East is the region in the Netherlands where innovations are being worked on for a better, more sustainable and healthier life. Making Artificial Intelligence (AI) applicable plays an important role in this. With the start of the East Netherlands AI hub, this region is committed to showcasing and connecting leading companies and knowledge and public institutions that drive developments around AI.
In order to realise this AI hub, The Economic Board and Twente Board have received the so-called kick-start funding from the Netherlands AI Coalition, with which they can contribute to the ambitions of the Dutch digitisation strategy. With the formation of the hub, consortia are being strengthened and the AINED report ‘Versnellen, Vergroten en Verbinden’ and the Action Agenda of the Netherlands AI Coalition are being followed up.
The hub focuses on the development of AI applications in the areas of Health, Smart Industry, Food and Energy: themes that have a positive impact on people’s lives. More than 350 companies are actively involved in the development of AI around these themes. More than 500 scientists and PhD’ers are researching the possibilities of AI at the regional knowledge institutes. The AI hub will be the showcase for these developments and will help companies, knowledge institutes and governments to find the cooperation.
Strengthening the AI ecosystem
Both in the province of Overijssel, where the Twente region focuses on high-tech and the manufacturing industry, and the province of Gelderland, where Arnhem – Nijmegen – Wageningen focuses on the Lifeport and AI for Life initiatives, the AI ecosystem contributes to a favourable business climate for new businesses, connects researchers to the region and offers opportunities to secure additional funding for research and development.
The hub is an initiative of The Economic Board and Twente Board, to which Radboud University, Radboud Umc, University of Twente, Wageningen University & Research and East NL are affiliated. Companies like NXP, Nedap, Thales and Demcon also joined. Universities of applied sciences HAN and Saxion and smaller companies in the East of the Netherlands also play an important role.
AI hub South Netherlands
In addition to the start of the East Netherlands AI hub, the South Netherland AI hub was recently launched as a network organization. They also act as a joint point of contact for companies and knowledge institutions in South Holland that want to work with Artificial Intelligence (AI). Click here for more information.
