Smart Industry

What Smart Industry does

Stichting Smart Industry is a Dutch non-profit foundation headquartered at Zilverstraat 69, Zoetermeer, that functions as the national coordination platform for the digitalization of Dutch manufacturing SMEs. Rather than developing proprietary software, it operates a publicly funded knowledge dissemination and advisory ecosystem: free advisory conversations, the Smart Industry Assessment (a digital maturity diagnostic), the Smart Makers Academy training program, and an extensive Dutch-language knowledge bank (whitepapers, case studies, webinars, practical guides) organized around themes including AI, robotics, data management, cybersecurity, smart maintenance, and circular economy.

The foundation's core infrastructure is a nationwide network comprising five regional European Digital Innovation Hubs — EDIH Noord, Digital Hub Noordwest, EDIH BOOST Robotics, EDIH Zuid-Nederland, and Digitalzh — which collectively cover all 12 Dutch provinces, alongside 53 active Smart Industry Fieldlabs that serve as practical testing and experimentation environments. The digital layer is a HubSpot-powered web platform (smartindustry.nl) acting as a knowledge repository, advisory request funnel, voucher and subsidy information hub, event calendar, and directory of solution providers and ambassador companies. The ecosystem also facilitates connections to implementation partners and to voucher/subsidy schemes such as Shaping the Future of Work and INDUSTR_I4.0 grensregio.

Smart Industry's revenue model is institutional rather than commercial. It is funded through the EU Digital Europe Programme (co-financing the EDIHs), national and regional public financing (SNN/EFRO, Dutch Provinces, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy / EZK), and partner contributions. All primary services — advisory, assessment, knowledge content, and event access — are provided free of charge to Dutch manufacturing SMEs. The go-to-market motion is community-led: companies are reached through regional EDIH touchpoints, fieldlab referrals, ambassador company introductions, and content marketing across LinkedIn, YouTube, a monthly newsletter, the knowledge bank, and a calendar of masterclasses, workshops, and the Week van de Digitalisering national event.

Name

Smart Industry

Legal name

Stichting Smart Industry

Website

https://smartindustry.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Stichting Smart Industry is a Dutch non-profit foundation that serves as the national coordination platform for digitalization of Dutch manufacturing SMEs, delivering free advisory, assessment, training, and knowledge services through five regional European Digital Innovation Hubs and a network of 53 fieldlabs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Manufacturing Digitalization Advisory Services

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computer Systems Design Services (541512)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Enablement & Adoption Services (Change Management, Adoption, Champions) (BPAEANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Software Engineering & Application Modernization (BPAHAEAD), Enterprise Architecture & Technology Roadmapping (BPAEAAAC)

Keywords

• Manufacturing digitalization advisory
• Industry knowledge platform
• Digital transformation services
• Fieldlab testing networks
• Smart industry assessment

Headquarters

HQ city

Zoetermeer

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, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Public / Institutional Funding: Smart Industry (Stichting Smart Industry) is a foundation funded through EU subsidy programs (European Digital Innovation Hubs / EDIH program via Digital Europe Programme), national/regional government co-funding (SNN/EFRO, Provinces, EZK), and partner contributions. The organization provides free services (advisory, assessment, knowledge content) to target companies, meaning its revenue model is institutional/public funding rather than commercial product revenue.
2. Free Knowledge Platform & Advisory Services: The organization offers all primary services — advisory conversations, Smart Industry Assessment, whitepapers, case studies, webinars, and training course discovery — free of charge to manufacturing SMEs. This is funded by subsidy and public financing, not by fees charged to end users.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Stichting Smart Industry operates as a Dutch foundation providing free advisory services, digital maturity assessments, training programs, and a curated knowledge library to help small and medium-sized manufacturing companies (MKB-maakindustrie) navigate digitalization. Its offering combines one-on-one advisory conversations, the Smart Industry Assessment diagnostic tool, the Smart Makers Academy training platform, and connections to a nationwide ecosystem of 5 regional European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs), 53 fieldlabs, ambassador companies, and vetted solution providers.

Product overview

Smart Industry (Stichting Smart Industry) is a Dutch foundation that functions as a knowledge platform and advisory service for the manufacturing industry, not a traditional software product company. Its portfolio consists of advisory and educational services including the Smart Industry Assessment (a digital maturity diagnostic tool), Smart Makers Academy (training programs in digital skills), consultation services, and a comprehensive knowledge library (whitepapers, case studies, and articles). The organization connects companies with five regional European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs), 53 Fieldlabs for practical testing, and Solution Providers for implementation support. Additionally, it offers financial support through voucher schemes and subsidies. The offering is structured as a support ecosystem helping SMB manufacturing companies navigate digital transformation through guidance, education, peer examples, and facilitated connections—not as a standalone software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Smart Makers Academy: A program focused on developing digitalization skills and knowledge for SMBs in the manufacturing industry through short nano-module training sessions.

Quantifiable outcome

• SECO Tools Lottum: production output increased 28%, on-time delivery improved from 68% to 95%, product complaints reduced by factor 3.5
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability11 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Smart Makers AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Smart Makers Academy is the training and skills development arm of the Smart Industry ecosystem, offering short nano-modules (2-4 hour sessions) on digitalization topics including 3D printing, smart maintenance, and learning organizations. It operates as a dedicated partner for workforce digital skills development within the Smart Industry network.
• 53 Smart Industry FieldlabscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner53 fieldlabs are active practical environments where companies and knowledge institutions collaboratively develop, test, and implement Smart Industry solutions. They serve as the hands-on experimentation layer of the Smart Industry ecosystem, enabling companies to test technologies before investing.
• 5 Regional European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFive regional EDIHs (EDIH Noord, Digital Hub Noordwest, EDIH BOOST Robotics, EDIH Zuid-Nederland, and Digitalzh) cover all Dutch regions. They provide advisory, test facilities, financing guidance, and internationalization support to manufacturing SMEs. Each EDIH operates with innovation brokers from regional partners.
• EDIH Noord (Noord-Nederland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Digital Innovation Hub for Northern Netherlands, covering Groningen, Drenthe, and Friesland. Focuses on Autonomous Systems as a special emphasis area and supports four key transitions: Smart Agro, Factory of the Future, Life Sciences & Health, and Built Environment/utilities/mobility.
• Digital Hub NoordwestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEDIH for Utrecht, Flevoland, and Noord-Holland. Offers knowledge and experience with digital technologies through training, prototype development support, test facilities, and financing advice. Provides approximately 25 services, training courses, and workshops for SMB digitalization.
• EDIH BOOST Robotics (Regio Oost)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEDIH for Oost-Nederland (Overijssel, Gelderland). Focuses on robotics and targets producing SMBs in manufacturing, agrifood, and medical technology. Innovation brokers from Kennispoort Regio Zwolle, RCT Gelderland, and Novel-T guide companies to fieldlabs, skills labs, knowledge institutions, and financing.
• EDIH Zuid-Nederland (EDIH-SNL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEDIH for Zeeland, Noord-Brabant, and Limburg. Focuses on agrifood, semicon, automotive, process industry, medical systems, and machine building sectors. Provides expert support, assessments, coaching, action planning, workshops, peer groups, and matching activities.
• Digitalzh (EDIH Zuidwest)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEDIH for Zuid-Holland, led by InnovationQuarter and TU Delft together with industry associations, schools, universities, fieldlabs, and governments. Targets innovative SMBs and small mid-caps in manufacturing, port-maritime, and greenhouse sectors, with focus on IoT, 5G, AI, robotics, and cybersecurity.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Catapult Network (UK): UK network of technology and innovation Catapults providing applied R&D, test facilities, and SME support — structurally identical to the Smart Industry fieldlab + EDIH model, though broader in scope.
• Industrie 4.0 Plattform (Germany): Germany's national coordinating platform for Industrie 4.0 / manufacturing digitalization, coordinating stakeholders, producing whitepapers, and advising German SMBs on adoption. Same coordinating-foundation role for a larger national manufacturing base.
• Made Smarter (UK): UK government-backed program supporting manufacturing SME digitalization through funded advisory, training, and technology adoption support. Directly analogous model to Smart Industry's EDIH/fieldlab network serving Dutch SMBs.
• Digital Catapult (UK): UK innovation center accelerating digital adoption across industries through testbeds, expertise, and partnerships. Closely parallels the digital innovation hub model underpinning Smart Industry's EDIH network.
• Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC, UK): UK applied research organization providing manufacturing process development, factory automation expertise, and SME digitalization support. Comparable role as a publicly-funded manufacturing innovation intermediary.

Broad incumbents

• TNO (Netherlands): Dutch applied research organization with strong manufacturing, Industry 4.0, and digitalization expertise. Closest Dutch analog; broader mandate than Smart Industry and deeper technical research capability, less SMB-facing.
• Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft (Germany): Germany's applied research network with 75+ institutes covering manufacturing technology, AI, and production. Broader and older analog to Smart Industry's applied-research/fieldlab coordination, but at much greater scale and with proprietary R&D capacity.
• VTT Technical Research Centre (Finland): Finnish applied research organization with deep Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing programs serving Nordic SMBs. Comparable publicly-funded innovation intermediary for manufacturing digitalization in a smaller economy.

Regional players

• Brainport Industries (Netherlands): Dutch high-tech manufacturing supplier network in the Brainport region, coordinating member companies, supply chain collaboration, and innovation programs. Comparable ecosystem-coordinator role but regionally concentrated in Eindhoven area.

Emerging players

• I4MS (EU initiative): EU-funded initiative supporting European manufacturing SMEs in digitalization through innovation experiments, vouchers, and connections to Digital Innovation Hubs. Pan-European overlay coordination layer of which Smart Industry's EDIHs are a Dutch node.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/industrysmart
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCqsZ4MYxYk6KKE5_wo_xbtg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smart-industry-nederland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Smart Industry