Economic Board Zuid-Holland

What Economic Board Zuid-Holland does

Economic Board Zuid-Holland (EBZ) is a public-private partnership organization established in 2015 (evolving from the earlier EPZ — Economische Programmaraad Zuidvleugel) that coordinates regional economic development across the South Holland province of the Netherlands. Operating from WTC Den Haag, EBZ convenes entrepreneurs, knowledge institutions (TU Delft, Universiteit Leiden, Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam, TNO), and government bodies (Provincie Zuid-Holland, MRDH) to address economic renewal, sustainability, and business climate strengthening. The organization runs six taskforces covering human capital, startup/scale-up, technological industry, energy transition, circular economy, and digital economy, and orchestrates flagship programs including the Human Capital Agenda (with the 2025-2030 update and the Actieplan Slimmer Werken action plan), the Versnellingsprogramma Groeiagenda, the Deelakkoord STROOM regional learning ecosystem, and the Founded in South Holland startup/scale-up platform. With measurable targets including 25 megaton CO2 reduction by 2030, 55,000 additional employees, and a 5-15% labor productivity uplift, EBZ serves the full South Holland ecosystem, which accounts for approximately 22% of Dutch GDP, 1.8 million jobs, 3.8 million inhabitants, and over 500,000 entrepreneurs.

EBZ's core deliverable is not a single technology product but a portfolio of coordinated programs and initiatives delivered through partnership networks. Key programmatic surfaces include the Founded in South Holland platform (launched May 2026, serving as a unifying startup ecosystem layer), the Human Capital Agenda framework with its Deelakkoord (partial agreement) structure across sub-regions, the Versnellingsprogramma Groeiagenda acceleration program, and the Learning Community Human Capital Agenda community-of-practice. The organization uses standard stakeholder engagement channels — a website (economicboardzuidholland.nl), email newsletters, events including the Voorjaarsbijeenkomst, a monthly podcast ("Arbeidsmarkt van Morgen"), and social media — with no proprietary software platform of technological significance. Leadership consists of a board with stakeholder representation (recent additions including Meindert Stolk and Ingrid Thijssen; recent departures including Tim van der Hagen and Martin van Gogh) and a small operational team including Strategic Project Advisors and Taskforce Chairs such as Ron Brans (Strategisch Projectadviseur Human Capital) and Joeri van den Steenhoven (Voorzitter Taskforce Startup & Scale-up).

EBZ is structured as a private non-profit public-private partnership, not a commercial company. It has no commercial revenue model, sells no products or services, and is funded by regional government and partner contributions. There is no disclosed operating budget, no headcount disclosure, and no traditional equity ownership. The Province of South Holland acts as both primary funder and co-initiator of major programs, creating a structurally high funder-concentration profile typical of regional economic development bodies.

Name

Economic Board Zuid-Holland

Legal name

Economic Board Zuid-Holland

Website

https://economicboardzuidholland.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Economic Board Zuid-Holland is a public-private partnership established in 2015 that coordinates regional economic development in South Holland, Netherlands, convening businesses, universities, and government to deliver programs on human capital, startups, energy transition, and sustainable growth.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Economic Development Services

NAICS

Administration of Economic Programs (9261)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Governor/Executive Office & Cabinet Administration (BPAIABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN), Trade, Industry & Economic Development Administration (BPAIAAAL), Circular Economy & Resource Efficiency (BPADALAM)

Keywords

• Regional economic development
• Public-private partnership
• Human capital agenda
• Startup scale-up support
• Innovation ecosystem

Headquarters

HQ city

The Hague

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Economic Board Zuid-Holland coordinates a portfolio of regional economic development programs through a public-private partnership model. It convenes entrepreneurs, knowledge institutions, and governments to deliver initiatives including the Human Capital Agenda, the Founded in South Holland startup/scale-up platform, the Versnellingsprogramma Groeiagenda acceleration program, the Deelakkoord STROOM energy transition ecosystem, and the Learning Community Human Capital Agenda. These initiatives target labor market development, innovation, sustainability, and economic growth in the Zuid-Holland province.

Product overview

Economic Board Zuid-Holland is a regional economic development organization that connects entrepreneurs, knowledge institutions, and governments to renew, decarbonize, and strengthen the economy and business climate in South Holland. Rather than offering a unified software product, the organization coordinates a portfolio of programs and initiatives including the Human Capital Agenda (with the Actieplan Slimmer Werken focused on labor productivity), the Deelakkoord STROOM ecosystem, the Founded in South Holland startup/scale-up platform, and the Versnellingsprogramma Groeiagenda acceleration program. These initiatives work through collaborative networks and communities like the Learning Community Human Capital Agenda to address regional economic challenges around talent, innovation, and sustainable growth.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Founded in South Holland A regional platform that connects startup and scale-up founders with people, knowledge, and opportunities to accelerate growth in South Holland, serving as a unifying layer in the regional startup ecosystem.
• Human Capital Agenda Zuid-Holland A collaborative initiative connecting businesses, knowledge institutions, and governments to build a resilient and future-proof labor market in South Holland, focused on optimal talent utilization, higher labor productivity, active learning culture, and inclusive employment.
• Actieplan Slimmer Werken Zuid-Holland An action plan developed with the Province of South Holland to increase labor productivity through smarter working practices, covering skills, learning, work organization, motivation, and human-centered technology adoption.
• Deelakkoord STROOM A regional learning and innovation ecosystem in Alphen aan den Rijn, Groene Hart, and Holland Rijnland, bringing together entrepreneurs, educational institutions, knowledge partners, governments, and societal organizations around concrete regional challenges.
• Versnellingsprogramma Groeiagenda Zuid-Holland An acceleration program launched in December 2025 that drives sustainable economic growth, CO2 reduction, sufficient housing, and a future-proof labor market, focusing on putting enablers in place so investments in the province can be unleashed.
• Learning Community Human Capital Agenda A community connecting project leaders and quarterbacks of the various Deelakkoorden (partial agreements) with Team Human Capital and TNO experts to share experiences and best practices on labor productivity and smarter working.

Quantifiable outcome

• Versnellingsprogramma aims to reduce 25 megaton CO2 by 2030, with approximately 10 megaton in industry
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Provincie Zuid-HollandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government funding partner and co-initiator of regional economic development programs including the Versnellingsprogramma Groeiagenda and Human Capital Agenda.
• InnovationQuartercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional development agency supporting international trade, investment, and innovation initiatives in Zuid-Holland.
• Metropoolregio Rotterdam Den Haag (MRDH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetropolitan region authority coordinating economic development across Rotterdam and The Hague metropolitan area.
• TU DelftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading technical university in the region contributing to innovation and talent development.
• Universiteit LeidencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor university contributing to research, innovation, and talent in the life sciences sector.
• Erasmus Universiteit RotterdamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor university contributing to business, economics, and social sciences research and education.
• TNOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational research organization providing expertise on labor market, innovation, and economic research.
• Via DeltacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative network of regional ROC institutions providing adult education and vocational training.
• Techniekcoalitie Zuid-HollandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition focused on addressing technical talent shortages in the region.
• IT Campus RotterdamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampus initiative focused on IT and technology talent development in Rotterdam.
• Founded.incoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational platform connecting startups and scale-ups, with regional chapters including Founded in South Holland.
• Leiden Bio Science ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLargest life sciences and health cluster in the Netherlands, with over 27,000 professionals and 500+ organizations.
• Greenport West-HollandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural innovation corridor focused on sustainability and international competitiveness.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• InnovationQuarter: Regional development agency for Zuid-Holland supporting international trade, investment, and innovation. Already a partner of EBZ but operates in the same regional economic development space.
• Brainport Development: Regional economic development organization for the Brainport Eindhoven region in the Netherlands, coordinating industry, knowledge institutions, and government around technology and manufacturing. Closest Dutch analogue to EBZ's PPP coordination model.
• Amsterdam Economic Board: Public-private partnership driving the Amsterdam metropolitan region's economic agenda across innovation, talent, and sustainability. Direct counterpart in role and structure to EBZ.
• Metropoolregio Rotterdam Den Haag (MRDH): Metropolitan region authority coordinating economic development across Rotterdam and The Hague. An EBZ partner but also an overlapping regional economic coordination body in the same geography.
• Economic Board Utrecht: Regional economic board coordinating public-private stakeholders in the Utrecht province around themes including health, sustainability, and digitalization. Functions as a peer PPP economic development board.

Broad incumbents

• Economic Development Board (Singapore): Government agency driving Singapore's economic development strategy, investment promotion, and industry development. Comparable function as a state-led economic development body, though national rather than regional.
• Invest-NL: Dutch national investment vehicle supporting sustainable entrepreneurs across the Netherlands. Operates at a broader national level but engages in similar economic development and innovation financing themes as EBZ.
• Catapult UK: Network of UK technology and innovation centres connecting businesses, universities, and government to accelerate R&D commercialization. Thematically comparable in convening innovation ecosystems.
• Scottish Enterprise: Scotland's national economic development agency supporting business growth, innovation, and investment. Comparable role as a publicly-led regional/national economic development agency.

Emerging players

• EIT (European Institute of Innovation & Technology): EU body integrating education, research, and business to drive innovation across Europe. Operates a similar knowledge triangle and PPP model across multiple regional innovation communities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/economicboardzh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Economic Board Zuid-Holland