Ghent Ranks 4th in Europe, 10th Globally in Tech Ranking

The Flemish city of Ghent has been ranked as the 4th largest tech city in Europe and 10th worldwide in Dealroom’s Global Tech Ecosystem Index 2026, when adjusted for population size. The ranking marks a dramatic leap of nine places globally and one place in Europe compared to the previous year, placing the city of roughly 265,000 inhabitants ahead of New York (11th), Munich (19th), and Amsterdam (20th).

Only Cambridge (UK), London, and Stockholm rank higher than Ghent in Europe, according to VRT NWS, which first reported the news.

A Remarkable Year-Over-Year Leap

In 2025, Ghent was ranked 19th worldwide in Dealroom’s ‘Density Leader’ category and 5th in the European Union. Just one year later, the city has surged to 10th globally and 4th in Europe — a trajectory that city officials describe as extraordinary.

“This is an incredible achievement and something to be incredibly proud of,” said Sofie Bracke, city councillor for Voor Gent, as reported by VRT NWS.

Dealroom’s annual Tech Ecosystem Index evaluates 325 cities from 77 countries. The ‘Density Leader’ ranking — which measures innovation output relative to population — is particularly significant for smaller cities, allowing them to compete with much larger metropolises.

What’s Driving Ghent’s Success?

Ghent’s rise is no accident. The city has cultivated a dense ecosystem of startups, scale-ups, research institutions, and established multinationals that together create a self-reinforcing cycle of innovation.

920 companies, €61 billion in value. Ghent’s startups and scale-ups now have a combined enterprise value of €61 billion, accounting for nearly 70% of the entire Flemish market in this sector, according to VRT NWS.

Four unicorns call Ghent home. The city hosts three established unicorns (companies valued at over €1 billion) — Lighthouse (hotel software), Deliverect (food delivery software), and team.blue (digital services) — plus a fourth, Aikido (cybersecurity), which reached unicorn status in January 2026.

University spin-offs as an engine. Ghent University has created over 150 spin-offs, with more than 100 based in the city. These represent 5.9% of total startup enterprise value and support over 3,500 jobs, as noted in the City of Ghent’s 2024 ecosystem report.

Four Pillars of Tech

Ghent’s tech ecosystem spans four major sectors, providing resilience that single-sector cities lack:

1. Digitech/SaaS — Software companies like Spotable (construction quotes) and Spatial Dynamics (VR-based recruitment), alongside unicorns Lighthouse, Deliverect, and team.blue.
2. Biotech/Healthtech — BIO-INX (3D-printed tissue), B-COS (plant vaccines), and established players like Sanofi (formerly Ablynx).
3. Cleantech/Green Chemistry — Amphistar (biosurfactants from waste frying oil) and Bright Energy (smart battery systems for construction).
4. Advanced Manufacturing/Photonics — Morrow (electronic adaptive glasses with liquid crystal technology), backed by Zeiss and Tokai.

“Smaller cities with knowledge centers are very important for the innovations that are making the difference now,” said Yoram Wijngaarde, founder of Dealroom, as reported by VRT NWS. “Ghent is pioneering with AI in the pharmaceutical industry.”

The Wintercircus Effect

A key catalyst has been the Wintercircus, a renovated 19th-century circus building in Ghent’s city center that opened as a dedicated tech hub. It houses startups and scale-ups in a collaborative environment that accelerates networking and mentorship.

Julie Dumoulin, CEO of Spotable, told VRT NWS that her company had to move out of the Wintercircus because it outgrew the space. “We believe we can become a unicorn ourselves,” she said.

Foreign Investment Boom

The international community is taking notice. In 2025, Ghent attracted over €500 million in foreign direct investment across 41 projects, creating approximately 1,800 new jobs — three-quarters of them in tech and innovation. International companies with R&D centers in Ghent now include BASF, Sanofi, Daikin, Nvidia, Tinder, and Legend Biotech.

“It is definitely a new driver of employment in the city,” Bracke said. “We have always had a strong industrial base, and biotech is also historically well-established. In recent years, the new digital technology companies have provided a huge economic boost.”

Challenges Ahead

Despite the impressive trajectory, Ghent faces headwinds. As startups scale, finding affordable expansion space in the historic city center is becoming difficult. Competing with larger European tech hubs for senior talent remains a challenge, and approximately 90% of venture capital still comes from Belgian investors.

Yet the momentum is undeniable. Ghent’s combined startup ecosystem value has nearly doubled from €35 billion in mid-2024 to €61 billion today. With four unicorns, a world-class university, and a supportive local government, the city is proving that small-to-medium cities can compete on the global tech stage.

What’s Next?

As Dealroom’s Wijngaarde noted, smaller cities with knowledge centers are increasingly where breakthrough innovations emerge. Ghent’s model — combining university research, physical innovation hubs, diverse sector strengths, and proactive government support — offers a blueprint for other European cities seeking to build their own tech ecosystems.

For Ghent itself, the question is whether it can sustain this trajectory and break into the global top 5. If the past year’s leap from 19th to 10th is any indication, the answer may well be yes.