The Dutch government announced it will invest €70 million ($82 million) in the construction of a new artificial intelligence (AI) plant in the northern city of Groningen, aiming to establish the Netherlands as a major European player in AI research and development.
As reported by Reuters, the facility will be managed by a consortium of Dutch organizations and is intended to serve as a cutting-edge research hub for AI technologies with applications across sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, energy, and defense.
The government also said it has applied for an additional €70 million in co-financing from the European Union, which, if approved, would bring the total public investment to at least €200 million—factoring in a planned €60 million contribution from the Groningen regional administration.
In a statement on the government’s website, Dutch Economic Affairs Minister Vincent Karremans emphasized the strategic importance of the project. “Those who do not develop the technology themselves are dependent on others,” he said. “That is why we are fully committed to a strong, Dutch AI infrastructure.”
The move aligns with broader European efforts to reduce dependence on foreign technology providers—particularly amid growing concerns that reliance on companies from an increasingly isolationist United States could pose long-term economic and security risks to the continent.
According to the government, construction is expected to begin soon, with the AI plant set to be commissioned in 2026 and fully operational by early 2027.
“This is not a luxury, but a pure necessity to maintain our digital independence and competitiveness,” Karremans added.
The facility is expected to house high-performance computing infrastructure and support both public and private research, strengthening Europe’s role in global AI innovation and helping the Netherlands retain sovereignty over critical digital technologies.
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