Connectr - Energy innovation

What Connectr - Energy innovation does

Connectr is a Dutch non-profit foundation (Stichting Connectr) established in 2021 and headquartered at Cleantech Park Arnhem, operating an 18,000 m² shared-innovation campus for the energy transition. It was founded in partnership with HAN University of Applied Sciences, IPKW, Kiemt, and Oost NL, with initial public funding of €4.6M from Provincie Gelderland and additional support from Gemeente Arnhem. The foundation runs an Innovation Program, the Connectr Innovation Lab, shared facilities, a Demo Field, and shared office space, and organises themed communities in Heavy Duty Charging (40+ parties), Temporary Energy Systems, and Urban Energy Systems.

The platform is structured around three technology domains — electrical energy engineering, electrochemical energy storage, and sustainable propulsion systems — and supports resident companies such as RIFT, Volta Energy, WATTSUN, Hedgehog Applications, VECS, ChargeNet, and Borg Energy Storage with prototyping, testing, and demonstration infrastructure. The Connectr Innovation Lab opened in 2024, the HAN Power Lab opened in March 2026, and the AI4ES-lab was launched in May 2026 to research responsible AI applications in the energy sector. In May 2025, Connectr entered a strategic partnership with Germany's Bryck to extend ecosystem services across the German border.

Connectr's business model is a hybrid of public-sector grant funding and ecosystem membership/subscription revenue, supplemented by programme fees and events. The foundation employs 19 people and has been recognised with the Willem Diehlprijs 2025. Recent leadership hires across 2024-2026 indicate organisational scaling in line with the foundation's programmatic and geographic expansion, particularly the move into Germany via Bryck and the deepening academic-industry stack via HAN.

Name

Connectr - Energy innovation

Legal name

Connectr – Energy innovation

Website

https://connectr.nu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Connectr is a Dutch non-profit foundation operating an 18,000 m² shared-innovation campus at Cleantech Park Arnhem, providing lab, demo, and programme infrastructure to energy startups, corporates, and researchers across heavy-duty charging, temporary energy, and urban energy communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Energy Innovation Services

NAICS

Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112), Electric Power Generation (22111)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

Commissioning, Testing & Field Services for Interconnection (Energization, Acceptance Tests) (EUAMAIAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Grid Interconnection, Power Quality & Electrical Infrastructure Service (Transformers, Switchgear) (TLAKAMAM), Power Electronics for Renewable & Grid-Tied Applications (Solar inverters, wind converters, grid-tie interfaces) (IMAGADAJ), High-Voltage Electrical Systems (Switchgear, Transformers, Protection & Control) (EUAEAFAA)

Keywords

• Energy innovation ecosystem
• Clean energy testing labs
• Energy transition programs
• Battery storage validation
• Heavy duty charging community

Headquarters

HQ city

Arnhem

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Funding and Subsidies: Connectr is supported by public funding from Provincie Gelderland (4.6 million euros initial contribution), municipality of Arnhem, and other governmental bodies. The organization functions as a non-profit innovation ecosystem rather than a commercial enterprise.
2. Membership and Facility Access: Companies can become members of the Shared Office and access Innovation Lab facilities for testing and collaboration purposes, supporting the innovation ecosystem.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Connectr operates a physical innovation ecosystem for the energy transition, anchored at Cleantech Park Arnhem. It offers access to the Connectr Innovation Lab, Energy Demo Field, Shared Office, and HAN Power Lab for testing, validating, and demonstrating energy innovations across electrical energy engineering, electrochemical energy storage, and sustainable propulsion. The organization runs the Innovatieprogramma, themed communities (Heavy Duty Charging, Temporary Energy Systems, Urban Energy Systems), the Versnellingstafel expert sessions, and the Groeiversneller demonstration voucher program to accelerate members from concept to market.

Product overview

Connectr - Energy innovation operates as an innovation ecosystem and physical hub rather than a single product company. The organization provides a portfolio of interconnected services including the Innovatieprogramma (Innovation Program) for accelerating energy solutions, the Connectr Innovation Lab as a physical testing facility, Shared Facilities for collaborative technology development, and themed communities (Heavy Duty Charging, Temporary Energy Systems, Urban Energy Systems) that address specific energy transition challenges. Additional offerings include De Versnellingstafel for structured expert consultations, De Groeiversneller Demonstratie Energie for funding demonstration projects, Connectr Shared Office for coworking, and the Energy Demo Field for outdoor testing. The ecosystem is anchored at Cleantech Park Arnhem and connects entrepreneurs, knowledge institutions, and established companies to accelerate energy transition innovations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Versnellingstafel: A small-scale expert session format where entrepreneurs, innovators, knowledge institutions and experts from the Connectr ecosystem gather around a concrete challenge to explore perspectives and next steps.
• Connectr Innovation Lab
• Connectr Shared Office
• Groeiversneller
• Connectr Tour

Products and services

• Innovatieprogramma (Innovation Program) Structured program that connects entrepreneurs, innovators, knowledge institutions, and experts to accelerate the development and scaling of energy-transition solutions within the Connectr ecosystem.
• Connectr Innovation Lab Physical laboratory facility at Cleantech Park Arnhem where companies can test, validate, and demonstrate energy innovations in electrical energy engineering, electrochemical energy storage, and sustainable propulsion.
• Shared Facilities Shared testing and demonstration facilities and equipment available to ecosystem participants for developing and validating energy technologies.
• De Versnellingstafel (The Acceleration Table) Structured networking and expert session where entrepreneurs and professionals working on energy-transition solutions discuss specific challenges with experts and partners from the Connectr ecosystem.
• Heavy Duty Charging Community Community of 40+ organizations focused on charging solutions for heavy-duty transport, addressing challenges related to electrification of trucks, megawatt charging systems, and grid capacity.
• Temporary Energy Systems Community Community addressing temporary and mobile energy supply solutions for construction sites, events, and other applications where permanent grid connections are unavailable.
• Urban Energy Systems Community Community focused on energy solutions for urban environments, including smart charging infrastructure and grid management in densely populated areas.
• De Groeiversneller Demonstratie Energie (Growth Accelerator Demonstration Energy) Voucher-based support program that provides funding and technical expertise to help innovative companies demonstrate their energy technologies in practice.
• Connectr Shared Office Shared office and coworking environment at Cleantech Park Arnhem for companies and organizations involved in the energy transition.
• Energy Demo Field Outdoor testing and demonstration area where energy technologies such as solar systems, battery storage, and charging infrastructure can be validated in real-world conditions.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 50 companies supported through various innovation programs and ecosystem participation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• BryckcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 May 2025Strategic partnership announced during Arnhem Electricity Week 2025 for cross-border energy innovation between the Netherlands and Germany. Bryck serves as the gateway to the German energy ecosystem, particularly in North Rhine-Westphalia. The partnership enables joint delegations to events like E-World in Essen and supports companies in scaling internationally.
• Hogeschool van Arnhem en Nijmegen (HAN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 March 2021HAN is a founding partner of Connectr and provides educational programs, research capabilities, and student involvement in energy transition projects. The HAN Power Lab was opened at Connectr in March 2026, and HAN students regularly participate in innovation projects.
• Industriepark Kleefse Waard (IPKW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPKW is the host location for Connectr and a founding partner. The industrial park provides the physical infrastructure and community for the energy innovation ecosystem at Cleantech Park Arnhem.
• KiemtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKiemt is a founding partner of Connectr, contributing to the innovation ecosystem development and supporting technology initiatives in the energy transition.
• OostNLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOostNL is a founding partner and regional development agency that supports Connectr with funding and network connections for innovation acceleration in East Netherlands.
• ElaadNLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerElaadNL is a key partner focused on electric mobility and charging infrastructure testing. They are the first resident of the Connectr Innovation Lab and conduct research on smart charging solutions and charging standards.
• TU DelftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTU Delft provides academic research expertise and contributes to energy transition research projects within the Connectr ecosystem.
• KEMA LabscoreTechnology or IntegrationKEMA Labs provides testing and certification services for energy technologies, contributing to the validation and safety assessment of innovations within the Connectr ecosystem.
• RabobanksecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerRabobank supports the Heavy Duty Charging community and provides financial expertise for energy transition projects within the Connectr ecosystem.
• Rijn IJsselsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerRijn IJssel is an MBO educational institution that collaborates with Connectr on practical training and internship programs for students in energy technologies.
• The Economic BoardsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Economic Board supports Connectr as part of regional economic development initiatives for the Arnhem-Nijmegen region.
• Groene Metropool Regio Arnhem-NijmegensecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional development organization supporting Connectr as part of the green metropolitan region initiative.
• BriskrsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerBriskr is an innovation lab partner that co-organizes events and programs with Connectr, particularly focused on supporting startups and scale-ups in health, hightech, and energy sectors.
• OrionsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerOrion is an innovation lab partner that collaborates with Connectr on events and programs for entrepreneurs in the Gelderland region, particularly in energy and technology sectors.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ElaadNL: Dutch knowledge and innovation center for smart charging infrastructure, and the first resident of Connectr's Innovation Lab. ElaadNL operates an Open Charge Lab for EV charging testing — directly overlapping with Connectr's Heavy Duty Charging community focus.
• EnergyVille: Belgian energy research and innovation consortium jointly operated by KU Leuven, VITO, imec, and UHasselt. EnergyVille runs a comparable campus-with-shared-facilities model for energy innovation testing and demonstration, with similar multi-stakeholder governance and public-private funding.
• Bryck: German energy innovation hub based in Essen, operating a comparable innovation campus model focused on the energy transition. Bryck is Connectr's explicit cross-border partner (announced May 2025) and serves as its gateway to the North Rhine-Westphalia market, making it the closest structural analogue.
• TKI Urban Energy: Dutch top consortium for innovation in urban energy, coordinating public-private R&D programs across Dutch energy transition stakeholders. Operates a comparable multi-stakeholder ecosystem model with shared facilities and acceleration programs in the same Dutch energy transition space.
• Orion: Dutch innovation lab in the Gelderland region supporting startups in agri-food and technology with comparable non-profit ecosystem model. Active Connectr event co-organizer (CRM & AI webinars) serving overlapping founder community in the same geography.
• Briskr: Dutch innovation lab operating in the Gelderland region focused on startups in health, hightech, and energy. Briskr is a Connectr event partner and operates a comparable non-profit innovation hub model targeting similar early-stage companies in the same geography.

Regional players

• Innovation Quarter: Dutch regional development agency for South Holland operating innovation programs and investment funds for energy and cleantech startups. Serves a different Dutch region (South Holland vs. Gelderland) but operates a comparable innovation support and ecosystem-building model.

Broad incumbents

• TNO: Dutch applied scientific research organization with a major energy transition unit offering testing facilities, applied research, and innovation programs. Operates at much larger scale with deeper corporate relationships, representing a broader incumbent in the same Dutch energy innovation space.
• EIT InnoEnergy: European innovation engine for sustainable energy, backed by the EU and major corporates. Operates a much broader pan-European accelerator and investment model covering the energy value chain — overlapping with Connectr's ecosystem-building mandate but at significantly larger scale and geographic reach.
• Climate-KIC: EU-backed knowledge and innovation community for climate innovation, including accelerator programs and demonstration facilities. Operates at significantly larger scale than Connectr across multiple European locations with comparable public-private partnership structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/connectr-energy-innovation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Connectr - Energy innovation