Innovation Consultant (Dutch) - Industrial & Digital Tech

Catalyze Group; Amsterdam; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

27 vacation days

8% holiday allowance

Pension plan

Lease bike plan

Job summary

Catalyze Group seeks an Innovation Consultant to guide technology-driven firms from breakthrough ideas to market impact. You’ll shape development, commercialisation and funding roadmaps, challenge assumptions, and lead client engagements with founders, researchers and executives.

Join a collaborative team focused on Industrial & Digital Technologies, Life Sciences & Health, and Green & Sustainable Innovations, with hybrid working, a strong benefits package, and clear career growth.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in engineering, applied sciences, computer science, industrial design, technology and innovation management, business innovation or another relevant field.
• At least 3 years of relevant experience in a commercial, advisory, or client-facing role.
• Proven understanding of technology development, product development, commercialization, innovation strategy, technology transfer, R&D management or related advisory work within the field of IDT.
• Native-level Dutch and professional fluency in English.
• Strong affinity with technology-driven start-ups, scale-ups, research organisations and innovation ecosystems.
• The ability to lead projects independently, manage stakeholders and provide clients with clear direction.

Responsibilities

• Assess where an innovation stands and translate complex ambitions into a clear route forward.
• Develop technology, product, validation, commercialisation and funding roadmaps.
• Explore market potential, value propositions, business models and routes to scale.
• Connect strategic choices across technology development, financing, partnerships and market entry.
• Lead client projects independently from scoping and kick-off through delivery and follow-up.
• Guide founders, scientific leaders and innovation teams through strategic decisions.
• Challenge assumptions, create structure and provide direction when the path ahead is not yet clear.
• Translate complex technical information into clear narratives, business cases and strategic recommendations.
• Develop high-quality strategic documents and, where relevant, funding or grant proposals.

Skills

Project leadership

Strategic consulting

Analytical thinking

Storytelling

Communication skills

Dutch and English fluency

Education

Master's degree or PhD

Job description

Shape the road from breakthrough technology to market impact!

Complex technologies do not reach the market on their own. They need a clear development path, a compelling business case, the right funding strategy and strong decisions along the way.

At Catalyze, we help ambitious technology companies, founders and research organisations turn complex innovations into actionable strategies and scalable opportunities. We are looking for a strategic Innovation Consultant with a strong affinity for technology-driven businesses to strengthen and grow our Industrial & Digital Technologies practice.

You will become a trusted strategic partner to clients: understanding where their innovation stands, challenging assumptions, shaping development and commercialisation roadmaps, and helping them move from technical ambition to real-world impact.

You do not need to be the technical specialist in the room. You do need to understand technology-driven innovation, ask the right questions and help clients turn technical ambition into a clear development, commercialisation and funding roadmap.

About Catalyze

Catalyze Group helps innovators turn breakthrough ideas into real-world impact. We specialise in Life Sciences & Health, Green & Sustainable Innovations and Industrial & Digital Technologies.

For more than 20 years, we have supported entrepreneurs, researchers and organisations in securing grants and financing, developing innovation and business strategies, and creating societal impact. To date, we have helped raise more than EUR 2 billion in funding and built a global network of more than 6,000 innovation projects and partners.

In addition to our consultancy activities, Catalyze Group consists of Catalyze Capital, our investment fund, and Grantific, an AI-powered platform that supports the full grant process.

What will you do?

• Assess where an innovation stands and translate complex ambitions into a clear route forward.
• Develop technology, product, validation, commercialisation and funding roadmaps.
• Explore market potential, value propositions, business models and routes to scale.
• Connect strategic choices across technology development, financing, partnerships and market entry.
• Lead client projects independently from scoping and kick-off through delivery and follow-up.
• Guide founders, scientific leaders and innovation teams through strategic decisions.
• Challenge assumptions, create structure and provide direction when the path ahead is not yet clear.
• Translate complex technical information into clear narratives, business cases and strategic recommendations.
• Develop high-quality strategic documents and, where relevant, funding or grant proposals.

Commercial growth & strategic partnerships

• Build trusted, long-term client relationships by understanding the broader innovation journey.
• Spot new opportunities and identify valuable next steps beyond the immediate assignment.
• Help turn individual projects into broader strategic partnerships.
• Contribute to the growth, visibility and proposition development of Catalyze's IDT practice.

The technologies you may work with

Our clients work across a broad range of Industrial & Digital Technologies, including:

• Digital technologies & AI
• Advanced manufacturing
• Advanced materials
• Robotics
• Photonics
• Semiconductors
• Space and Defense

You do not need to be a familiar in all of these field/ What matters is your curiosity, your ability to understand complex innovations quickly and your drive to help them reach the market.

Who are we looking for?

You are intellectually curious, commercially aware and comfortable stepping into unfamiliar technologies. You quickly identify what matters, ask sharp questions and turn complexity into a clear strategic story.

You are not waiting for someone else to set the direction. You take ownership, lead client conversations and help people make decisions. At the same time, you know how to listen, build trust and adapt your advice to founders, researchers, executives and other stakeholders.

You are motivated by more than completing an assignment. You want to understand the client's broader ambition, create lasting value and help groundbreaking innovations reach the market.

What do you bring?

• A Master's degree or PhD in engineering, applied sciences, computer science, industrial design, technology and innovation management, business innovation or another relevant field.
• At least 3 years of relevant experience in a commercial, advisory, or client-facing role. We are primarily looking for a medior profile, but strong candidates may be considered at Associate, Consultant or Senior Consultant level depending on their background and experience.
• Proven understanding of technology development, product development, commercialisation, innovation strategy, technology transfer, R&D management or related advisory work within the field of IDT.
• A strong affinity with technology-driven start-ups, scale-ups, research organisations and innovation ecosystems.
• The ability to lead projects independently, manage stakeholders and provide clients with clear direction.
• Strong analytical, conceptual and critical-thinking skills.
• Excellent writing, storytelling and communication skills.
• Commercial awareness and the ability to identify follow-up opportunities and build long-term client relationships.
• An entrepreneurial, proactive and energetic mindset.
• Native-level Dutch and professional fluency in English.
• Experience with public funding, grant proposals or business proposals is an advantage
• Work directly with ambitious founders, researchers and technology leaders on innovations that can make a real difference.
• Combine strategy, technology, business and financing in one role.
• Help build and grow our Industrial & Digital Technologies practice.
• Learn across a wide range of emerging technologies, markets and business models.
• Join a collaborative, entrepreneurial organisation that values independence, trust, growth and impact.
• Benefit from a clear career path, learning and development opportunities, performance-based bonus, hybrid working and a strong benefits package.

What we offer?

• Permanent position after successful temporary appointment.
• Learning & development opportunities to build skills and grow within the role.
• Performance-based bonus.
• Hybrid working structure with 2-3 days at the office.
• 27 vacation days, 8% holiday allowance, commuting allowance, pension plan, and lease bike plan.
• Healthy office lunches, vibrant social events, and an open, supportive culture.
• The opportunity to work with passionate colleagues in a collaborative, entrepreneurial environment.
• Direct exposure to groundbreaking innovations that truly make a difference.

Help us shape the road from breakthrough technology to market impact.