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The Netherlands wants to become a major player in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). With that ambition in mind, the government’s financial contribution in this area is disappointing, states Eindhoven University of Technology (TUE) in the regional newspaper Eindhovens Dagblad (ED). Philips, too, thinks it’s time for substantial investments.
TUE is putting 100 million euros into the Eindhoven Artificial Intelligence Systems Institute (EAISI), which it launched last summer. The government proclaimed it would invest 64 million euros in AI, but this turned out to be a repeat of a previously announced amount. “Disappointing for the entire AI industry,” says EAISI boss Carlo van de Weijer in ED. As far as he’s concerned, a lot more is needed to give the Netherlands a prominent role.
Philips president Hans de Jong fully agrees. “In the next seven years, the business community will be investing a billion euros in artificial intelligence,” he told ED. “We’re asking the government to release the same amount so that together we can invest two billion euros in total.”
Van de Weijer believes that the region can make a difference when it comes to smart systems. “Southeast Brabant knows how to ride along with each new technology wave.” In the upcoming month, several members of the Dutch House of Representatives will pay TUE a working visit.
