Dutch IT Channel – EIT Digital & AiNed: The Netherlands can capitalize on the promise of generative AI

The report offers concrete tools to utilize this potential by investing more in AI startups, promoting European cooperation and improving access to High Performance Computing Infrastructure. Dozens of international AI experts contributed to the research.

Generative AI tools, such as the chatbot ChatGPT launched at the end of 2022, have now become everyday tools for many Dutch people. The impact of generative AI on the labor market and the Gross Domestic Product (GNP) is significant, which offers opportunities for the Netherlands. To take advantage of these opportunities, the researchers argue that the Netherlands must make a stand in a European context, given that AI is geopolitical. Only at EU level can the Netherlands take a strong position and even become a frontrunner.

Recommendations

Although the Netherlands is already in a good starting position for this, researchers argue that more is needed to further capitalize on that potential. There are some general AI initiatives in the Netherlands, such as the Dutch AI Coalition, the National Growth Fund program AiNed and the GPT-NL project. However, there is little targeted commitment to generative AI, and financial support from Dutch industry in collaborative initiatives is limited. To strengthen the Dutch position, more investment is required from both the government and industry in a public-private partnership. In addition, more capital injections are needed for AI startups, given the Netherlands’ strong startup ecosystem, but with insufficient resources for international growth, especially for startups in generative AI.

Supercomputer

Access to High Performance Computing Infrastructure (HPCI) is a problem for Dutch companies, the report says. HPCI involves advanced computers that can process large amounts of data quickly and efficiently. It is needed for tasks such as simulations, data analysis and AI applications. A national generative AI testing facility should be established in collaboration with industry to support development and experimentation.

Although Dutch R&D instruments are well developed, there is also a need for improved innovation instruments, especially in the digital field. The government must rethink its innovation approach to create strong positions in emerging digital domains, such as generative AI, with a focus on talent retention, better investment alignment and results-oriented financing. The report offers policymakers valuable strategic considerations for the Netherlands and Europe, with a focus on the most effective applications of generative AI.

Prof. Dr. Willem Jonker, chairman of the AiNed board: “This report not only shows the opportunities of AI for the Netherlands, but also indicates how we can concretely capitalize on those opportunities with a detailed path for active investments in generative AI innovations. If we do this properly and in a coordinated manner, If we tackle this within a European context, we can even take the lead within Europe and capitalize on the potential for AI in our economy and labor market, because estimates show that AI can increase the Gross Domestic Product (GNP) in our country by nine percent.”

Interested?

For more information, see the report ‘Generative AI: Europe’s Quest for Regulation and Industry Leadership’, developed by EIT Digital, the driver of the ICT sector in Europe, and AiNed.