What Het Groene Brein does

Het Groene Brein is a Dutch independent knowledge institute and network organization headquartered in Utrecht that operates as a broker between science, practice, and policy to accelerate sustainable transitions, with a primary focus on the circular economy. It curates a network of more than 200 scientists and researchers who function as the organization's analytical compass, pairing them with business and government stakeholders through coalitions, programs, events, and knowledge products. The portfolio comprises approximately 17 distinct programs spanning talent development (Leadership for the Circular Transition, Nationale Hackathon Circulaire Economie, Groene Peper), sector transitions (Transitieagenda Consumptiegoederen, The ReUse Alliance, Versnellingshuis Nederland Circulair!), research initiatives (Tackling Fixophobia, Sociale Waardecreatie, Circulaire Orchideeën), and knowledge tools (Kenniskaarten, mini-colleges, publications).

The business model is grant- and partnership-funded rather than commercially monetized. Revenue, pricing, and headcount are not publicly disclosed. The organization derives support from Dutch government bodies (notably the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management), employer federations (VNO-NCW/MKB-Nederland), MVO Nederland, foundations such as the Goldschmeding Foundation, and EU co-financing instruments. Customer-facing assets include a website (hetgroenebrein.nl), newsletter, annual events (Week van de Circulaire Economie, Week van het Economieonderwijs), and network-based distribution through universities, hogescholen, MBO institutions, Agenda Stad City Deals, and industry associations. Geographic operations are confined to the Netherlands.

Strategic positioning is built on intermediation rather than proprietary technology. Core capabilities are coalition formation, knowledge synthesis, and program management across multi-stakeholder sustainability initiatives. Recent activity (2018-2022 timeline) shows progression from co-founding the Nationaal Programma Circulaire Economie's consumer goods transition agenda, to launching the Versnellingshuis Nederland Circulair! acceleration house, to taking on the Research Broker role within Agenda Stad, and to building educational and built-environment programs such as Build Up Skills NL and The ReUse Alliance.

Name

Het Groene Brein

Legal name

Het Groene Brein

Website

https://hetgroenebrein.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Het Groene Brein is a Utrecht-based Dutch knowledge institute that connects a network of 200+ scientists with businesses, policymakers, and educational institutions to accelerate sustainable transitions, primarily in the circular economy, through programs, coalitions, and publications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability Knowledge Network

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

akta.pro primary industry

ESG, Sustainability Reporting & Compliance (BPAEAPAM)

Keywords

• Sustainability transition consulting
• Circular economy programs
• Knowledge network services
• Sustainable transition advisory
• Circular economy research

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

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 channels3 records

Core offering

Het Groene Brein is a Dutch knowledge institute that operates as a network organization connecting over 200 scientists with practice and policy stakeholders to accelerate sustainable transitions, particularly in the circular economy. The organization develops coalitions, creates knowledge products, and facilitates connections between science, business and government to identify bottlenecks, develop solution directions, and drive breakthroughs in sustainability challenges.

Product overview

Het Groene Brein is a knowledge and network organization (not a software product company) that accelerates sustainable transitions by connecting science, practice, and policy. Its offering consists of 17 distinct programs and initiatives organized around circular economy, energy transition, built environment, and sustainable education. The portfolio includes: talent development programs (Leadership for the Circular Transition, Nationale Hackathon Circulaire Economie, Groene Peper, Build Up Skills NL), sector transition initiatives (Transitieagenda Consumptiegoederen, The ReUse Alliance, Versnellingshuis Nederland Circulair!), educational programs (Week van het Economieonderwijs, Verkenning naar onderwijs), research initiatives (Tackling Fixophobia, Sociale waardecreatie, Circulaire Orchideeën), event programs (Week van de Circulaire Economie, Kennis is King, Agenda Stad), and knowledge tools (Kenniskaarten). These programs work together as coalitions that bring scientists, businesses, and policymakers together to create breakthroughs in sustainable transitions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Leadership for the Circular Transition: Talent program where students develop skills to tackle challenges of the circular transition
• Transitieagenda Consumptiegoederen
• Versnellingshuis Nederland Circulair!
• Week van het Economieonderwijs
• Nationale Hackathon Circulaire Economie
• Groene Peper
• Circulaire Orchideeën
• The ReUse Alliance
• Build Up Skills NL
• Verkenning onderwijs energietransitie en CE

Products and services

• Tackling Fixophobia NWO KIC-project researching how repair of consumer electronics can be stimulated, laying the foundation for a circular electronics economy. For scientists, businesses and policymakers in the electronics sector.
• Agenda Stad Collaboration between national government, cities and stakeholders working on growth, innovation and liveability of Dutch cities through City Deals. Het Groene Brein acts as Research Broker (Onderzoeksmakelaar) within this program.
• Week van de Circulaire Economie Annual week full of talks, tours, excursions and workshops throughout the Netherlands, culminating in the National Circular Conference and Circular Awards ceremony. For businesses, policymakers, scientists and citizens interested in circular economy.
• Leadership for the Circular Transition Talent program where students develop skills to tackle challenges of the transition to a circular society, working across MBO, HBO and WO educational institutions. Developed with Leren voor Morgen, Firda, Fontys Hogeschool, and multiple universities of applied sciences.
• Transitieagenda Consumptiegoederen Transition agenda working towards a fully circular consumer goods economy by 2050, focusing on four product groups: electrical & electronic devices, clothing & textiles, furniture & mattresses, and packaging & consumables.
• Week van het Economieonderwijs Annual event providing economics education professionals with inspiration and tools to modernize economics education at secondary schools, MBO, HBO and university levels. Organized with Leren voor Morgen and Our New Economy with support from Goldschmeding Foundation.
• Sociale waardecreatie Business breakthrough program helping companies measure and visualize their social value creation to make better-informed sustainable business decisions. Partners include NS, Primum (VolkerWessels), USG People and Vebego working with interdisciplinary teams of scientists.
• Build Up Skills NL Program making craftsmanship available for the construction and installation sector, focusing on skills needed for energy transition, digitalization, circularity and climate adaptation in the built environment. Partners: Leren voor Morgen, TVVL, Koning Willem I College, Duneworks, Building Changes, ISSO. Cofinanced by European Union.
• Groene Peper Annual sustainability event for MBO, HBO and WO education in the Netherlands, providing networking, inspiration and knowledge exchange opportunities. Partners: Studenten voor Morgen, Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland, Duurzaam MBO.
• Verkenning naar onderwijs over de energietransitie en circulaire economie Research project mapping education on energy transition and circular economy across MBO, HBO and WO, resulting in reports and educational maps.
• The ReUse Alliance Alliance ensuring reuse, repair, second-hand and refurbishment gain a strong position in the furniture sector through regional and national activities. 19+ partners including IKEA, Marktplaats, Kringloop Nederland, CBM, Whoppah, Repair Café.
• Nationale Hackathon Circulaire Economie Annual hackathon where students work on circular economy challenges from different industries, supported by expert workshops.
• Circulaire Orchideeën Research project investigating reverse logistics systems for orchids with Koeleman Plants, enabling expired orchids to be re-cultivated rather than discarded.
• Kennis is King Program connecting scientific knowledge with circular pioneers from business through 'Breinstorm' sessions during the Week of Circular Economy.
• Versnellingshuis Nederland Circulair! Acceleration house supporting companies in circular entrepreneurship by providing practical information, tailored assistance and facilitating chain collaborations.
• Hoe verduurzaam je varkensvlees? Project helping 300 pig farmers united in Keten Duurzaam Varkensvlees (KDV) work on sustainable pork production including energy neutrality, antibiotic-free production, and animal welfare.
• Kenniskaarten Knowledge cards providing accessible overviews of circular economy and sustainability topics. Web-based knowledge product.

Quantifiable outcome

• Network of 200+ scientists connecting science with practice and policy

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

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Versnellingshuis Nederland Circulair!coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched February 2019. Collaboration between Ministry of IenW, VNO-NCW/MKB-Nederland, Het Groene Brein and MVO Nederland. Accelerates circular economy transition by supporting companies in circular entrepreneurship through practical information, custom assistance, and facilitating supply chain collaborations.
• Transitieagenda ConsumptiegoederencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransition agenda for consumer goods within National Program Circular Economy. One of five transition agendas established 2018 with aim of full circular economy by 2050. Focus on electrical/electronic devices, clothing/textiles, furniture/mattresses, and packaging.
• Ministerie van Infrastructuur en WaterstaatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinistry of Infrastructure and Water Management - key government partner for circular economy and sustainable transition initiatives
• VNO-NCW / MKB-NederlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch employer organizations collaborating on circular economy acceleration for businesses of all sizes
• Lectorenplatform Circulaire EconomiemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform of lecturers (professors of practice) in circular economy at Dutch universities of applied sciences
• Leadership for the Circular TransitionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTalent program developed with Leren voor Morgen, Firda, Fontys Hogeschool, and multiple universities of applied sciences. Students develop skills for circular transition through hybrid learning ecosystems spanning MBO-HBO-WO.
• Week van het EconomieonderwijsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganized by Leren voor Morgen, Het Groene Brein and Our New Economy with support from Goldschmeding Foundation. Inspires education professionals to modernize economics education for sustainability and inclusion.
• DAN-CE NetwerkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch Academic Network on Circular Economy - network bringing together researchers, lecturers and partners from universities and universities of applied sciences to strengthen knowledge, research and practice connections
• Build Up Skills NLmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram for skills development in the built environment sector. Partners: Leren voor Morgen, TVVL, Koning Willem I College, Duneworks, Building Changes, ISSO. Cofinanced by European Union. Focus on digitalization, materialization, climate adaptation and energy skills.
• The ReUse AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner19+ partners including IKEA, Marktplaats, Kringloop Nederland, CBM, Whoppah, Repair Café working to make reuse the new normal in the furniture sector through regional repair networks and national awareness campaigns
• Sociale waardecreatie partnersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNS, Primum (VolkerWessels), USG People and Vebego collaborated to make social value creation measurable through interdisciplinary teams of scientists
• Groene PepermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual sustainability event for MBO, HBO and WO education in Netherlands. Partners: Studenten voor Morgen, Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland, Duurzaam MBO. Only cross-level sustainability event enabling networking and knowledge exchange.
• Coöperatie Leren voor MorgencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative focused on future-oriented learning and education for sustainable development - key partner for multiple education-related programs
• Nationaal Programma Circulaire EconomiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Program Circular Economy - overarching framework that includes five transition agendas including Transitieagenda Consumptiegoederen
• Agenda StadmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration between national government, cities and stakeholders to strengthen growth, innovation and liveability of Dutch cities through City Deals. Het Groene Brein acts as Onderzoeksmakelaar (research broker) since 2022.
• Keten Duurzaam VarkensvleesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner300 pig farmers working on sustainable pork production, energy neutrality, antibiotic-free production, and animal welfare

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Forum for the Future: UK-based sustainability charity working with business, government and civil society to accelerate systemic change on sustainability challenges. Directly comparable operating model to HGB as a multi-stakeholder sustainability transition broker, though with international scope.
• Ellen MacArthur Foundation: Global circular economy foundation producing widely adopted frameworks, reports and learning programs for circular transition. Operates at significantly larger global scale than HGB but shares the same model of convening scientists, businesses, and policymakers to advance the circular economy.

Regional players

• KIDV (Kennisinstituut Duurzaam Verpakken): Dutch knowledge institute for sustainable packaging that brokers research and policy guidance to businesses and government. Operates a similar Dutch-focused knowledge institute model to HGB and shares a packaging-related intersection through the Transitieagenda Consumptiegoederen program.
• Circle of Blue: US-based non-profit research and journalism organization focused on water and resource sustainability, convening scientists, policymakers and practitioners. Comparable broker model connecting science to policy and public audiences on sustainability transitions, though regionally focused on North America.

Others

• RLI (Raad voor de leefomgeving en infrastructuur): Dutch independent advisory council for the environment and infrastructure that advises the Dutch government on sustainability and spatial planning. Ecosystem peer rather than direct competitor, but operates in the same Dutch policy-knowledge interface that HGB navigates through Agenda Stad and IenW partnerships.

Direct peers

• Coöperatie Leren voor Morgen: Dutch cooperative focused on future-oriented education for sustainable development and a key HGB partner across multiple programs. Operates the same hybrid MBO-HBO-WO education model for sustainability that HGB runs through Leadership for the Circular Transition and Groene Peper.
• Circle Economy: Amsterdam-based impact organization operating the Circularity Gap Reporting framework and circular economy transition programs. Direct peer to Het Groene Brein: both are Dutch-headquartered knowledge organizations accelerating the circular economy transition via partnerships with government and industry.
• Drift (Dutch Research Institute For Transitions): Erasmus University Rotterdam-based research institute studying sustainability transitions and advising Dutch and EU policymakers. Direct peer: both act as Dutch academic-policy intermediaries producing transition knowledge for government and societal partners.
• MVO Nederland: Dutch CSR/sustainability network organization that is also a co-founding partner of Versnellingshuis Nederland Circulair! alongside Het Groene Brein. Functions as a near-twin broker between businesses, government, and knowledge institutions on sustainability and circular economy.

Emerging players

• Metabolic: Amsterdam-based sustainability consulting and venture builder working on circular economy, climate mitigation, and food systems. Comparable to HGB on circular economy advisory work but with a more commercial consultancy orientation and global client base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/het-groene-brein

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Het Groene Brein