Key Region Leiden has received a €100,000 grant from the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs to support entrepreneurs better in the Leiden region.
The funding, that was awarded through the SME Services Action Agenda, will be used to strengthen connections between knowledge clusters and local businesses, to ensure that the region’s expertise and innovation are more effectively applied within the SME sector.
The Leiden region is rich in knowledge and innovation, but not all entrepreneurs know how to benefit from these resources. At the same time, businesses have valuable expertise that knowledge clusters can learn from, yet these two worlds do not meet often enough.
“We are going to strengthen the interaction between our strong knowledge-based economy and the diverse SME sector in our region, so that knowledge, innovation, and market demand can connect more quickly and effectively,” said Leonie Hussaarts, Director of Key Region Leiden.
Act, Learn and Improve
The approach is practical and action-oriented. “We want to see more procurement staying within the region, encourage greater supply chain collaboration, and create an optimal exchange between supply and demand. Most importantly, we are going to take action, learn from experience, and continuously improve,” Hussaarts added. “Companies will also need to take the initiative themselves. I am happy to speak with those who are interested.”
Broad Prosperity
The Municipality of Leiderdorp submitted the application on behalf of the region. Alderman Herman Romeijn, who is responsible for the initiative, stated: “We are eager to get to work for all the entrepreneurs who contribute every day to our local and regional economy. Stronger connections will have a positive impact on the region’s earning capacity, and everyone will benefit from that.
