Amsterdam named most innovative small city in 2023

Cities that are ‘punching above their weight’

Amsterdam has been named the world's most innovative small city according to 2ThinkNow’s latest Innovation Cities Index: Small 200. The Dutch capital beat out the likes of Tel Aviv, Basel, and Frankfurt to claim the top spot amongst cities with a population under 1 million.

The rankings utilise the same 162 indicators as the Innovation Cities Index, encompassing various aspects of the cities' innovation ecosystems. These measure areas such as startups, economic and social indicators, sustainability, walkability, bicycle friendliness, and transportation options.

Christopher Hire, Director of Data at 2ThinkNow explains the inclusion of a Small 200 index:

Amsterdam is a city with big ambitions

Amsterdam’s open business environment and forward-thinking mentality has made it a historical launchpad for innovative solutions, dating back to the debut of the world’s first car sharing scheme in the 1970’s. Supported by municipal initiatives and thriving academic and research institutions, the city has established a collaborative ecosystem where new ideas can take off.

Fostering the next wave of innovations

At this year’s TNW 2023 conference, Amsterdam showcased its continued commitment to fostering the next generation of innovators, featuring 12 homegrown startups making an impact. Selected from a pool of 100 applicants, these companies combine cutting-edge technology with a purpose-driven mission to put something good into the world. This exemplifies the city's proactive approach to supporting new solutions to today's challenges. 

Learn why fDi ranked Amsterdam as a top 2023 European City of the Future.