''This is fantastic news. With the arrival of the AI factory in the Netherlands, we are making this pioneering technology readily available to research, government and industry.''
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Netherlands gets AI factory, European funding awarded
The application was submitted by a consortium of Stichting Nederlandse AIfabriek, SURF, TNO, the Dutch AI Coalition (AIC4NL) and Samenwerking Noord, with the cooperation of several ministries and Nij Begun. Thanks to financial contributions from Nij Begun and the ministries, a total of €200 million is now available for the development of the AI factory. It is expected to be fully operational by 2027.
Huge computing power and pioneering AI
The AI Factory - an expertise centre, data facility and AI supercomputer - will responsibly provide low-threshold access to enormous computing power and pioneering AI initiatives. It will also allow for the ecosystem collaboration that startups, SMEs, researchers, the education sector and government need to develop AI models and systems.
Stronger knowledge and innovation position
The AI factory stimulates the creation of new jobs, accelerates innovations and automates processes in sectors such as healthcare, mobility and security - both regionally and nationally. At the same time, it strengthens the Netherlands' knowledge and innovation position, attracts talent and reduces dependence on US and Chinese technology platforms. This will allow us to develop AI applications based on our own public values and keep expertise in the Netherlands. The expertise centre will start in 2026, with the supercomputer expected to be running at full capacity in 2027.
European application
EuroHPC JU is a European partnership that supports supercomputing and AI facilities with funding, among other things. The consortium has submitted a €70 million funding application to EuroHPC with support from the national government. The AI factory will thus become part of a European network of AI factories. The government itself contributes €70 million and from the Nij Begun funds comes another €60 million from Groningen/North Drenthe. This brings the total investment to €200 million.
The acquisition and operation of the EuroHPC supercomputer is jointly funded by the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking, through the European Union's Digital Europe programme, and by the partner countries that have co-funded the supercomputer.