Green Innovation HUB continues as Innovally and strengthens Almere's high-tech ambitions

Launching Innovally in Floor Almere. From left to right: Danny Frietman (project director Innovally), alderman Maaike Veeningen (municipality of Almere), Khadija Imaalitane (program director High Tech Almere) at the unveiling of Innovally. Photo: Robert Verhoeve

Green Innovation HUB (GIH) gets a new name and a broader mission.From today, the Almere innovation platform that drives innovation will continue as Innovally.In addition to bringing together companies, governments, knowledge institutions and talent to accelerate digital and technological innovations, the revamped platform will put additional focus on AI and robotics, among others.

With the new name, the focus widens from exclusively green innovation to the full spectrum of digital and high-tech developments. This could include robotics, AI, semiconductor technology, defence innovation and smart manufacturing. GIH's strong foundation - infrastructure, partnerships and emphasis on sustainability and social value - will be retained, but broadened and scaled up to match Almere's ambitions as a leading high-tech hotspot and campus region.

"Almere has the space, talent and drive to continue growing into a high-tech region of stature," said councillor Maaike Veeningen. "We are fully committed to the growth of future-oriented employment and knowledge development. Innovally will be a springboard for companies that want to be part of this."

The new identity was unveiled in Floor Almere. Over 50 invited guests attended the launch. Alderman Maaike Veeningen opened with a keynote, Khadija Imaalitane (program director High Tech Almere) emphasised the importance of course-setting industrial policy and regional cooperation.

Almere focuses on high-tech

The broadening matches Almere's growing tech ambitions. The Netherlands' youngest major city is attracting more and more high-tech companies. Semiconductor company ASM International, which has been based in the city for over 20 years, for example, is investing hundreds of millions of euros in a new headquarters on the high-tech campus, located on Zuidoever Weerwater. Together with Amsterdam, the region forms the largest AI talent cluster in the Netherlands. Innovally will be a key connector in this ecosystem.

"Innovally represents a dynamic ecosystem where meeting, connecting and accelerating are key," says Innovally project director Danny Frietman. "We bring together the right people, technologies and resources so that innovations move faster from idea to practice and contribute to jobs, economic growth and solutions to major societal challenges."

Innovally targets startups and scale-ups seeking access to customers and capital, established companies looking to do open innovation, knowledge institutions and governments needing test gardens, and talents and professionals. Among other things, they will find in Innovally accelerator programmes, innovation challenges, co-working and testing facilities, matchmaking with corporates and investors, international trade missions and a strong community of high-tech players.

"The strength of a high-tech ecosystem lies in connections," says Khadija Imaalitane, program director High Tech Almere. "By building on the existing synergy between innovative companies, knowledge institutions and government, we are strengthening Almere as an even more attractive location for high-tech and sustainable solutions. Innovally plays a concrete role in this by linking companies to knowledge institutions, startups and test sites such as Hortus and Pampus."

Springboard for the region

The new positioning aligns closely with ongoing and new strategic partnerships, including UPAlmere!, High Tech Almere, HighTechNL, Horizon, defence cluster development and international partners such as Tech Barcelona. Among other things, these partnerships offer companies support in developing and scaling up innovative solutions. Innovally also provides a soft landing for companies looking to establish themselves in the region.

The board will be strengthened with a steering committee of Almere municipality, Flevoland province and VodafoneZiggo, and an advisory board including High Tech NL, VDL, Antea Groep, BTG, UPAlmere! and Windesheim. A funding base for 2027-2030 is being worked on with public and private parties. With Innovally, Almere will have a future-proof innovation label that is nationally and internationally recognisable.

More information: www.innovally.nl