Why we write about this topic:
Brainport Industries Campus (BIC) in Eindhoven is one of eight European locations that will together form a network for artificial intelligence in manufacturing – called AI Matters.
The kick-off of the European ‘AI Matters’ network, consisting of a consortium of Brainport Industries, TNO, and TU Eindhoven located at BIC and 22 other knowledge institutions from seven other European countries, took place on January 24 in Palaiseau, France. The AI-Matters network aims to stimulate the adoption of AI technology in the European manufacturing industry to increase its productivity, innovativeness, resilience, and global competitiveness. To this end, the sites will develop interconnected reference test and experimentation facilities, where large-scale and realistic environments will work with AI-based solutions.
The EU makes a total of thirty million euros available from the Digital Europe program, of which almost four million euros is earmarked for the Dutch consortium. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate supports the initiative and has promised to make the same amount available by way of co-financing so that the total amount of funding will be around eight million euros.
Minister Micky Adriaansens (Economic Affairs and Climate): “Artificial intelligence helps the manufacturing industry and creates opportunities to produce more efficiently. But the technology is far from being fully developed. That is why researchers and entrepreneurs take this further together in test environments, such as at Brainport Industries Campus in Eindhoven. There, they are working on innovative and safe AI systems for Dutch and European companies.”
Explore and implement
The AI Matters network will provide testing and experimentation facilities for companies from across Europe at eight locations in Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the Czech Republic. Brainport Industries will coordinate activities at the BIC location. Managing Director John Blankendaal emphasizes the importance of artificial intelligence for the manufacturing industry. “AI is playing an increasing role. With the help of a growing amount of available data, new technical developments can emerge. For example, machine maintenance can be predicted, organizational efficiency can be improved, and operational risks and costs can be minimized. Yet it often proves difficult for companies to explore and implement the possibilities of AI in their own businesses,” Blankendaal said.
That is why he believes it is crucial for SMEs in particular, to have low-threshold access to facilities where they can experimentally test and evaluate their concrete application scenarios for AI. “Some of the facilities have already been realized as part of the innovation program ‘Factory of the Future’ at BIC and at the EAISI Institute on TU Eindhoven’s campus. In the coming period, these will be further expanded and scaled up.”
The funding phase of the AI Matters network lasts until the end of 2027, after which the permanent operation of the facilities must be financed entirely from its own resources.
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