Groningen gets AI factory

The European High Performance Computing (EuroHPC) Joint Undertaking has awarded 70 million euros in funding for the construction of a Dutch AI factory in Groningen. An AI factory is an advanced AI supercomputer, embedded in a center of excellence where companies and researchers collaborate on new models and applications. With 60 million euros from the Groningen/North Drenthe program Nij Begun and 70 million from various Dutch ministries, the total funding amounts to 200 million euros, the largest ever investment in a public digital research and innovation facility in the Netherlands.

With the AI factory, one of six joining the thirteen previously chosen sites, the Netherlands gains an extremely powerful tool to drive AI developments. It combines a supercomputer with a high-quality data infrastructure and associated datasets, supported by a team of specialized experts. Around it, a dynamic ecosystem of startups, scale-ups, companies, governments and knowledge institutions is to emerge, working together to innovate and apply AI in practice. The center of expertise will start in 2026, with the supercomputer running at full capacity in 2027. The factory is an initiative of AI Coalition for the Netherlands (AIC4NL), together with consortium partners Surf, TNO and Samenwerking Noord.

According to AIC4NL, the arrival of the facility strengthens the knowledge and innovation position of the Netherlands and stimulates the creation of new jobs, innovations and automation in strategic sectors such as healthcare, agriculture and defense. The factory attracts talent, promotes collaboration between companies and knowledge institutions and reduces dependence on American and Chinese technology platforms. It makes it possible to develop and apply AI responsibly, fully in line with European regulations on privacy, ownership, security, transparency and accountability. Thus, applications can be developed based on European values, sensitive data remains within the Netherlands and accumulated expertise is sustainably preserved.