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

Almere positions Innovally as a driver of digital and high-tech innovation in Flevoland and the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area

Almere, 22 January 2026 – Green Innovation HUB (GIH) is getting a new name and a broader mission. From today, the Almere-based innovation platform will continue as Innovally. In addition to bringing together businesses, government bodies, knowledge institutions and talent to accelerate digital and technological innovations, the renewed platform will place extra emphasis on AI and robotics, among other areas.

With the new name, the focus broadens from exclusively green innovation to the full spectrum of digital and high-tech developments. This includes robotics, AI, semiconductor technology, defence innovation and smart manufacturing. The strong foundation of GIH – infrastructure, partnerships and the emphasis on sustainability and societal value – remains intact but is being broadened and scaled up to align with Almere's ambitions as a leading high-tech hotspot and campus region.

"Almere has the space, the talent and the drive to grow further into a high-tech region of significance," said Alderman Maaike Veeningen. "We are fully committed to the growth of future-oriented employment and knowledge development. Innovally will become a springboard for businesses that want to be part of this."

The new identity was unveiled at Floor Almere. Over 50 guests attended the launch. Alderman Maaike Veeningen opened with a keynote, and Khadija Imaalitane (Programme Director High Tech Almere) emphasised the importance of consistent industrial policy and regional collaboration.

Almere commits to high-tech

The broadened scope aligns with Almere's growing tech ambitions. The Netherlands' youngest major city is attracting an increasing number of high-tech companies. Semiconductor company ASM International, which has been based in the city for over twenty years, is investing hundreds of millions of euros in a new headquarters on the high-tech campus at Weerwater. Together with Amsterdam, the region forms the largest AI talent cluster in the Netherlands. Innovally will become a key connector within this ecosystem.

"Innovally represents a dynamic ecosystem where encounter, connection and acceleration take centre stage," said Innovally Project Director Danny Frietman. "We bring together the right people, technologies and resources so that innovations move more quickly from idea to practice and contribute to employment, economic growth and solutions for major societal challenges."

Innovally targets start-ups and scale-ups seeking access to customers and capital, established companies looking to pursue open innovation, knowledge institutions and government bodies requiring testing grounds, and professionals and talent. Through Innovally, they can access 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, Programme Director High Tech Almere. "By further building on the existing synergy between innovative businesses, 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, start-ups and test locations such as Hortus and Pampus."

Springboard for the region

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

The board is being strengthened with a steering committee comprising the Municipality of Almere, Province of Flevoland and VodafoneZiggo, and an advisory council including High Tech NL, VDL, Antea Group, BTG, UPAlmere! and Windesheim. Work is underway on a funding base for 2027–2030 with public and private parties. With Innovally, Almere gains a future-proof innovation label that is recognisable both nationally and internationally.