The Netherlands' biggest innovation platform for 20 years
KVK Innovation Top 100 celebrates anniversary edition
- 17 April 2025
- 1 min
- Press articles
Registration for the 20th edition of the KVK Innovation Top 100 is open until 1 August 2025. The Netherlands Chamber of Commerce KVK is now inviting all SME businesses with a ground-breaking product to register. New this year is that startups and young businesses with innovative concepts, not yet on the market, can also participate. For 2 decades, KVK has been putting the spotlight on innovative SMEs in the Netherlands and is celebrating in extra festively this year.
The KVK Innovation Top 100 is the showcase for innovative entrepreneurship. From smart-tech solutions to sustainable breakthroughs, all SMEs with guts and vision are invited to apply via www.kvkinnovatietop100.nl.
Five categories, five expert juries
This year, entrepreneurs can register under 1 of the following 5 categories:
- Circular economy
- Energy transition
- Labour market and society
- Health and nutrition
- Agricultural, water, and infrastructure
Each category has its own expert jury with expertise in the field. They assess, among other things, originality, social impact, and sustainability.
From idea to national recognition
Per category, 20 finalists will be named. In autumn 2025, these 100 businesses and their innovations will be presented to the Dutch public. During the KVK Innovation Top 100 event, the 3 winners per category will be announced. KVK will then also announce who, like Concord Neonatal last year, is awarded most innovative SME business in the Netherlands. And who will be named the most innovative starter per category.
Inspiring stories
Last year, Concord Neonatal took the win. They won with their Concord Birth Flow, a medical innovation that allows healthcare providers to stabilise newborn babies immediately after birth, while keeping them connected to mothers via the umbilical cord. CEO Rianne Rotink: "Thanks to the KVK Innovation Top 100, we were able to share our story more widely and reach more parents and caregivers."
Back in 2006, carpentry company Van der Linden was the very first winner of the KVK Innovation Top 100 ever, with their invention Deurmaat. This is an ingenious tool for hanging large doors. The company enjoyed the spotlight and entrepreneur Arnold Vanderlinden himself even received a marriage proposal from an English fan.
Participation all across the Netherlands
North Holland led the way last year with 27 innovative businesses in the top 100, followed by South Holland (23) and Utrecht (13). The KVK Innovation Top 100 deliberately does not have a (cash) prize attached to it. The power of the initiative is to show what Netherlands-based SMEs are capable of.