Finance:Datenna

From HandWiki
Datenna
TypePrivate (B.V.)
IndustryData intelligence
FoundedMay 2017; 9 years ago (2017-05) in Eindhoven, Netherlands
Founders
  • Jaap van Etten
  • Edward Brinkmann
Headquarters
Eindhoven
,
Netherlands
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
  • Jaap van Etten (CEO)
  • Edward Brinkmann (Chief Innovation Officer)
  • Inge Bryan (Chair)
Websitedatenna.com

Datenna is a Dutch data intelligence company focused on China-related corporate and government data. It is headquartered in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

The company aggregates Chinese-language primary sources — including corporate registries, procurement records, patent filings, and government publications — to map ownership structures and state connections of Chinese entities.[1][2] Its clients include government agencies, defence organizations, and compliance and corporate users. Datenna also conducts research on European acquisitions by Chinese investors.[1]

History

Datenna was founded in 2017 by Jaap van Etten and Edward Brinkmann. Van Etten had previously worked as a Dutch diplomat, serving as a Science and Technology Attaché at the Dutch embassy in Beijing before launching the company.[1][2]

Datenna received a soft loan from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, part of the Dutch government, in 2017.[3]

In 2020, Datenna research showed that the "Chinese government has a stake in 53% of Swiss companies acquired by Chinese firms since 2010." The Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) in the Swiss acquisitions "is either part of the Chinese government, or the Chinese government has a substantial stake in the acquiring company but not a controlling one."[4][5][6][7][8]

In February 2025, Alex Younger, former Chief of the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), joined the company's advisory board.[9]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Bermingham, Finbarr (2024-03-31). "The Dutch software company that could shape EU-China relations for decades" (in en). https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3257108/dutch-software-company-could-shape-eu-china-relations-decades. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "About Us". https://datenna.com/about. 
  3. ↑ "Automated Chinese Industry Data". Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland. 2017. https://www.rvo.nl/subsidies-regelingen/projecten/automated-chinese-industry-data. 
  4. ↑ Vlaskamp, Marije (12 October 2020). "De lange arm van Beijing: Europese bedrijven in Chinese staatshanden, zonder dat ze het weten" (in nl). de Volkskrant. DPG Media B.V.. https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-achtergrond/de-lange-arm-van-beijing-europese-bedrijven-in-chinese-staatshanden-zonder-dat-ze-het-weten~bf282028/. 
  5. ↑ "More than half of Chinese acquisitions in Switzerland have state fingerprint". swissinfo.ch. 24 November 2020. https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/more-than-half-of-chinese-acquisitions-in-switzerland-have-state-fingerprint/46181748. 
  6. ↑ Zaugg, Julie (23 November 2020). "L'ombre de Pékin plane sur les investissements chinois en Suisse". Le Temps. https://www.letemps.ch/economie/lombre-pekin-plane-investissements-chinois-suisse. 
  7. ↑ Brooke, James (2 October 2020). "Friday, October 2". Ukraine Media Group. https://ubn.news/friday-october-2/. 
  8. ↑ Wiersma, Jelte (1 October 2020). "Nederlands onderzoek: Chinese staatsbedrijven kopen in het geheim Europese bedrijven" (in nl). ONE Business bv / New Skool Media. https://www.ewmagazine.nl/buitenland/achtergrond/2020/10/nederlands-onderzoek-chinese-staatsbedrijven-kopen-in-het-geheim-europese-bedrijven-780061/. 
  9. ↑ "Datenna Welcomes Sir Alex Younger, Former Chief of MI6, as Advisory Board Member" (in en). 2025-02-05. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/datenna-welcomes-sir-alex-younger-former-chief-of-mi6-as-advisory-board-member-302366735.html.