AI Factory in Groningen | UG sees opportunities for collaboration

The arrival of an AI Factory in Groningen is one step closer. The Dutch government has pledged €70 million, in addition to the €60 million previously allocated from the Nij Begun Economic Agenda. A final decision now depends on European funding and approval, which is expected later this year.

The factory, planned for the IT hub in the former Niemeyer building on Paterswoldseweg, will house both a centre of expertise and a supercomputer. It will serve as a collaborative space for businesses, government bodies and knowledge institutions working on advanced AI applications.

UG and UMCG contribute

The UG and UMCG support the initiative. In April, the UG highlighted the potential for collaboration in the field of logistics expertise. UMCG emphasised the need for a dedicated AI facility as a driver of innovation in healthcare. UG President Jouke de Vries is enthusiastic:
'Bringing the AI Factory to Groningen would be a tremendous boost for research, innovation, and talent development in the Northern Netherlands. As RUG, we are proud of our contribution to this groundbreaking initiative. The collaboration between knowledge institutions has proven to be a key success factor.'

According to UMCG Dean Wiro Niessen, the AI Factory represents a major leap forward in the field of prevention: 'AI can support preventive care, for example by analysing data from Lifelines, a long-term study that has been monitoring 167,000 people for nearly twenty years. Using AI, we can gain insights from this data into why someone develops a particular disease — and whether, and how, we might be able to prevent it. Moreover, by analysing data from our hospitals, the AI Factory will help us better predict which treatment is most effective for each individual patient.”

The AI Factory aligns with the region’s strong digital infrastructure and is expected to stimulate talent development, job creation, and regional economic growth. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026, with the facility expected to be operational by 2027.