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 will provide space for experimentation in key sectors including healthcare, agriculture, energy and security. Organisations will gain access to secure data storage and a supercomputer with exceptional computing power. By bringing together government, regional and European partners, the new facility will enable the responsible development of AI models and algorithms with a strong focus on public values, privacy and ethics.
Start-ups, SMEs, scientists and educational institutions will have access to the infrastructure and expertise needed to test and scale up innovative applications. According to the initiators, the AI Factory will drive innovation, create new employment opportunities and strengthen Europe’s technological independence.
European cooperation
The application for the Dutch AI Factory was submitted to EuroHPC JU, the European partnership that coordinates supercomputing and AI infrastructures across the continent. The Netherlands will receive €70 million in European funding, complemented by additional contributions from the national government and the Groningen–North Drenthe region.
With this new facility, the Netherlands becomes part of a growing European network of AI centres that exchange knowledge, infrastructure and expertise. This will strengthen the country’s position as a leader in responsible and people-centred AI development, grounded in European values and scientific excellence.
Connected to Europe’s high-performance computing ecosystem
The Dutch AI Factory in Groningen will connect to Europe’s broader high-performance computing network, including the JUPITER supercomputer at Forschungszentrum Jülich in Germany, currently the most powerful supercomputer in Europe and part of the EuroHPC infrastructure. This integration ensures that AI research in the Netherlands can leverage Europe’s collective computing power while contributing to responsible and transparent innovation.
Six new AI factories in Europe
Alongside the Netherlands, Czechia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Spain will establish new AI-optimised systems within their own national AI Factories, further strengthening Europe’s distributed AI infrastructure. The Spanish AI Factory will feature an experimental platform designed to develop and test advanced AI models and applications, while fostering cross-border 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 resources, specialised training and advanced technical expertise.
Together, these initiatives mark a decisive step toward a responsible, interoperable and human-centred AI future for Europe.
AI and high-performance computing will also be central themes during the ICT&health World Conference 2026 in Maastricht, where international experts, policymakers and innovators will explore how Europe can lead the responsible use of AI in healthcare.
