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Ready for business in an inspiring environment? Thanks to its outstanding logistical position, its strong representation

of premier sectors and the underlying knowledge infrastructure, Zwolle Area offers the ideal infrastructure for

growth. This makes Zwolle Area the place for innovative entrepreneurs, successful SMEs and independent

professionals. Living, working and recreation in perfect balance make this a happening region full of endless

opportunities for entrepreneurs. A central location, delightful environment, superb educational facilities

and the manifold knowledge networks ensure an exciting and inspiring location for innovation and pioneering

entrepreneurship. As one of the strongest and most dynamic growth regions in the Netherlands, Zwolle Area presents

you with the space to develop in any direction or manner you choose.

Zwolle Area possesses an ideal infrastructure for growth.

Are you ready for business in Zwolle Area?

Growth  

22,8 billion

685.731

339.550

73 %

The growth region of the Netherlands (Growth: 3.3%)

Gross Regional Product

inhabitants

jobs

family-run companies

Key facts

Zwartwaterland

Meppel

Staphorst

Westerveld

Noordoostpolder

Steenwijkerland

Urk

Dronten

ElburgOldebroek

Kampen

Hattem

Heerde

Olst-Wijhe

Raalte

ZwolleDalfsen

Ommen

De Wolden

Hoogeveen

Hardenberg

WHAT WE DO

AMBITION

Zwolle Area aspires to become the 4th

economic top region in the Netherlands

Joint agenda

The joint vision of entrepreneurs, governments and knowledge and educational

establishments, translated into five challenges. We work from the heart of the

flower: the economy. Adopting this as a starting point, we focus on the other

four challenges A joint ‘New Agenda’ confirms the unique, close way of working

together in Zwolle Area.

N o r thS e a

E urop e

ZWOLLE AREA

Economic Location in the

Netherlands

On the wide shoulders of family-run enterprises Ample thriving family-run businesses

underpin Zwolle Area’s entrepreneurial

success. Together they form the connecting

power and indispensable driver of our

economy. These successful SMEs are

deeply rooted and committed to our

region and its inhabitants. This is expressed

in the hands-on collaboration between

government, professionals, entrepreneurs

and educational establishments, making

certain that everyone profits from potential

future growth.

Powerful engine in view of innovation and pioneering entrepreneurshipZwolle Area’s global firsts! From the most

sustainable IKEA and the world’s first cycle

path made of recycled plastics to wehkamp’s

automated e-commerce distribution centre,

the planet’s largest. Zwolle Area is an

attractive and sustainable business location

for multinationals, SMEs and independent

professionals. Together they ensure the

kind of powerful dynamics that create

a great deal of employment.

PlasticsPlastics go circular – Plastics get smart

The Dutch plastics sector is highly concentrated in Zwolle Area.

New smart products, processes and services create added value

and are safer, more reliable and more energy-efficient. A direct

contribution to the efficient use of raw materials is provided by

sensor technology. This technology reconfigures entire chains.

The Polymer Science Park is the perfect industrial breeding

ground for plastics technology, coatings and 3D printing,

assisting companies with knowledge and facilities.

There is no other location in the Netherlands where science

and business systematically work hand in hand to develop

the recycling of plastics.

Experimental development and industrial research takes place

in the open environment of the Polymer Science Park, where

new sustainable plastic products are developed and tested.

The Polymer Science Park is the only one within the ‘Plastics

go circular’ programmes in the Netherlands operating an

experimental recycling facility: Future Proof Polymers.

Demonstration projects also perform innovative applications

within the ‘Plastics get smart’ programmes, based on a

combination of plastics, sensors and robotics. These activities

take place in collaboration with the University of Twente and

Wageningen University & Research Centre, part of the robust

High-Tech sector in the east of the Netherlands.

In the spotlight

Kennispoort’s Agri&Food innovation team supports entrepreneurs,

coaches start-ups and contributes to the development of the knowledge

required to develop this key sector further.

HealthLearning and working together on tomorrow’s care

As care is changing fast, innovation in care is vital to maintain the

healthcare system. With the Isala, the Netherlands’ largest premier

clinical hospital, and the various educational establishments

(Windesheim and Viaa Universities of Applied Sciences, Deltion College

and Landstede intermediate vocational education centres) Zwolle Area

cultivates an innovative climate in which entrepreneurs can test

their innovations in practice. For example, numerous educational

establishments, care institutes and companies involved in care

technology, together with various governmental bodies, have

collectively set up the Care Training Centre, keeping Zwolle Area

informed of all the latest healthcare developments.

The Health Innovation Park is the key player in state-of-the-art

innovation for care, knowledge and entrepreneurship. The innovation

process between care providers and entrepreneurs is harmonised

optimally, ensuring these pioneering ideas are translated into

groundbreaking products or services.

With the Health Innovation Park as its base, Inhealth-ICT delivers digital

development power to facilitate virtual treatment and diagnostics,

remote information, data sharing and opportunities for living at

home for longer.

Zwolle Area: the place for flourishing activities

The place that takes entrepreneurs to the next level.

Are you ready for business in Zwolle Area?

E-commerce Each talent contributes

Zwolle Area boasts an extensive e-commerce sector with

a unique range of companies. These companies operate both

nationally and internationally. Good examples include

De Nieuwe Zaak, IQ Media, Yourhosting and wehkamp. Some 32

regional e-commerce companies, 5 educational establishments,

Kennispoort Regio Zwolle, the Province of Overijssel, the

Province of Flevoland and the 21 local councils in Zwolle Area

all collaborate in the E-commerce Top Centre, with the common

goal of becoming the e-commerce region in the Netherlands.

ICT in general and e-commerce in particular are companies’

main conduit towards innovation. Educational establishments

develop and offer education in the area of e-commerce. Jointly

they make every endeavour to supply and retain well-educated

and highly skilled individuals.

Agri&FoodDistinctive food innovation

Agri&Food is a significant sector in Zwolle Area, focusing on the

circular-economic future of the Agri&Food market, as well as on

sustainable chains and finding solutions for energy issues and

new forms of collaboration. With the Emmeloord ‘world potato

city’, together with Europe’s largest vertical farm in Dronten,

there is little surprise that the entire world is looking

at what our region has to offer. And then of course there is

Green East, the region’s research and innovation centre geared

to realising the circular economy for the Agri&Food sector.

The region’s strength is expressed mainly in the ample small

examples of applied innovation: entrepreneurs finding solutions

to tomorrow’s questions.

Innovation in Zwolle Area The future is SMART

From SMART Industry to SMART Farming and SMART Mobility; the future revolves

around digitisation, robotisation and smart use of the wealth of new data that these

processes yield. The small start-ups as well as the larger recognised companies in Zwolle

Area are surprisingly well ahead of the ‘smart’ curve. A couple of good examples include

Scania, ITM, Maan Group and Itter. Zwolle Area is extremely well-positioned to benefit

from ‘smart’ developments. Smart Industry opportunities are quickly recognised here,

due to the region’s strong high-tech manufacturing industry and progressive ambitions.

Kennispoort is the ultimate knowledge gateway and network when it comes to

innovation and novel entrepreneurship. Kennispoort concentrates its activities on

the Agri & Food and E-Commerce sectors, with themes such as Internationalisation,

Start-Ups, Smart Industry and SME & Entrepreneurship. This facilitates Kennispoort’s

contribution to (new) forms of collaboration between enterprises, education, research

and government. Here you will find large-scale sharing of knowledge and experience,

focused on developing new products, services and future employment.

Premier sectors including Plastics and Health are stimulated by the PSP and HIP

clusters at the Polymer Science Park and the Health Innovation Park. These premium

work locations have developed to become (industrial) breeding grounds: places which

clearly stimulate and encourage innovation.

Another key theme the region’s sectors turn the spotlight on is circular economics.

This makes perfect sense, as Zwolle Area harbours the potential to become the

Netherlands’ number one circular economic region. Zwolle Area is looking ahead to

a new, sustainable economic future, demonstrating that this is no mere vague, woolly

concept, but rather a tangible economy that can create real jobs and profit for a wealth

of companies.

Indisputably GREAT economic region

A pioneering position in the Netherlands’

applied knowledge economy, combined with

a high standard of work ethics and an

economic growth percentage that tops

the national average year on year.

First-class infrastructure

With its central location and excellent

accessibility, the region links the west and

the north east of the Netherlands to form

a convenient gateway to Europe. This is the

perfect operational base to do both national

and international business from.

Strongly developed distribution sector

A focus on strengthening mobility and the

logistical sector. Entrepreneurs work together

and pool their strengths in the Logistical

Network. Together with the Port of Zwolle

port authority, they are also active in national

and international markets. Zwolle Area

demonstrates extensive development in the

area of international goods flows.

Innovative entrepreneurship

Bringing out the best in ourselves. together.

There are three key points: Award, Develop

and Negate Borders. Human factors in the

entrepreneurial spirit that make all the

difference nationally, guaranteeing

the region’s success.

Investing in people

Talent has ample room to develop in

Zwolle Area. Zwolle Area’s intermediate

vocational and higher professional education

facilities are recognised for both their quality

and pioneering innovation. Businesses, schools

and the jointly cooperating local councils focus

on life-long development.

Today’s challenging business climate demands

a great place to be successful: Zwolle Area.

A small selection of companies already

enjoying the distinct advantages: DSM,

Wavin, wehkamp, Abbott, Tielbeke,

Wärtsilä, Staay Food Group, Scania, TNT,

IKEA, Kuehne + Nagel.

WHY ZWOLLE AREA?