Last week, a jury of eight experts selected thirteen organizations to compete for the three prizes of the ‘The Hague Innovator Awards 2026’. Names such as Seepje, Droppie, and Naïf are among the winners of previous editions.
Stimulating innovation and entrepreneurship
The Hague Innovators Awards, an initiative of ImpactCity (Municipality of The Hague), encourages entrepreneurs who contribute to societal progress and a strong Hague economy with innovative ideas. The selection process considered, among other things, innovation capacity, the feasibility and scalability of the business model, and the extent to which it solves a societal issue in The Hague and beyond.
The nominees of 2026
These are the nominated startups and scale-ups eligible for a The Hague Innovator Award:
- AgroCCS – Develops seed bulbs for more effective nature restoration in challenging locations.
- CupHub – Makes menstrual cups practical and hygienic to use in public restrooms.
- Climate Savers – Helps consumers gain daily insight into their personal CO₂ emissions.
- Khakoob – Develops prefabricated clay panels for sustainable and circular high-rise buildings.
- MOVROBOTICS – Automates underwater inspections with maritime robots and advanced image analysis.
- Turing Europe – Verified digital diplomas, identities, and certificates securely and across borders.
- NinetyNine Agency – Increase the visibility of talent with a disability in media.
- KiCo – Accelerates the growth of innovative food entrepreneurs with facilities and networks.
And these are the five nominated student entrepreneurs who are eligible for The Hague Student Innovator Award:
- Acceptnc.space – Connects city dwellers through location-based, anonymous voice stories about emotions and experiences.
- FairKamer – Makes housing allocation fairer with objective, transparent, and discrimination-free selection.
- Legumia – Develops innovative legume products that make healthy eating simpler and more appealing.
- myfoodtrade – Connects local food producers directly with consumers via digital sales and delivery.
- Core Solutions – Helps people with limited hand function independently remove medicines from blister packs.
A jury has been assembled for both categories. The juries consist of experts from Rabobank, Stichting DOEN, DRK Foundation, InnovationQuarter, Tuincentrum Ockenburg, Social Impact Fonds, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, and ImpactCity. Additionally, there is a third prize to be won; everyone can cast a vote for the winner of the audience award.
Announcement of finalists
The nominees go through a substantive program aimed at the further development and growth of their organization. At the end of the program, the nominees submit a final plan of action and pitch the plan to the jury during the Schaal Je Impact event on November 10 in The Hague. The winners receive cash prizes ranging from 2,500 to 15,000 euros.
Alderman Richard de Mos is enthusiastic about presenting the awards for this twelfth edition: “Entrepreneurs are indispensable for a strong and future-proof city. With The Hague Innovators Awards, we shine a spotlight on innovative Hague entrepreneurs who, with guts, creativity, and perseverance, are building economic growth, new jobs, and impactful solutions. ”
Read more about The Hague Innovators here and keep an eye on ImpactCity’s LinkedIn page for the latest news.
About ImpactCity –www.impactcity.nl
ImpactCity is one of Europe’s leading ecosystems for organizations that combine ‘doing good and doing business’. Through ImpactCity, the Municipality of The Hague facilitates entrepreneurs and other impact makers with innovative solutions for starting and scaling up their businesses.
Text & images: Municipality of The Hague, Department of Economy