The AI Coalition for the Netherlands (AIC4NL) will soon launch the second round of the AiNed Learning Communities. Starting May 8, 2026*, entrepreneurs, employees, researchers, and public organizations can submit a short proposal to participate in this public-private partnership.
What is an AiNed Learning Community?
An AiNed Learning Community is a multi-year strategic partnership between companies, knowledge institutions, and civil society organizations. Together, they work to enhance AI knowledge and skills among employees and students, with a particular focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Case-based learning is at the heart of a Learning Community. Employees and students from the participating organizations work together on real-world cases. By developing and testing practical AI solutions, they jointly build AI knowledge and skills. The collaboration also leads to the development of practical learning modules so that the acquired AI knowledge and skills can be applied more broadly. This enables more employees and students to be trained in AI within their respective fields of application.
The Learning Communities are primarily aimed at innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that want to actively learn how to work with and learn about AI techniques and AI models. By collaborating with other companies and knowledge institutions, they collectively gain knowledge and experience with AI applications for their products, services, and business processes.
Participants gain access to AI knowledge, tools, and a strong network that supports further growth and development. As such, an AiNed Learning Community serves as a scalable knowledge booster within a specific field of application, where collaborative learning takes center stage.
What does a Learning Community look like?
A Learning Community consists of various private and public partners who collaborate on AI-related issues. There are core partners and co-partners.
Key Partners
- form the solid foundation of the Learning Community;
- have committed to the initiative for three years;
- together determine the substantive direction within the scope of application.
Co-partners
- play a flexible role;
- raise practical questions and gain targeted AI knowledge by working on a case study.
Partners work together on real-world cases for 6 to 9 months. Each case focuses on a specific AI challenge that participants will tackle together to gain knowledge.
Once a case is closed, co-partners can:
- stop once sufficient knowledge has been acquired;
- start a new case;
- or further develop the case, for example in an AiNed Innovation Lab or ELSA Lab.
What is the maximum budget that can be requested?
An AiNed Learning Community can apply for up to €2,500,000 in AiNed funding over a three-year period. Within this budget, €1,200,000 in funding is available for businesses and civil society organizations. On average, businesses and civil society organizations receive 40% AiNed funding toward their total eligible costs, such as personnel or equipment.
The remaining costs (totaling at least €1,800,000 per Learning Community) are covered by the businesses and civil society organizations themselves, for example through:
- knowledge, time, and staff contributions (in-kind);
- a financial contribution (in cash).
In total, there is room to award grants to up to six Learning Communities.
What is the focus?
AiNed Learning Communities focus on collaborative learning to address practical challenges where AI can contribute to solutions in the following sectors:
- Energy & Sustainability
- Mobility, Transportation & Logistics
- Technical Industry
- Health & Care
In the first round, five Learning Communities were selected. New initiatives must distinguish themselves from these, for example by focusing on different themes or AI technologies. Learning Communities that have already received funding from AiNed are not eligible for additional (follow-up) funding. A brief description of previously funded Learning Communities can be found on the AIC4NL website. As part of a collaborative approach, they will be integrated into the group of five existing Learning Communities.
A complete overview of the criteria used to evaluate proposals for a Learning Community will be available in the call for proposals, which will be published on the AIC4NL website on May 8, 2026*.
How to participate?
- To participate, start by submitting a short proposal to AIC4NL. The template for this will be available on the website on May 8, 2026*.
- Once you’ve registered, we’ll invite you to a co-creation session with other initiatives in the fall of 2026.
- Proposal deadline: July 17, 2026*
Haven’t found a partner yet, or need help with your application? No problem. AIC4NL is happy to help you find partners. The regional AI hubs and leaders from the four sectors mentioned above can assist you in forming a partnership. A list of contacts can be found on AI-Hubs.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please email: learningcommunities@aic4nl.nl
* Data is subject to change.
About AIC4NL
The AiNed Learning Communities program is part of the AI Coalition for the Netherlands (AIC4NL).
AIC4NL is working to ensure the strong and responsible development of AI in the Netherlands. We bring together companies, research institutions, government agencies, and civil society organizations to accelerate AI innovation and address societal challenges.
