Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC) today finally announced the opening of their first foreign department in Rotterdam. The US startup facilitator will be housed in the characteristic Groot Handelsgebouw next to Central Station.
13.000 square meters of office space must be rented out to over 500 startups in the next 5 years. These companies must have an innovative and scalable business model and at least 1 million euro of annual revenue.
After considering multiple cities and locations in the Netherlands over the last months, CIC chose Rotterdam as its base. “A modern city with a great work mentality, strong university and good infrastructure with a new train station and international harbour”, says CIC director Tim Rowe. (Marcus Fernhout is the managing director of CIC Rotterdam)
The City of Rotterdam sees CIC as “the missing link in their innovation ecosystem” that will boost local employment. The American incubator may also facilitate US companies that would like to cross the ocean and set foot in Europe (Holland!).
The agreement with the Groot Handelsgebouw was signed on Monday after some time of deliberation with the shareholders of the building, who were initially on the hunt for a takeover. (link in Dutch).
Program
CIC has set up a successful startup program (1999), accelerating over 800 startups, in Cambridge US (close to Boston and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology) as well as St. Louis. Successful startups that were part of the program include Google Android and Hubspot.
A similar program is set up here in The Netherlands: with flexible offices, co-working spaces and events in support of entrepreneurship, amongst which the Venture Café Foundation. Dutch doors will be opened in the beginning of 2016.
CIC US promises interested entrepreneurs “stocked kitchens, conference rooms, internet, printing & copying, phones, high-end furniture, operational & technical support a concierge and much more.” Depending on the needs of the entrepreneur, US prices range from 350 to 1.200 dollars per person/month. CIC expects to announce Dutch prices next week.