Smart Industry
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersZoetermeer, Netherlands
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
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.
Smart Industry firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Smart Industry industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Smart Industry is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Zoetermeer
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Smart Industry business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- 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.
- 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
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Smart Industry Assessment — free to eligible companies |
| Subscription | Monthly | Smart Makers Academy training programs — varying fees |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Smart Industry product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Smart Industry
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Smart Industry technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability11 records
Smart Industry partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Smart Makers AcademycoreThe 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 Fieldlabscore53 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)coreFive 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)coreEuropean 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 NoordwestcoreEDIH 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)coreEDIH 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)coreEDIH 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)coreEDIH 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
Smart Industry competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
Smart Industry social profiles
Digital presenceSmart Industry financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Smart Industry leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Smart Industry funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Smart Industry M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Smart Industry
What does Smart Industry do?
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.
Is Smart Industry a public or private company?
Smart Industry is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Smart Industry founded?
Smart Industry was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Smart Industry based?
Smart Industry is headquartered in Zoetermeer, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Smart Industry make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Public / Institutional Funding is the primary driver. The others are free Knowledge Platform & Advisory Services.
Who are Smart Industry's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Catapult Network (UK), Industrie 4.0 Plattform (Germany), Made Smarter (UK), Digital Catapult (UK) and Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC, UK). Broad incumbents are TNO (Netherlands), Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft (Germany) and VTT Technical Research Centre (Finland). Brainport Industries (Netherlands) is listed as a regional player. I4MS (EU initiative) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Smart Industry have an API?
No public API is recorded for Smart Industry.
What industry is Smart Industry in?
Smart Industry's product category is Manufacturing Digitalization Advisory Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAEANAC, Technical Enablement & Adoption Services (Change Management, Adoption, Champions), with a secondary code of BPAHAEAD, Software Engineering & Application Modernization. Its NAICS code is 54151.