The AI factory officially launched in Groningen
First step toward AI Fair Tech
The official starting signal for the AI factory was given in Groningen on Thursday, October 16, 2025. In the historic old tobacco factory Niemeyer, administrators, researchers and entrepreneurs gathered to mark the opening of this new collaboration between government, knowledge institutions and industry.
The meeting was opened by Nienke Baars, director of National Program Groningen, with contributions from Minister of Economic Affairs Vincent Karremans, State Secretary of Defense Gijs Tuinman, Mayor of Groningen Roelien Kamminga, Vice President Board of Directors UMCG Stephanie Klein Nagelvoort, CEO LegalMike Martijn Doornbosch and quartermaster Jakob Klompien. Speaking on behalf of the consortium were Ron Augustus (SURF), Marc Zegveld (TNO), Willem Jonker (AI Coalition 4 NL) and Fred Hassert (Samenwerking Noord).
The AI Factory is funded by European, national and regional funds and is part of the European network of AI Factories. The AI Factory enables AI to be developed and applied in a responsible manner, fully in line with European regulations around privacy, ownership, security, transparency and accountability. Thus, AI applications can be developed based on European values and sensitive data remains within the Netherlands.
"With the AI factory, we are taking an important step toward the development of AI Fair Tech: fair and responsible AI built on Dutch knowledge, values and cooperation." said Willem Jonker, board chairman of the AI Coalition for the Netherlands.
Minister Vincent Karremans emphasized the strategic importance of the plant for the Dutch economy: "Computing power will be the new gold of tomorrow's economy. And with this we have made Groningen a little bit more golden."
Defense Secretary Gijs Tuinman also underscored the broader importance: "The Dutch AI factory is an investment in our freedom."
From the UMCG, vice president Stephanie Klein Nagelvoort explained how the factory will contribute to innovations in healthcare: "AI is a gamechanger for healthcare. With the AI factory, we can turn the many health data we have in Groningen - including through LifeLines - into innovations that, for example, allow us to detect diseases earlier."
The business community also sees great opportunities. Martijn Doornbos, CEO of LegalMike, said, "With the AI factory, we can accelerate the provision of a reliable AI-driven alternative to dispute resolution and make law more accessible to all."
The AI factory will be built in Groningen, further developing the region into a major center for AI innovation. The center of expertise will start in 2026, with the supercomputer running at full capacity in 2027.
