‘The AI factory offers the North the opportunity to claim the development'

Will there be an AI factory in Groningen? If it is up to Nij Begun and the government, yes. Professor of New Business & ICT Rix Groenboom welcomes the arrival of a supercomputer in Groningen. "The AI factory offers the North the opportunity to claim the development, just like North Brabant is doing with the semiconductor industry."

Text: Jan Willem Kerssies

The AI factory is to become a powerful innovation hub where entrepreneurs, researchers and governments build the techniques and share knowledge. Companies will be experimenting with AI applications and make use a supercomputer with enormous computing power, which is yet to be developed. The factory is meant to become a breeding ground for innovations. From smart agriculture to better healthcare, and from energy networks to security and defence. The Nij Begun programme has already made a commitment of sixty million euros for the realisation. The government added another seventy million euros. This funding has made it possible to submit an application to Europe, which may also make 70 million euros available. The expectation is that the expertise team will work in the former Niemeijer factory. It is not yet known where the new supercomputer will be located.
 
Groenboom sheds light on the possible arrival of the AI factory and the importance of the presence of this infrastructure in the North and for Hanze.
 
What is your first reaction to the arrival of the AI factory in Groningen?
"It's a  great development. It would be brilliant if we, as a university of applied sciences, could contribute to the economic return of the amenities."
 
What is the added value of the factory for the North?
"I see AI as the new industrial revolution. It is good to see that the North wants to be part of this. I hope that the factory will work like a magnet and that it will attract other developments to the factory. Moreover, the factory will give the North the opportunity to claim the development of artificial intelligence, just like North Brabant is doing with the semiconductor industry."

What do you think the focus of the AI factory should be on?
"We mainly want to get a grip on sovereignty. We are now far too dependent on countries like China and America. We will distinguish ourselves by using artificial intelligence in a responsible way. We have many governmental services in the North, such as DUO and RDW, that are dealing with large amounts of data. If you train AI models with such data, we have to make sure that this is done in a responsible way."
 
What role would you like to play in the AI factory?
"I would like to convert data models into economic activity and work with new startups and scale-ups. I myself come from the world of responsible software development. We as the North have to become good at that. In addition, I would like to use AI for engineering issues for, for example, the construction or an improved design of energy networks."

Why is the arrival of the AI factory important for Hanze?  
Students can ensure economic returns by working with AI models. This way, we can support the connection of SMEs for the use of the AI factory. I see a role for us in developing new applications through the use of AI. In addition, the AI factory provides a positive image. I think it will become more attractive for domestic and foreign talent to come and study in Groningen.  netalso hope that we can develop specific AI-related courses, such as a minor, and research questions through the arrival of the AI factory."
 
In 10 years: how does the world view the AI factory in Groningen?
"I hope that the AI factory has formed the basis of a number of AI models that are known beyond national borders, just as we all know ChatGPT now. It would be great if the Northern Netherlands benefit from the wave of AI innovation. I really wish that for the region. I think it's a daring investment that Nij Begun is making and I hope that their guts will be rewarded. I also hope that large companies will be able to find their way North through the arrival of the AI factory."
 
Are there any pitfalls that can prevent the AI factory from becoming a success?
"The availability of the right amount of data to train models can be a bottleneck. If you want the business community in the North to have access to AI models, you need large datasets to train these models. It must make sense for companies to use the AI factory. To train models, you need a bit more than, for example, just the patient database of one healthcare institution. Another pitfall is the presence of sufficient talent to get the maximum return from the amenities. It is a challenge for us as the Hanze to remain attractive to students. I also feel personally responsible for that."

Further reading:
A good old chat about AI tools
Professor Rix Groenboom interviews ChatGPT