The second round of the AiNed Innovation Labs is coming up. It's an opportunity for innovative SMEs, startups, scale-ups, knowledge institutions, large corporations and social organizations to work together on AI solutions that will push the Netherlands forward.
What is an Innovation Lab?
An AiNed InnovationLab is a collaborative partnership where market needs, technology, and expertise converge. Short, focused innovation trajectories are used to develop new AI products, services, or methodologies. The goal is to accelerate the practical application of AI, resulting in demonstrable societal and economic benefits.
The AiNed Innovation Labs consist of core partners and co-partners. The core partners, often knowledge institutions and larger companies, form the foundation of the Innovation Lab. They safeguard the substantive knowledge and technology direction and ensure that it aligns well with regional, national, and international AI developments. They've committed themselves to the AiNed Innovation Lab for five years.
The core partners are supplemented by flexible co-partners (such as SMEs), who will be joining specific projects to address concrete issues. These are short-term projects (minimum of 6 months) driven by market demand related to a specific AI issue or application. Together, participants will work on a functional AI model, tool, or prototype. Upon completion, there is the option to continue in a new project or to withdraw once the goal has been achieved.
Who is an Innovation Lab for?
- For SMEs innovating with AI or developing AI
As an SME, you get direct access to knowledge, technology and a network of partners through the AiNed Innovation Lab. You work together with other companies and knowledge institutions on concrete AI solutions that fit your practice and market demand. You don't have to do everything on your own. You get support, share knowledge and benefit from AiNed funding. In short: a smart way to innovate faster, strengthen your competitive position and explore new markets. - For knowledge institutions that want to make impact with AI research
An AiNed Innovation Lab offers the opportunity to directly link AI research to societal and industrial challenges. You strengthen your network with innovative companies, increase the impact of research and accelerate valorization. Moreover, you position yourself as a pivot in regional and national AI ecosystems with structural collaborations and concrete results in practice. - For large enterprises that see AI market opportunities
Large enterprises play a leading role in scaling AI innovations and creating market opportunities. Participation in an AiNed Innovation Lab provides access to a dynamic network of SMEs, startups, scale-ups and researchers. In addition, you get access to early technology development that strengthens your chain. You can collaborate, bring in specific issues and build your innovation capacity at the same time. - For social organizations working on responsible AI
As a social organization, you can contribute to responsible technological innovations that make a difference in society through the AiNed Innovation Lab. By participating, you are involved in technological developments from the the very beginning and ensure that innovations align with public interests. In this way, you actively contribute to solutions that are not only technologically relevant, but also socially relevant.
What is the maximum budget that can be requested?
An AiNed Innovation Lab can apply for up to €3,500,000 in funding, of which at least €2,500,000 is intended for companies and civil society organizations.
Companies and civil society organizations receive on average 40% AiNed funding on the total of their eligible costs, such as personnel or equipment. The rest they contribute in the form of knowledge, time and effort (in-kind) or a financial contribution (in-cash).
What is the focus?
The second round focuses on current challenges in the sectors:
- Energy & Sustainability
- Technical Industry
- Health & Care
- Mobility, Transportation & Logistics
Four initiatives were selected in the first round AiNed InnovationLab. An overview of these can be found on our website. New AiNed InnovationLabs will focus on other themes or AI technologies within the sectors.
The full criteria will be published in the call for proposals, which will be available on our website soon. So keep a close eye on our channels.
How to participate?
Once the call for proposals is published on our website, you will be able to submit an abbreviated proposal through our website. Based on this, you will be invited to a co-creation session where you will work with other parties on a joint application. The deadline for submitting the abbreviated proposal is September 3, 2025.
For assistance in finding a suitable collaboration partner or forming a consortium, contact the AI hub in the relevant region. More information about the AI hubs can be found here.
Interested?
Are you interested in submitting an innovation track around a new AI product, service or methodology within an existing AiNed Innovation Lab? Or would you like more information about the new round? Contact us and send an email to innovatielabs@aic4nl.nl. We would love to think with you.
