The financing of the AI factory in the city of Groningen has been completed. The European Union is investing around 70 million euros in the project, bringing the total investment to more than 200 million euros.
It previously became clear that 60 million is available from the Nij Begun Economic Agenda – created as compensation for the earthquake damage in Groningen and Northern Drenthe. The cabinet provided a subsidy of 70 million.
The AI Factory must consist of a center of expertise in the field of artificial intelligence. In that center, companies, knowledge institutions and governments can get started with AI applications. There will also be a supercomputer that specializes in training advanced models that work with AI.
The expertise center will be located in the former Niemeyer tobacco factory on Paterswoldseweg in Groningen. The arrival of an AI factory and the required supercomputer has been a wish of Groningen and North Drenthe for some time. According to the plans, regional parties should be given a preferential position in developing and implementing AI applications.
The facility should become part of a European network of AI factories. Europe hopes to become less dependent on tech giants from the United States and China in the future. The Groningen facility is expected to be fully active in 2027.