Startup Liaison Officers: a bridge to success?

Since 2019, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has appointed so-called Startup Liaison Officers (SLOs) at six embassies and consulates. They are intended to support the internationalisation of Dutch start-ups and scale-ups. In addition, they also promote the Dutch start-up and scale-up ecosystem internationally, enhancing its international attractiveness (to companies, talent, financiers, etc.).

To provide a more precise picture of the initial experiences with the SLO role, Dialogic has conducted a midterm evaluation on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This evaluation addresses three main questions: what value does the SLO role add, what are any potential bottlenecks, and how can this value potentially be increased?

Based on our analyses, the overall conclusion is that the specific focus on the internationalisation of Dutch start-ups and scale-ups, in view of the future earning capacity of the Netherlands, is justified. Compared to competing countries, efforts in terms of budget and manpower in the Netherlands are still modest. Although the SLOs are still in their early stages and have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, they seem to be fulfilling a useful role in the internationalisation of Dutch start-ups and scale-ups, as well as promoting the Dutch start-up and scale-up ecosystem internationally. The essence of the role - though differently implemented at each post - is to inform and connect with key players in the local ecosystem. The target group appreciates the services provided.

Our main recommendation is to continue the specific focus on key posts relevant to internationalising start-ups and scale-ups. We recommend completing the experiment with the six SLOs at the very least and allowing another 2-3 years before deciding whether to institutionalise the SLO role or not.

Interested in learning more about this evaluation? Contact Pim den Hertog or download the full report here.