Leading Progress — International from the Netherlands

We work with organisations
seeking to scale

Staying relevant in an ever faster-moving world is a growing challenge. It takes the right enablers — from innovative work behaviour to partnerships and scaling execution to investment decisions — moving in sync. That is what Novactum brings.

Our Focus How we work
NEW
InnovateSmart/Partnerships
InnovateSmart
/Partnerships by Mike Vermeer →
We invest. We take board seats. We build teams. We protect ROI. We create ecosystems.
NEW — 2025
InnovateSmart/Partnerships
InnovateSmart
/Partnerships

“In an era refined by rapid technological change and unseen global challenges, the power of collaboration has never been more decisive.”

by Mike Vermeer  ·  Novactum, 2025
Read more ↓
01 Philosophy

Want to speed up
innovation & transformation?

McKinsey research shows the #1 failure mode is not bad ideas — it's often the legacy that holds back the capability to build. The scarcity is in knowing how to scale. Novactum exists to close that gap.

Every scaling challenge can be viewed through multiple lenses. We bring expertise across all twelve — as investor, partner, operator, leader or advisor. Over more than two decades we have tackled these challenges hands-on, across hundreds of collaborations and billions in new business growth.

"The Netherlands has consistently ranked in the global top 10 most innovative countries. That is not a coincidence — collaboration is in the Dutch DNA, forged over centuries of fighting the water together. No single party could hold back the sea alone. That same instinct — pooling expertise, sharing risk, building together — is what makes Dutch innovation ecosystems among the most productive in the world."

Mike Vermeer — InnovateSmart/Partnerships, Novactum 2025
02 Investment & Partnerships Thesis

We understand Tech & AI changes
what's possible — and how to execute

You are building something with real potential — or steering an organisation that needs to move faster, smarter and further than before. Tech and AI are not just efficiency tools. Done right, they enable an entirely new generation of outcomes: solving problems that were too complex, filling needs that were hidden, creating breakthroughs that were simply not achievable before.

The bottleneck is rarely the idea. It is the capability to scale it. Established organisations have capital, customers, data and brand. What they often lack is knowing what, how and when to scale — technically, commercially, organisationally, and through the right partnerships. That is the gap Novactum was built to close. Two decades of hands-on experience, a European network and a toolbox built from practice — not theory.

Strategy
We co-define the growth thesis, prioritise markets and structure the path to scale — from day one.
Commercial Scale
We open doors, build commercial pipelines and accelerate revenue — through our own networks and the NICE and InnovateSmart ecosystems.
Team Development
We develop the innovation and transformation skills and mindset — at personal, team and organisational level — through INNDUCE.me, so the human capability matches the ambition.
Partnerships
We design, govern and activate the commercial partnerships that create structural advantage — applying the frameworks from InnovateSmart/Partnerships directly to our portfolio.

You have ambition. We add the architecture.

You have built something with a genuine edge — a product, a platform, a technology that can go further. What you need now is not just capital, but the strategic architecture and commercial execution that turns ambition into scale. We invest, take board positions and step in as operational partners — building the structures that make fast scaling sustainable and the competitive advantage permanent.

You see opportunity. We help you reach it first.

The market is moving and you know it. Hidden demand exists in places your current organisation does not yet reach. Real breakthroughs are available to those who move with intelligence and speed. We bring deep market intelligence from CREAX, NICE Collective and our European network to surface genuine opportunity — and then build the commercial pathways, partnerships and team capability needed to capture it before the competition does.

You need to move faster. We remove the friction.

Your organisation has the ambition and the resources. What slows you down is the gap between strategy and execution — unclear priorities, misaligned teams, underdeveloped partnerships. We step in as interim leaders, strategic advisors or NED board members to close that gap directly. Through INNDUCE.me we build the innovation mindset and capability at every level, so the organisation moves as fast as the opportunity demands.

You are investing. We protect and accelerate the return.

You have made or are making an investment in a venture or technology that requires more than governance to succeed. From exploration to execution — due diligence, scale-up strategy, team development and commercial activation — we work alongside investment firms as an operational partner from day one. We sit on boards, run diagnostics, build teams and open commercial doors. Our incentives are aligned with yours: outcomes, not activity.

You want better results. We build the engine.

Growth has plateaued, your value proposition needs sharpening, sustainability goals are not yet translating into commercial advantage. You know the potential is there — what is missing is the right engine to unlock it. We audit the current state through our Readiness Scans, define the path forward with precision, and stay involved to make sure the improvement holds. Better results are not a aspiration — they are a structured outcome.

You know collaboration is the edge. We build the ecosystem.

No single organisation can own every capability it needs to scale. The ventures and companies that win are those that build the right partnerships, alliances and ecosystems around their core. We design, structure and govern commercial partnerships that create durable competitive advantage — applying the frameworks from InnovateSmart/Partnerships directly. And through our European network, we connect organisations to the partners, co-investors and demand channels that make the ecosystem real.

03 Focus

Where Novactum
works alongside you

Scaling innovation requires the right know-how at the right moment — in strategy, investment, people and partnerships. Novactum brings all four, working alongside your organisation for as long as it takes to make progress stick.

01

Strategy & Tactics

We co-develop the growth thesis, sharpen priorities and help navigate what to do next — and in what order. Where needed, we take on Non-Executive Director, interim leadership or coaching roles, so the strategy has someone accountable for making it real.

02

Auditing & Steering

We invest alongside you, take board seats and provide trusted advisory. Our Readiness Scans give an honest picture of where you stand — on opportunity, risk and readiness — so decisions are grounded in reality, not optimism.

03

Developing People & Teams

Strategy only moves as fast as the people executing it. Through INNDUCE.me we work with your people — developing the innovation mindset, skills and team dynamics that make change possible and sustainable at every level of the organisation.

04

Building Partnerships & Ecosystems

We help you identify, structure and activate the commercial partnerships and networks that accelerate scale. Drawing on InnovateSmart/Partnerships and our European ecosystem, we connect you to the right collaborators — and help make those relationships produce results.

12 Enablers · 360°

12 Lenses to Scale Innovations & Transformation

These are the 12 enablers that influence, nurture and decide the success of innovation and transformation. Novactum understands which to use in each circumstance — for short-term results and longer-term direction. We make it stick.

Hover to enlarge · Click for Novactum's value proposition

01Startup Scaling 02Corporate Innovation 03Collaboration & Alliances 04Procurement-Led Scaling 05Investment & Venture 06Licensing & IP 07Market Entry & Expansion 08Acquisition & Integration 09Leadership & Capability 10Platform & Ecosystem 11Regulation & Policy 12Talent & Team Building NOVACTUM 12 Lenses scaling innovation & transformation 360°

Hover to enlarge a lens.
Click to see Novactum's value proposition.

Novactum · Leading Progress
04 Readiness Scans

The first filter in
every partnership.

Before Novactum commits capital, a board seat or executive bandwidth, we need clarity. Our Readiness Scans are structured diagnostics that reveal where a venture stands — on strategy, opportunity, risk and readiness — and chart the path forward.

WHAT SCANS DELIVER

Quick, clear insights for all partners — on where the opportunities and risks lie, and what short and longer-term steps to take. Powered by the InnovateSmart toolbox: built on experience that actually works, not theory.

20+
Years scaling innovation across Europe and globally
100s
Of collaborations with corporates, scale-ups, investors and research institutions
€4bn
Of new business growth derived from our hands-on commercial and partnership work
A
Innovation & Opportunity Scan

Where are the breakthrough opportunities? AI capability, market signals, hidden needs, competitive gaps. Surfaces low-hanging fruit and updates strategy.

B
Scale-Up Readiness Scan

Are you structured to scale fast? Commercial model, team quality, operations, risk map and velocity indicators assessed against investor expectations.

C
Investor Readiness Scan

Are you investable at your stated terms? Narrative coherence, financial model, team credibility and due diligence positioning reviewed through an investor lens.

D
Innovation Partnerships Audit

A structured 3-step programme to assess, align and activate your innovation partnerships — built on the InnovateSmart methodology and tested across two decades of real-world collaborations.

Step 01 — Assess

Partnership Landscape Audit

We map your current and potential partnerships against your strategic objectives. Where are the gaps? Which relationships are underperforming? Which opportunities are hidden in plain sight? You receive a clear, honest picture of your partnership landscape — with priorities ranked and quick wins identified.

Deliverable
Partnership Landscape Report · Priority Matrix · Quick Win Shortlist
Step 02 — Align

Partnership Strategy & Governance Design

We co-design the partnership strategy that fits your ambition and your current capacity. Governance structures, selection criteria, negotiation frameworks and success metrics — built to be practical, not just presentable. The result is a strategy your organisation can actually execute.

Deliverable
Partnership Strategy · Governance Framework · Partner Selection Criteria
Step 03 — Activate

Partnership Activation & Embedding

Strategy without execution is just intention. We support the first activation steps — introducing partners, facilitating the early conversations and embedding the partnership mindset in your teams through INNDUCE.me. We stay until it runs without us.

Deliverable
Activation Roadmap · Partner Introductions · Team Capability Programme

Powered by the InnovateSmart methodology · InnovateSmart/Partnerships, Mike Vermeer, Novactum 2025

Indicative investment from €3,500 · Delivered within 2–3 weeks

Request a Scan

Tell us where you are. We'll propose the right scan and schedule an intake call — no commitment required.

We respond within one business day. Your data is never shared.

05 Participations

Where we invest &
build

Novactum builds and operates its own platforms alongside direct and co-investments — each a vehicle for a distinct strategic thesis.

Innovation Platform
Founder · Author

InnovateSmart.nl

AI-powered innovation management platform. 13 pillars, suite of tools built on academic fundamentals, curated knowledge library and AI Opportunity Scanner. Partnerships is the first pillar — published as a book and gifted to new members.

innovatesmart.nl →
Expert Collective
Co-founder · Chair

NICE Collective

New Ingredient Collective Europe. A networked collective of senior food technology and ingredient specialists delivering advisory, scanning, and commercial matchmaking across the European ingredients sector.

nicecollective.eu →
Development Platform
Investor · NED

Innduce.me

An enabler for personal, team and organisational development on innovation and transformation skills and mindset. The 4T framework — Test, Train, Team Up, Transform — builds the human capability that makes strategies executable and change sustainable.

innduce.me →
06 References

A few of the organisations we have worked with:

06 The Founder

Mike Vermeer —
Founder & Principal

A seasoned executive, investor, and Thought Leader with deep roots in international business development through innovation and marketing, AI-enabled innovation scale-up, and commercial partnership strategy.

Innovation, Organisational Growth, (Digital) Transformation and New Business Executive at Multinationals and Boutique Advisory
Master of Marketing & MBA — top Dutch universities
Based in the Netherlands · Active across Europe
Available for Ad Interim, Non-Executive and Entrepreneurial roles
Author — InnovateSmart/Partnerships (2025)
Mike Vermeer
Mike Vermeer
Founder & Principal, Novactum
Connect on LinkedIn
Work with Mike

“The companies that win the next decade will be those that build true partnership capability — not as a tactic, but as a structural competence baked into how they operate.”

Mike Vermeer — InnovateSmart/Partnerships, 2025
07 Book & Insights

InnovateSmart
/Partnerships

The Essentials of Innovation Partnerships,
how to create Success and manage Risks.

“In an era refined by rapid technological change and unseen global challenges, the power of collaboration has never been more decisive.”

A comprehensive 271-page guide across 20 chapters — from defining innovation partnerships to navigating VUCA environments and ecosystem leadership. Built on decades of hands-on experience, an Executive MBA research foundation, and insights from academia and industry across Europe.

Partnerships is the first published pillar of the InnovateSmart innovation management platform. New members receive the book as a welcome gift. Featuring real-world cases from Heineken, Novo Nordisk, IKEA, Philips, Unilever, Stellantis, ServiceNow, ASML, Lamb Weston, Cosun and more.

79%
of CEOs agree companies must collaborate externally to drive innovation — PwC
5×
more likely to achieve significant results through collaborative innovation — WEF
50%
more likely to introduce successful new products via open innovation — HBR
35%
increase in innovation success for collaborative strategy — Deloitte
AuthorMike Vermeer MBA MM
PublisherNovactum, 2025
ISBN978-90-9052-6421
Pages271 · 20 Chapters · 15+ Cases
Platforminnovatesmart.nl
Request a copy →
InnovateSmart/Partnerships

Free Library

A selection of case studies and research insights from inside the book. Full library access is available to InnovateSmart members at innovatesmart.nl.

Case Study Chapter 12

ASML: Growth and Competitive Advantage by its Innovation Network

Founded in 1984 as a Philips spin-out, ASML became the global leader in photolithography equipment through a systematic evolution from bilateral partnerships to a full innovation ecosystem — rooted in the Brainport region of Eindhoven.

Read full case ↓

ASML's most significant early partnership was with Carl Zeiss AG, whose precision optics were critical to developing Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) lithography — enabling smaller, faster, more efficient microchips. Alongside this, VDL provided essential manufacturing components while Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) supplied a continuous pipeline of talent and research.

Former CTO Martin van den Brink championed the shift from isolated partnerships to an integrated Innovation Network — linking suppliers, customers, universities, and research institutions in a shared ecosystem. Major semiconductor customers including Intel, TSMC and Samsung became co-developers in the process.

Competitive outcomes: Technological leadership in EUV, high barriers to entry for competitors, deep two-way partner loyalty, and sustainable growth as the industry moves toward 5nm chips and below. ASML's case exemplifies how collaborative ecosystems can become the most durable form of competitive advantage.

Source: InnovateSmart/Partnerships, Mike Vermeer, Novactum 2025

Introduction Pages 11–15

Why Innovation Partnerships Are a Strategic Necessity

Innovation is no longer confined to internal R&D. In today's complex environment, it thrives in an ecosystem of collaboration — where diverse stakeholders co-create solutions that no single organisation could achieve alone.

Read more ↓

The pace of innovation adoption has compressed dramatically. Where the automobile took decades to reach mass adoption, AI-driven transformation unfolds in years. This acceleration makes the ability to collaborate — quickly, selectively, and with risk-awareness — a strategic necessity rather than an option.

Europe faces unique pressures: limited venture capital compared to the US and China, fragmented markets, and complex regulatory environments. Yet Europe's collaborative culture — rooted historically since the Middle Ages — is itself a structural advantage. Smaller organisations and economies can pool resources, share risk, and co-create value in ways larger, more bureaucratic economies cannot.

The book provides a stepwise framework: defining objectives, selecting partners, establishing governance, measuring outcomes, and scaling. Each chapter features real-world cases and actionable insights applicable immediately.

"InnovateSmart / Partnerships is not just a book — it is a leadership philosophy and a call to action for leaders and organisations to harness the power of collaboration in driving innovation and execute for a sustainable future together."

Mike M.A.J. Vermeer MBA MM — Breda, November 2025

Research Insights Foreword

The Evidence for Collaborative Innovation

Seven major research institutions — from PwC to Bain — converge on the same finding: organisations that collaborate consistently outperform those that innovate alone.

See all data ↓
79%PwC Global Innovation Surveyof CEOs agree companies must collaborate with external partners to drive innovation effectively.
50%Harvard Business Reviewmore likely to introduce successful new products when pursuing open innovation strategies.
+20%MIT Sloan Management Reviewhigher innovation success rate for firms leveraging external partnerships.
81%European Commissionof collaborative SMEs report product innovations vs 58% of non-collaborative firms.
5×World Economic Forummore likely to achieve significant business results through collaborative innovation.
+35%Deloitte Insightsincrease in innovation success rates for organisations pursuing collaborative strategies.
+30%Bain & Companyincrease in innovation productivity for companies engaging in partnerships and alliances.
Access full Insights at InnovateSmart.nl →
08 Connect

Start a conversation

The scarcity is not capital or ambition — it is knowing how to scale. If that resonates, we should talk. Whether you are building, investing, or leading an organisation that needs to move faster — we welcome the introduction.

Based in
Netherlands — Europe
Telephone
+31 (0)76 850 8080
Platform
innovatesmart.nl
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