. Marketing is content-led through the seo.nl website, an extensive publications library, LinkedIn (SEO Amsterdam Economics), X (@SEO_Onderzoek), and academic/policy conference presence.

Name

SEO Economic Research

Legal name

SEO Amsterdam Economics

Website

https://seo.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SEO Economic Research is an Amsterdam-based, independent applied economic research consultancy affiliated with the University of Amsterdam, delivering econometric modeling, policy evaluation, and cost-benefit analysis to Dutch ministries, the European Commission, and international organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Applied Economic Research & Policy Consulting

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (54191)

akta.pro primary industry

Industry & Sector Research (Syndicated/Custom) (BPAHALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Policy, Regulatory & Public Affairs Research (BPAHALAF), Economic & Macroeconomic Research (BPAHALAD)

Keywords

• Applied economic research
• Policy evaluation consulting
• Cost-benefit analysis
• Econometric research services
• Macroeconomic modeling

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Research Contracts: SEO conducts commissioned economic research for Dutch government agencies (ministeries, municipalities, provinces), European Commission, and international organizations. Projects are typically custom research assignments with deliverables such as reports and policy analyses.
2. Private Sector Research: Research and strategic advisory services for large companies and industry associations with economic or organizational questions. Includes evaluations, impact assessments, and policy analyses.
3. Training and Courses: SEO offers courses on economic research methods and policy evaluation for government officials and professionals.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SEO Economic Research (SEO Economisch Onderzoek) delivers independent applied economic research on commission from government agencies, international organizations, and large private-sector clients. Its work spans econometric analysis, policy evaluation, cost-benefit analysis, and macroeconomic modeling across 19 expertise areas including labour market, innovation, international economics, healthcare, housing, aviation, and sustainability. The firm also offers training courses, lectures, and researcher secondment services.

Product overview

SEO Economic Research (SEO Economisch Onderzoek) is an independent applied economic research consultancy affiliated with the University of Amsterdam. The company offers a unified suite of research services centered on independent applied economic research for government and business clients. Core offerings include quantitative and qualitative research methodologies across specialized expertise areas (labour market, social security, international economics, innovation, housing market, governance, education, sustainability, healthcare, and others). Service modules encompass research projects, presentations and lectures, training courses, and researcher secondment. Key research products include the annual Nederlandse Innovatie Monitor, Monitor Ondernemingsklimaat, and contributions to the Rijksbrede Risicoanalyse Nationale Veiligheid. The company is ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certified.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Independent Applied Economic Research (Onafhankelijk toegepast economisch onderzoek) Commissioned applied economic research services for government agencies, international organizations, and large private-sector clients, using quantitative and qualitative methods to support evidence-based decision-making across 19 expertise areas.
• Research Projects (Onderzoek) Custom research projects covering labour market, social security, international economics, innovation, housing market, governance, education, sustainability, healthcare, aviation, and other specialized expertise areas.
• Presentations and Lectures (Presentaties en lezingen) Presentations and lectures delivered by SEO researchers on economic research findings and policy implications for clients and public audiences.
• Training Courses (Cursussen) Training courses on economic research methods and policy evaluation designed for government officials and professionals.
• Researcher Secondment (Detachering) Secondment service placing SEO researchers temporarily within client organizations such as ministries and agencies to support in-house research and policy work.
• Cost-Benefit Analysis (Kosten-batenanalyse) Cost-benefit analysis services evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of policies, programs, and investments for government and corporate clients.
• Policy Evaluation (Beleidsevaluatie) Policy evaluation services assessing the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of government policies and interventions.
• Nederlandse Innovatie Monitor (Dutch Innovation Monitor) Annual large-scale survey monitoring the state of innovation and entrepreneurship among hundreds of companies in the Netherlands, providing one of the most comprehensive datasets on Dutch business innovation capacity.
• Monitor Ondernemingsklimaat Annual assessment tracking perceptions and trends in the Dutch investment environment and business climate.

Quantifiable outcome

• €10.8 billion additional GDP estimated from equal distribution of paid and unpaid work between men and women (gender equality research)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Analistennetwerk Nationale Veiligheid (ANV)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011SEO is part of the multidisciplinary knowledge network ANV commissioned by the NCTV since 2011. ANV consists of seven core organizations: AIVD, MIVD, Clingendael Institute, RIVM, TNO, SEO Economisch Onderzoek, and WODC. SEO leads the 'Economic Threats' theme and contributes to assessing the 'economic security' aspect across threat scenarios.
• Universiteit van Amsterdam (University of Amsterdam)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEO is affiliated with the University of Amsterdam, providing academic rigor and enabling collaboration with university researchers and graduate students.
• BirchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Birch consultancy on periodic reports on entrepreneurship and innovation policy for the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy.
• Stratagem ConsultingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in research consortium with Stratagem Consulting and Clingendael Institute for drone ecosystem research commissioned by Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.
• Instituut Clingendael (Clingendael Institute)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in research consortium for drone ecosystem geopolitical analysis commissioned by Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.
• Koninklijk Nederlands Lucht- en Ruimtevaartcentrum (NLR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with NLR on aviation research including 'The Price of Net Zero' study calculating costs for aviation decarbonization (Destination 2050).
• DecisiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Decisio and To70 for drone societal effects research commissioned by Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.
• To70minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Decisio and To70 for drone societal effects research commissioned by Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.
• Nyenrode Business UniversiteitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Nyenrode Business University on research into the use of IASP member state option in CSRD for Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Finance, and Justice.
• Universiteit LeidenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Leiden University on evaluation of WOZT and Wet Vifo investment screening laws.
• African Development BankminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSEO advises African Development Bank, World Bank, and IMF on macroeconomic policy and capacity development.
• DialogicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Dialogic on data for sustainable digitalization research commissioned by Ministry of Economic Affairs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SEO Institute / Tinbergen-affiliated economic consultancies: Placeholder not used; reserved for completeness check.
• KiM Netherlands Institute for Transport Policy Analysis: Dutch applied policy research institute producing economic analyses of transport, mobility, and infrastructure — overlapping SEO's aviation, transport, and policy evaluation work.
• Ecorys: Rotterdam-based research and consulting firm delivering policy evaluation, impact assessments, and economic analysis for the European Commission, governments, and NGOs — a direct competitor in EU-tendered applied research.
• CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis: The Dutch government's own economic policy analysis unit, producing macroeconomic forecasts, policy evaluations, and cost-benefit analyses that directly overlap SEO's core service lines for Dutch ministries.
• CE Delft: Dutch independent research and consultancy specializing in environmental, transport, and climate economics — directly comparable to SEO's sustainability and aviation economics expertise.
• Tinbergen Institute: Dutch institute for economic research and graduate training affiliated with the University of Amsterdam, Erasmus, and VU — comparable as a Dutch applied-economics research body producing policy-relevant economic analysis.

Broad incumbents

• RAND Corporation: Much larger US-headquartered policy research organization producing independent economic and social science research for governments — overlaps SEO's policy-evaluation and applied-research remit but at significantly greater scale and geographic reach.
• Bruegel: European economic think tank producing influential policy analysis for EU institutions and member states — comparable in the EU policy-research domain but broader in scope and Brussels-centric.

Regional players

• DIW Berlin: German economic research institute delivering applied economic analysis, policy evaluation, and forecasting — comparable methodological approach to SEO but focused on the German policy market.
• ifo Institute: Munich-based economic research institute producing macroeconomic forecasts, policy evaluations, and applied economic studies — a strong functional analogue to SEO but operating primarily in Germany rather than the Netherlands.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/SEO_Onderzoek
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/283701

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SEO Economic Research