Rotterdam, Netherlands (17 November 2022) 

Exactly one year after the start of the initiative in 2021, the first venue of the Climate Campus of Platform Zero has opened its doors in the Merwe4Haven (M4H). The opening was celebrated in presence of various startups and companies from the Rotterdam energy & maritime ecosystem. The program consisted of presentations by Saskia Mureau, director digital & logistics at Port of Rotterdam and Tim Houter, co-founder of the mobility scale-up Hardt Hyperloop.

As of today, startups from the maritime and energy sector with climate technologies can find a flexible office space at Platform Zero. By connecting startups and multinationals in these sectors, the initiative aims to be a catalyst for growth companies in climate tech; both locally and internationally. Platform Zero wants to support entrepreneurs in their international positioning and in raising capital. The founders of Platform Zero see today’s opening only as a first step towards a larger campus and aspires to grow internationally. During the opening, a video from Portugal was shown, demonstrating the mutual ambition for a campus near Lisbon.

Rotterdam is known across the globe for its port, although the emissions of the industry are increasingly scrutinised. However, Platform Zero sees the proximity of large industrial players in the maritime and energy cluster as an opportunity because they can contribute to solving climate problems on an industrial scale. Startups and scale-ups benefit enormously from testing a technology at a larger scale, while the industry can innovate faster with new, sustainable technologies from scaleups. “The fast growing early-stage companies in our portfolio deserve an international platform and are among the top in the world. By working together with leading companies and funds, we can help make the Dutch economy more sustainable, work together on solutions to the climate crisis and create new jobs.” said initiator Auke Ferwerda.

The transformation in the M4H area is in full swing. The area has developed into a place for ambitious entrepreneurs in the energy transition. Not only did Platform Zero open its doors this week, but the sustainable mobility scale-up Hardt Hyperloop has also recently settled in the area. Mare Straetmans, co-founder of Platform Zero: “This is a beautiful part of Rotterdam where you can feel the old, raw character of the city and see the containers being towed from the port. you also see the latest technologies, like the ones from Hardt Hyperloop. All any innovator can dream of.”