Brainport Industries Campus (BIC) is researching the crucial role AI can play in the future of the manufacturing industry. Through smart organization, education, and knowledge sharing, companies can take advantage of AI’s opportunities. BIC acts as a catalyst in this regard, with industry, education, and innovation coming together to tackle the challenges of tomorrow.
To get a clearer picture of the scope of that goal, we talked to BIC residents Jan Klingen of Hexagon, Benno Beuting of Cordis Suite, John Blankendaal of Brainport Industries, Jos van der Wijst of BG Legal, and BIC director Erik Veurink. Together, they provide a sharp view of AI’s challenges and opportunities for companies in the Dutch high-tech ecosystem.
AI & BIC
AI offers many benefits in the manufacturing industry, from retaining knowledge to optimizing production processes. At Brainport Industries Campus, an integrated approach with stakeholder cooperation is being developed. By combining technology, education, and innovation, the manufacturing industry is prepared for a future in which AI plays a key role. This also involves keeping a close eye on the legal frameworks so companies can continue innovating without worry.
AI as a solution for knowledge retention
Jan Klingen kicks off the conversation by stating that the aging population and shortage of technical staff pose major challenges for the Dutch manufacturing industry. “The number of open vacancies exceeds the number of people available. AI can play a key role here by retaining knowledge and expertise from experienced employees and making it accessible to new generations.”
How that works? “You used to have the master-apprentice principle, where knowledge was always transferred personally,” Klingen adds. “With AI, we can capture the knowledge of the master and pass it on to the apprentice without them having to be present at the same time.” This makes it possible to absorb the outflow of knowledge through retirement or a change of jobs and bring new employees up to speed faster.
Automation of routine processes
A concrete example of how AI is being applied is in the software that controls measuring machines. “The software offers suggestions based on previous experience,” says Benno Beuting. “If an operator needs to measure a circle, the software can recommend how best to do it, based on thousands of previous measurements.” This allows less experienced operators to still deliver high-quality results.
Beuting emphasizes that AI does not take over everything, but serves as an assistant. “It is still up to the operator to make the choice,” he says. “AI provides advice, but human expertise remains essential.” Beuting now works with several “AI agents” with specific tasks, such as implementation, design, or data analysis. “As a user, you can interact with those agents for optimal results.
The importance of data and context
A recurring theme here is the quality of data. “The more data you have, the better the system works,” Beuting argues. But he also cautions: “It’s not just about quantity. If you can’t qualify the data you have – whether it’s valuable or less relevant data – then everything becomes a mess. Without context, AI can mean little.” It’s not just about collecting data but also about understanding that data and interpreting it correctly.
Collaboration and interoperability
John Blankendaal emphasizes collaboration within the industry. “Technically, there is no barrier to getting machines to talk to each other,” he states. “But companies have to be willing to share data and collaborate. Klingen confirms: “Hexagon is committed to open systems. We want to be agnostic and open. It doesn’t matter what hardware the data comes from; we want to work with that data.”
Another thing to always realize, Blankendaal says, is that the entry-level is very diverse. “When I hear Benno talk about his AI agents, I immediately think, ‘nice, but how do we get the SMEs on that train.’ There has to be a major digitization effort first. That is why I am so happy with our innovation pavilions here in BIC, where forerunners such as Hexagon, AMFlow, and Cordis can show how it works. And where others can play in the sandbox to make it all their own.” Beuting: “We still need to shoot some AI confetti into the world of SMEs.”
Ultimately, says Blankendaal, we all want the same thing: “To become part of that one digital factory with one interoperable dashboard that works across the whole value chain. It’s great that AI is now helping us achieve that goal.”
Innovative ecosystem
The Brainport Industries Campus is a hub where education, innovation, and industry come together. “It’s more than a business incubator,” says Erik Veurink. “We are working on programmatic interpretation to entice, enthuse, and encourage companies to seek each other out and connect.” Veurink emphasizes that BIC is unique in Europe. “Here, companies can experiment, learn and apply. We have the facilities to demonstrate AI applications and help companies implement them.”
Beuting points to the FNS/6G Growth Fund project, which has a Testbed location at BIC to realize a Wireless Factory. Beuting: “We want a wireless factory where the software is managed centrally and locally ‘on the edge.’ There is already a production demonstrator at BIC, where the software and data, which are currently scattered across different systems, will soon be managed centrally in one edge computing environment. There, software, data, and AI solutions will be integrated to best support machine control and process optimization.”
Blankendaal adds: “BIC is like an airport with gates for each of the fifty companies residing here. By whichever of those fifty gates you enter, you are part of a common landing process.” Veurink agrees: “BIC is also in that respect more than a business incubator. We organize the temptation to seek each other out. For example, through those innovation programs.”
Legal aspects
Anyone getting started with AI (or considering it) runs into more challenges than just technical ones. Then it is helpful to have someone like Jos van der Wijst of BG Legal in the house. “Before anyone thinks differently, we don’t take on the role of policeman in this, but mainly as the stakeholder that helps to facilitate the processes. There will be a lot of new regulations around AI and data. We can provide clarity on what can and cannot be done so that unnecessary barriers are removed.”
Van der Wijst emphasizes that only a few AI systems are subject to strict regulation. “For the majority of applications, the regulatory impact is limited. But it is important to determine which category a system falls under quickly.” And in doing so, Van der Wijst guards against focusing on the limitations. “Of course, we know where the limits of use lie, but we can certainly also point out the many new possibilities.”
Educate
A key challenge is educating personnel to work with AI. “The new generation is already used to technology,” notes Klingen. “But we need to organize education so that AI is integrated into curricula.” Blankendaal adds that it’s not just about students. “Today’s employees also need to be educated. We need to do more with fewer people, and AI can help.”
Blankendaal also points to several European projects that contribute to the development of AI in the manufacturing industry. “We are involved in programs such as AI REGIO and AI-MATTERS. These projects provide the lubricant to enable service delivery and support companies in implementing AI.”
These partnerships also increase BIC’s visibility internationally. “We get visitors from all over Europe – all those people are amazed by what they see here,” says Veurink. “It strengthens our position as an innovative center.”
The future of AI in the manufacturing industry
Beuting notes that AI will transform the manufacturing industry as the Internet and computers have. “It offers opportunities rather than threats to those willing to embrace it,” he says. “AI makes work more meaningful and gives companies a competitive advantage.” Indeed, Klingen adds. “We are only at the beginning. Companies need to take steps now to explore and implement AI. Together, we can future-proof the manufacturing industry.”
Collaboration
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