Moerdijk ranks ninth in the list of municipalities with the highest relative number of innovative circular businesses. We also occupy sixth place in the ranking of municipalities with the highest relative number of high-tech companies. And in the field of chemical innovation, we proudly lead the way, as the municipality with the most innovative chemical companies. These awards are more than just praise; they reflect the drive of entrepreneurs, scientists, and government, and underscore Moerdijk's groundbreaking work.
When we look closely at the significance of these rankings, we see that Innovatiespotter maps out which Dutch companies are leading the way, per theme. The relative innovation score indicates how many innovators a municipality has compared to its total business base. Moerdijk's position in the top ten for the circular economy demonstrates how hard entrepreneurs here are experimenting with reusing waste streams, utilizing residual heat, and creating local energy networks. In the high-tech sector, it's clear that even a traditional industrial area is developing into a hub for smart production, with companies controlling industrial processes with real-time data, deploying drones for inspections, and developing robots for maintenance. And within the chemical sector, not only major players like Sabic, Yara, Aviko, and OCI Nitrogen are active, but also a rapidly growing group of scale-ups and startups focusing on bioethanol, green hydrogen, enzymatic pathways, and polymers with a low carbon footprint. Thanks to this mix of established names and young innovators, Moerdijk leads the rankings in both quality and quantity.
These recognitions have concrete benefits for the region and its surroundings. Innovative companies are attracting new suppliers and investors. Large chemical companies are investing in pilot plants for circular raw materials, while high-tech developers are expanding their R&D laboratories. This is creating new industrial buildings and gradually transforming existing industry into smart, sustainable production systems. At the same time, the demand for technical personnel is increasing rapidly: from operators and process technologists to data analysts and engineers. This has led educational institutions such as ROC West-Brabant, Avans University of Applied Sciences, and Eindhoven University of Technology to tailor their curricula to the real needs of businesses. This has led to the creation of new vocational training programs in industrial automation, higher professional education programs in sustainable process technology, and curricula in circular design. Companies also offer internships and traineeships, allowing pupils and students to gain practical experience and stay in the region.
Sustainability and social impact go hand in hand in Moerdijk. Innovations in green chemistry contribute to objectives like the European Green Deal and the Dutch Climate Tables, as more and more residual flows are reused and the environmental impact of heavy industry decreases. High-tech applications like predictive maintenance with IoT sensors reduce downtime and lower CO₂ emissions. At the same time, collaborative projects are emerging in Moerdijk around local solar farms and the construction of hydrogen infrastructure for heavy transport. These projects not only have a positive impact on the environment but also strengthen the region as a whole, as companies and knowledge institutions achieve shared objectives.
Moerdijk's location makes the region particularly attractive: as a hub between the Port of Rotterdam, the Zeeland chemical cluster, and the Western Port Area in North Brabant, logistics providers have direct connections here via rail, road, and the Hollandsch Diep waterway. Innovations we develop in Moerdijk strengthen the supply chain: residual flows are purchased by other companies, high-tech developers supply software solutions to multiple companies, and knowledge institutions conduct pilot projects for joint scaling up. This creates an ecosystem of value creation from which all links in the supply chain benefit.
As a collaboration platform, NXT Moerdijk plays a central role in this ecosystem. Together with more than fifty chemical companies, logistics partners, educational institutions, and government agencies, we strive for sustainable growth and a healthy labor market. www.nxtmoerdijk.nl, and through our app, entrepreneurs and job seekers can find up-to-date data on vacancies, R&D projects, innovation partners, and supply chain initiatives. This dashboard shows, by theme, exactly how many companies are active in circular processes, high-tech solutions, and chemical innovations, and which partnerships already exist. This transparency allows education and businesses to respond immediately to shortages or growth opportunities: if a company wants to develop something related to circular plastics, it immediately sees which knowledge institutions and suppliers in the region are participating.
For talent development and educational and business partnerships, NXT Moerdijk facilitates practical programs, guest lectures, and assignments. Companies use the platform to recruit targeted talent from the region, and students flow into a network from day one, where employers, training providers, and industry organizations collaborate. In addition, industry organizations like Kenteq and FME organize training programs to train career changers and retraining students in fields like chemistry, logistics, and ICT. This not only creates a solid pipeline of new professionals but also provides opportunities for the continued development of existing employees.
The combination of a strong innovation position and intensive collaboration not only delivers results for Moerdijk itself, but also offers opportunities for the entire province of North Brabant and beyond. Start-ups like Blue Plastics B.V. and ALTEQO Renewable Chemistry gain direct access to the local chemical industry in our region, while emerging high-tech developers like Kind Technologies and FMW Fijnmechanica benefit from shared testing facilities and a broad network of potential customers. At the same time, the demand for technically skilled personnel is leading to new training opportunities in surrounding municipalities such as Bergen op Zoom, Roosendaal, and Dordrecht.
Moerdijk shares the benefits of innovations across municipal boundaries. Municipalities such as Waalwijk, Oost Gelre, and Winterswijk, which score highly on circular innovations, work closely with Moerdijk in regional partnerships. This results in concentrated knowledge clusters and joint subsidy opportunities for circular and high-tech projects. As a result, smaller municipalities also benefit; they can leverage Moerdijk's infrastructure and networks, resulting in stronger economic and social results for the entire region.
Moreover, NXT Moerdijk directly promotes a sustainable labor market through database-based matching, targeted training programs, and practical internships. By carefully matching supply and demand in technology, logistics, and process technology, educational levels seamlessly align with employers' needs. This creates a continuous learning pathway, in which vocational students, career changers, and experienced professionals have the opportunity to further develop their skills. Companies find suitable personnel more quickly, and migrants or career changers gain a clear view of a career path. This ensures stability in the labor market and prevents excessive staff turnover.
In short, Moerdijk is much more than a traditional industrial area: it's a vibrant, data-driven ecosystem where the circular economy, high-tech, and green chemistry reinforce each other. Our top-10 rankings in the Innovatiespotter rankings demonstrate that our combined strengths are truly delivering results. For businesses and government agencies, these positions represent opportunities to jointly stimulate new business activity while simultaneously achieving ambitious sustainability goals.
Whether you're developing a circular prototype, scaling up a high-tech solution, or investing in biobased chemistry, in Moerdijk you'll find the right partners, facilities, and talent to accelerate your business. Discover all the initiatives and opportunities on our activity calendar and contribute to sustainable growth and employment in our region.
