Here you’ll find the original article in German language https://www.gtai.de/de/trade/niederlande/branchen/niederlande-sind-top-standort-fuer-kuenstliche-intelligenz-819056. The translation was done by using Deepl.com. An AI based translation tool.
The digital infrastructure in the Netherlands is excellent thanks to continuous high investment in recent years. The expansion continues. The network operator KPN expects all Dutch fixed network connections to be broadband standard by 2030 at the latest. In the Network Readiness Index, the Netherlands is even in first place worldwide in 2021 (Germany: 8th place). This ranking analyses the location conditions for the information and communication technology (ICT) sector in 130 countries. Important indicators include internet accessibility and usage, the education and digital affinity of the population, digital administration and the number of AI publications.
State provides over one billion euros in funding
AI plays a central role in the Dutch government’s digitalisation strategy, which was updated in 2021. The coalition is focussing heavily on public-private partnerships. The government also wants to further develop the legal regulations on the use of algorithms, particularly with regard to data protection.
In 2019, the Netherlands adopted a special AI action plan and established an AI coalition with 17 working groups. Over 400 companies and public institutions are participating in this. The government has also launched the AiNed funding programme. This will run from 2021 to 2027 and will provide a total of 1.05 billion euros for AI projects during this period. Together with private donors, the programme aims to raise a total investment sum of 2.1 billion euros.
AI university chairs in many parts of the country
The Netherlands already has a dense AI research landscape in many parts of the country. The most important regional centre is the greater Amsterdam area. One reason for this is that three universities offer AI degree programmes there: The University of Amsterdam, the University of Applied Sciences and the Free University. There is also an AI innovation centre in the Dutch capital.
The South Holland region also has a dense AI network. The Erasmus University Rotterdam, Delft University of Technology and Leiden University conduct research and teaching in this field. The research institutions in South Holland are working together, not least to generate larger amounts of data. One focus is on the logistics sector, as the region is a continental hub with Europe’s largest port of Rotterdam.
AI is also widely used in the important and rapidly digitalising Dutch agricultural sector. The internationally renowned Wageningen University of Agriculture is a leader in research here. Students can also obtain AI degrees in other Dutch provinces, for example at the universities in Utrecht, Groningen and Tilburg and at Eindhoven University of Technology.
A lively start-up scene is developing
In recent years, many start-ups specialising in the application of AI have also been founded around these research institutions. The ai.nl portal lists a total of 130 start-ups and scale-ups in March 2022. In addition to the logistics and agricultural sectors, these also focus on other sectors.
According to ai.nl, most Dutch companies with an AI focus are developing eHealth applications. This is followed by the areas of sustainability and smart cities, general analytical programming, human resources, applications for industry and customer service. Other areas include automation, robotics, the fintech sector, e-commerce, security technology, marketing and work processes in companies.
