The province of North Holland and the ICT sector are most strongly represented in the 15th KVK Innovation Top 100, an overview of the most innovative companies in Dutch small and medium-sized enterprises. This was announced today by the KVK during the KVK Live Adviesdagen. In the top 100 are many sustainable companies such as Bedaffair, Circular IQ, DutchFiets, GiantLeaps, Yoghurt Barn, Holie Foods, Protix and TRIBOO.

North Holland is best represented with 21 companies, followed by North Brabant with 17 and South Holland with 16 companies. After the ICT sector (18 innovations), most innovations come from the food and agro sector (16) and the creative industries (15).

Nearly 400 entries

A panel of innovation experts made the selection from nearly 400 entries for a listing in the annual KVK Innovation Top 100. All nominations were judged on impact on the industry and society, originality, availability and realized turnover and growth potential.

Innovation drives growth

Recent research conducted by the KVK among entrepreneurs in 14 editions of the KVK Innovation Top 100 shows that more than three-quarters of the entrepreneurs still consider the innovation nominated at the time to be part of their business strategy. Also, three quarters of the entrepreneurs indicate that the innovation has increased the competitive position and turnover. This is the case for 72%. Profits and productivity are increasing at 57%. For just over half, the number of employees has increased and exports have risen.

Contributing to a better world

Entrepreneurs are eager to make a change or contribute to a better world. The survey shows that for two-thirds of entrepreneurs, that is the most important reason to innovate. Solving a problem of customers or suppliers is also seen as a reason by more than half of the respondents. Over 40% of entrepreneurs indicate that financing innovations is perceived as the most difficult. Almost 30% also see laws and regulations as a barrier to successful innovation.

Innovation drives our progress

On Thursday 21 January 2021 a jury chaired by Ruud Koornstra will announce the exact ranking of each company in the KVK Innovation Top 100. Then it will also be clear which company will take over PHYSEE's number 1 position and may call itself the most innovative SME in the Netherlands for a year.

The KVK Innovation Top 100 has deliberately not been awarded a prize. The power of the initiative is to show what Dutch SMEs are capable of.

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