The Netherlands is getting its own AI factory. In Luxembourg, it was announced that the European organisation EuroHPC JU is granting funding for the realisation of this large-scale facility in Groningen. The AI factory will be a centre of expertise, data hub and AI supercomputer that offers researchers, companies and public organisations easy access to unprecedented computing power.
The initiative is a collaboration between the Dutch AI Factory Foundation, SURF, TNO, the Dutch AI Coalition (AIC4NL) and Samenwerking Noord, with support from several ministries and Nij Begun. This summer, initiators Willem Jonker (AIC4NL), Stephanie Klein Nagelvoort-Schuit and Wiro Niessen (UMCG) stated that this is essential in order to be less dependent on technological superpowers such as the US and China. Thanks to contributions from these parties and European co-financing, a total budget of €200 million is now available. The AI factory will start in 2026 and should be fully operational in 2027.
Engine for digital and social innovation
The AI factory offers space for experiments with applications in areas such as healthcare, agriculture, energy and security. Companies will have access to secure data storage and a supercomputer with enormous computing power. The investment is a collaboration between the government, Nij Begun, the Groningen/North Drenthe region and European partners.
The new facility will enable the responsible development of AI models and algorithms, with an eye for public values, privacy and ethics. Start-ups, SMEs, scientists and educational institutions will have access to the necessary infrastructure and expertise to test and scale up new applications.
According to the initiators, the AI factory will boost innovation, employment and technological independence. Sectors such as healthcare, mobility and security will benefit from faster data processing, advanced analytics and AI solutions that contribute to more efficient and people-oriented processes.
European cooperation
The application for the AI factory was submitted to EuroHPC JU, the European partnership that supports supercomputing and AI facilities. The Netherlands will receive €70 million from this programme, with additional contributions from the national government and the Groningen-Noord Drenthe region.
With the arrival of the AI factory, the Netherlands will become part of a European network of AI centres that exchange knowledge, infrastructure and innovations. This will strengthen the Netherlands' position as a leader in responsible AI, based on European values and scientific strength.
Six new AI factories in Europe
Alongside the Netherlands, Czechia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Spain will establish new AI-optimised systems within their own AI Factories, further strengthening Europe’s growing AI infrastructure. The Spanish AI Factory will feature an experimental platform designed to develop and test cutting-edge AI models and applications, while fostering collaboration across Europe.
Each AI Factory will serve as a national one-stop hub, providing European AI start-ups, SMEs, and researchers with end-to-end support, from preparing AI-ready data to accessing AI-optimised high-performance computing (HPC) resources, specialised training, and advanced technical expertise.
