NLWorks

What NLWorks does

NLWorks is a private, government-mandated facilitation organization headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, established in 2017. It operates as an intermediary between Dutch businesses, knowledge institutions, and governments to develop international public-private partnerships across six focus sectors: agrofood, climate action, healthcare, renewable energy, vital technologies (including additive manufacturing, smart grids, hydrogen, and AI), and water management. The organization is mandated by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, VNO-NCW (Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers), and MKB Nederland, and operates with no external venture or private equity capital disclosed.

NLWorks does not develop proprietary technology; instead, it applies a structured five-phase programme methodology — idea assessment, concept development, programme development, programme implementation, and programme enrichment/scaling/replication — to build and coordinate consortia that deliver Dutch expertise to international markets. Its active portfolio spans more than 20 countries including the United States (Kentucky, California, Washington State), India, China, Vietnam, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, Ukraine, Turkey, Curaçao, Bulgaria, and Colombia. Documented programme outcomes include 1,000 jobs created in Controlled Environment Agriculture in Kentucky, €170 million in contracts between Dutch and Indian businesses from the 2018 trade mission, four controlled-environment facilities covering 165 acres, and €10 million in Dutch-supported water supply and sanitation projects in Vietnam. The organization has also suspended or concluded underperforming programmes (Additive4Industry, Hoi An Coastal Protection, Healthy Villages) when consortium economics did not support continuation.

NLWorks employs a small core team of approximately eight people, including five partnership developers with backgrounds spanning multinationals, the OECD, the World Bank, the European Commission, and the Asian Development Bank. Revenue generation mechanics are not explicitly disclosed; the entity is positioned as a professional services facilitator rather than a product vendor, with its financial model anchored to its government mandate. The organization's value proposition is its exclusive Dutch government mandate, its diplomatic distribution channels, and its role as a neutral coordinator within multi-party consortia addressing food security, climate adaptation, healthcare access, and circular-economy challenges.

Name

NLWorks

Legal name

NLWorks

Website

https://nl-works.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NLWorks is a The Hague-based, Dutch government-mandated facilitator that builds international public-private partnerships connecting Dutch businesses, knowledge institutions, and governments across six sectors in 20+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development Partnership Facilitation

NAICS

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)

Keywords

• International partnership facilitation
• Public-private partnerships
• Consortium development
• Sustainable development programs
• Economic development consulting

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, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Partnership Facilitation Services: NLWorks operates as a government-mandated organization facilitating international public-private partnerships. The organization is positioned to help develop programmes into viable business models with potential for scaling. Revenue generation mechanics are not explicitly disclosed in available source material.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

NLWorks is a government-mandated Dutch organization that facilitates the creation and development of international public-private partnerships connecting Dutch businesses, knowledge institutions, and government bodies with international partners. It coordinates consortia, develops impact-driven programmes across six sectors (Agrofood, Climate Action, Healthcare, Renewable Energy, Vital Technologies, Water), and applies a structured five-phase methodology from idea assessment through to programme scaling and replication. Its work is exemplified by named programmes such as Let's Grow Together (Kentucky CEA), Waste to Wealth (India), Partners for Primary Care (Kenya), and the Ukraine Health Care Recovery Consortium.

Product overview

NLWorks is not a software product but rather a consultancy and facilitation organization mandated by the Dutch government and the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers. It specializes in developing international public-private partnerships across six focus sectors: Agrofood, Climate Action, Healthcare, Renewable Energy, Vital Technologies, and Water. The organization offers a portfolio of named programme initiatives (including Let's Grow Together, Sino Dutch Integrated Agri-Parks, Vietnam Sustainable Horticulture, Orchard of the Future, GCEAC, Rebuild Hatay, Waste to Wealth, Partners for Primary Care, Sustainable Pig Farming China, Biomass India, India Climate Smart Coffee, Curaçao Sustainable Economy, East Africa Clean Cooking, Bulgaria Sustainable Food and Vegetable Ecosystem, Ukraine Health Care Recovery Consortium, Additive4Industry, Healthy Villages, and Hoi An Coastal Protection), complemented by a structured five-phase Programme Development Methodology that guides initiatives from idea assessment through enrichment, scaling, and replication. The NLWorks approach connects private and public partners to form effective collaborations addressing economic, social, and environmental challenges with Dutch solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Let's Grow Together A public-private partnership establishing a controlled-environment ag-tech ecosystem in Kentucky, USA, using Dutch knowledge, products, and services to create substantial job growth and address food insecurity. Four controlled-environment facilities totalling 165 acres have been built in the Appalachian region (60-acre tomato farm in Morehead, 15-acre indoor salad greens farm in Berea, 30-acre strawberry and cucumber farm in Somerset, 60-acre tomato farm in Richmond), creating 1,000 jobs in Controlled Environment Agriculture.
• Sino Dutch Integrated Agri-Parks A vertically integrated business model connecting Dutch greenhouse sector suppliers of innovative and sustainable high-tech greenhouse concepts with Chinese governmental organisations, businesses, local investors, and retail partners to improve yield, quality, and profitability of vegetable production in mid and high-tech greenhouses in China. Developed in partnership with Dutch Greenhouse Delta.
• Vietnam Sustainable Horticulture A programme focused on climate-resilient and sustainable horticulture in Vietnam's Mekong Delta, combining Dutch greenhouse technology with locally-developed rootzone temperature-controlled low-energy cultivation technology to enable economically viable, net-zero cultivation. Includes capability and capacity building for local growers and supply chain development. Pilots funded via Invest International to partners including Orlar International.
• Orchard of the Future A collaboration programme accelerating the adoption of innovative solutions in tree fruit orchards in Washington State and the broader Western US, combining Dutch and American agrobusiness ecosystems. Focus areas include smart machinery for single-plant-level crop management, AI decision models for growth optimization, and multifunctional robots for labour automation.
• Global Controlled Environment Agriculture Consortium (GCEAC) A partnership dedicated to accelerating the adoption of innovative solutions in controlled environment agriculture by combining the innovative strengths of Dutch and American horticulture, agribusiness, technology, and entrepreneurial ecosystems to address climate change, food security, workforce scarcity, and CEA industry efficiency, profitability, and sustainability.
• Rebuild Hatay: Modular Neighborhoods A post-earthquake reconstruction programme for Hatay province, Turkey, following the February 2023 earthquake. NLWorks develops, drives, and coordinates Dutch-Turkish collaboration addressing both immediate reconstruction needs and long-term social and economic opportunities for affected municipalities.
• Waste to Wealth A programme on the banks of the Ganges River in India where Dutch and Indian businesses, knowledge institutions, and government agencies collaborate to generate electricity, gas, clean water, and local jobs. The 2018 Dutch trade mission to India generated €170 million in contracts between Dutch and Indian businesses under this programme. Partners include Nijhuis Industries and Gieling Consultancy.
• Partners for Primary Care A public-private partnership in Kenya strengthening primary care through three tracks: the Partnership for Primary Care (P4PC) business model developed by Philips and Amref, e-learning training of healthcare workers, and WASH (water, sanitation, hygiene) improvements to protect women and children against disease epidemics. Supports Kenya's universal healthcare access goal by 2030.
• Sustainable Pig Farming China A programme building a demonstration, test, and training farm in China where a consortium of 13 Dutch businesses and knowledge institutions (led by Royal Agrifirm) demonstrate innovative, sustainable, and animal-friendly Chinese pig farming methods and help scale up the model.
• Biomass India A public-private initiative to purchase rice straw from 1 million Indian farmers and convert it into circular bio-based products such as furniture panels, paper, and packaging. Introduces Dutch circularity technologies and brings together sustainability pioneers to develop products that compete with conventional alternatives.
• India Climate Smart Coffee The Climate Smart Coffee Consortium aims to reduce climate change impacts, increase climate resilience, boost biodiversity, and enhance the income of coffee farmers via Climate Smart Coffee Plantations in Kerala, India. Plantations combine circular agroforests, food processing, and future-proof energy systems to create carbon-neutral solutions.
• Curaçao Sustainable Economy A programme creating a more sustainable economy in Curaçao by focusing on six themes: sustainable energy, mobility, education, employment opportunities, environmental protection, and export. The Living Lab Curaçao (set up 2020-2021) is a joint research and development programme supporting the transition to sustainable energy and mobility.
• East Africa Clean Cooking A consortium developing an affordable, green, and clean cooking solution in Rwanda through clean gasifying cookstoves and wood pellets. The programme focuses on a sustainable and circular value chain, community awareness, capability development, and capacity building, with plans for international scaling to Kenya, Congo, Uganda, and Burundi, supporting Rwanda's 50% reduction in traditional biomass use by 2024 and full stop by 2030.
• Bulgaria Sustainable Food and Vegetable Ecosystem A programme to develop a healthy and sustainable Bulgarian fruit and vegetable ecosystem using Dutch technology, products, and knowledge. The solution includes tailored tech, a stepping-stone model, and clustering/hubs, with building blocks focused on pilot/demonstration facilities, professionalising producer organisations, post-harvest management, and research and education. Supports the ambition to double Bulgaria's fruit and vegetable production in 5 years.
• Ukraine Health Care Recovery Consortium A consortium developing and delivering a modular and replicable solution for first-line emergency, secondary, and specialised healthcare in Ukraine, including mother and child health care, chronic diseases, and mental health care. Partners include Hospitainer, Philips, Imres, APMG, International Medical Corps, Rebel, Ministry of Health Ukraine, and the Embassy of Ukraine in the Netherlands.
• NLWorks Programme Development Methodology A structured five-phase service offering that guides every programme from idea to scale: (1) Idea Assessment — developing ideas into business-with-impact concepts with strong interest from Dutch companies; (2) Concept Development — advancing concepts when there is clear business and impact potential; (3) Programme Development — presenting quantified business and impact cases with formal and financial commitments; (4) Programme Implementation — achieving short-term business results and proven interest in growth; (5) Programme Enrichment, Scaling, Replication — evolving successful programmes into new, standalone initiatives.

Quantifiable outcome

• 29 partners engaged in the Let's Grow Together programme as of October 2023
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and significant.

• Kentucky State GovernmentmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2020The Kentucky State Government actively supports the Let's Grow Together programme, which has built four controlled-environment facilities in the Appalachian region creating 1,000 jobs in CEA.
• Ministry of Economic Affairs NetherlandscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ministry of Economic Affairs is one of NLWorks' two core government mandate holders. As a mandate partner, the ministry provides institutional support and government backing for NLWorks' international partnership development activities.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs NetherlandscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs is one of NLWorks' two core government mandate holders. The ministry supports NLWorks' international activities through diplomatic channels and government-to-government facilitation.
• MKB NederlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMKB Nederland (SME Netherlands) represents small and medium-sized enterprises in the Netherlands and is a mandate partner of NLWorks. They provide access to Dutch SME capabilities and expertise for international partnerships.
• VNO-NCWcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVNO-NCW (Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers) is the largest employers' organization in the Netherlands and one of NLWorks' core mandate partners. They provide access to large Dutch corporates and industry expertise.
• Dutch Greenhouse DeltamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch Greenhouse Delta works with NLWorks to develop public-private partnerships in the complex Chinese horticulture market. NLWorks actively participates in public-private meetings with potential Chinese clients and helps organize collaboration between Dutch greenhouse suppliers and Chinese partners.
• Royal AgrifirmmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoyal Agrifirm leads a consortium of 13 Dutch businesses and knowledge institutions for the Sustainable Pig Farming China programme. They are investing in construction of a demonstration and production farm with integrated facilities for training and testing.
• PhilipsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhilips is part of the Ukraine Health Care Recovery Consortium, contributing healthcare expertise and technology for rebuilding medical infrastructure. They have also developed the Partnership for Primary Care (P4PC) business model with Amref for Kenya.
• Amref Health AfricamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmref has developed the Partnership for Primary Care (P4PC) business model with Philips to improve primary healthcare supply and demand in Kenya in a financially sustainable way.
• Nijhuis IndustriessignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerNijhuis Industries is a participant in the Waste to Wealth programme, working on waste incineration plants and water treatment facilities along the Ganges River in India.
• Gieling ConsultancysignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerGieling Consultancy participated in the Waste to Wealth programme, taking steps towards cleaning up the Hindon River (a tributary of the Ganges) with support from local Indian governments and the Dutch embassy.
• HospitainersignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerHospitainer is committed to the Ukraine Health Care Recovery Consortium, providing mobile hospital solutions made from shipping containers for emergency medical infrastructure.
• ImressignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerImres is committed to the Ukraine Health Care Recovery Consortium, providing medical supplies and equipment for healthcare reconstruction.
• International Medical CorpssignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Medical Corps is committed to the Ukraine Health Care Recovery Consortium, bringing humanitarian medical expertise to healthcare reconstruction efforts.
• Wageningen UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWageningen University conducted the AgTech Ecosystem Kentucky inception study, commissioned by Dutch Enterprise Agency (RVO), Dutch Embassy Washington DC, and NLWorks. They support technical approach development for SME farmers.
• Bulgarian GovernmentsignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Bulgarian Government, including Prime Minister Rutte's discussions with Bulgarian leadership, is committed to collaborating on the ambition to double Bulgaria's fruit and vegetable production in 5 years using Dutch technology and knowledge.
• Vietnamese GovernmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Vietnamese Government, through Resolution 120 and the Vietnam-Netherlands Mekong Delta Agricultural Transformation Plan (MD-ATP), has set goals for climate-resilient and sustainable development in the Mekong Delta.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SNV Netherlands Development Organisation: Dutch development NGO operating across agriculture, energy, and water in emerging markets. Comparable in Dutch origin, sectoral focus on agrofood/energy/water, and use of public-private consortium models for programme delivery.
• IFC (International Finance Corporation): World Bank Group member focused on private-sector development in emerging markets. Comparable as a multi-stakeholder mobilization platform connecting corporate capability, host-country priorities, and development finance — at significantly larger scale.
• JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency): Japanese governmental agency that coordinates ODA, technical cooperation, and PPPs across emerging markets. Comparable as a state-mandated entity deploying national corporate and knowledge assets into international development programmes.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit): German federal development agency facilitating international public-private partnerships across sectors and geographies. A larger incumbent operating the same PPP facilitation playbook that NLWorks applies at Dutch scale — directly comparable in function though broader in scope.

Direct peers

• Invest International: Dutch state-backed investment vehicle mobilizing private capital for international development projects, particularly in developing markets. Direct functional overlap with NLWorks — already a documented NLWorks partner financing pilots such as the Vietnam greenhouse project.
• Dutch Greenhouse Delta: Dutch public-private partnership organization promoting Dutch horticulture internationally. Directly comparable as a sectoral consortium facilitator — explicitly named as an NLWorks partner for the Chinese horticulture market and operating a similar brokering model.
• Concordia: International non-profit facilitating public-private partnerships around global challenges. Highly comparable model of convening corporates, governments, and civil society to execute impact-driven international programmes.
• CBI (Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries): Dutch agency under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs connecting European buyers to suppliers in developing countries. Comparable role as a publicly-mandated facilitator bridging Dutch/European capability with international partners in sustainable value chains.
• FMO (Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank): Dutch bilateral development bank mobilizing private capital into emerging markets. Highly comparable mandate of pairing Dutch/European corporate capability with development priorities in agrofood, energy, water and financial inclusion — areas overlapping with NLWorks' six focus sectors.
• Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO): Dutch government agency under the Ministry of Economic Affairs that supports Dutch businesses internationally and commissions international partnership studies. Operates as the institutional counterpart administering NLWorks' accessibility and funding, with overlapping mandate to facilitate Dutch international engagement.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nlworks

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 NLWorks