ICAI (Innovation Center for Artificial Intelligence) is an AI innovation hub in the Netherlands that brings together knowledge institutions, industry, and government and social partners to jointly develop talent and technology in the field of artificial intelligence.
Mission and Goals
ICAI's mission is to keep the Netherlands at the forefront of AI knowledge and talent development. Its core goal is to create and nurture a national AI knowledge and talent ecosystem, and to use the resources generated by its activities in a sustainable way to further activate the Netherlands' resources. By collaborating with companies, governments, and non-profit organizations as knowledge institutions, leveraging each other's strengths, ICAI is well positioned in this field.
Operating Model
ICAI uses a "hubs-and-spokes" model, realizing multiple hubs in the Netherlands and connecting with various regions. The Netherlands has multiple regions, each with its own strengths, that can fully focus on AI. A decentralized foundation fits the norms and values of the Dutch way of working. In the 7 years since its launch in 2018, this model has been proven. Labs are established by local forces, and ICAI supports and strengthens them in a national role.
Main Programs and Capabilities
- ICAI Labs: All ICAI labs are research collaborations between knowledge institutions and one or more industry, government, or non-profit partners, aimed at impactful AI knowledge creation.
- ICAI Experts: Through joint appointments of academic staff, invest in public-private partnerships, providing the next generation of AI talent with education, training, and access to top scholars.
- ICAI Academy: Through AI courses, make the knowledge developed by ICAI labs accessible to professionals and broader audiences.
- ICAI public events: Organize public events to bring the ICAI community together and share the knowledge, insights, and experience gained in labs and other ICAI projects.
- ICAI Launch pad: Connect AI talent with the Dutch ecosystem through a matching process for AI doctoral researchers and Dutch companies looking for AI talent.
- ICAI Venture programme: In collaboration with the TTT-AI initiative, inspire and support doctoral researchers and knowledge institution staff to explore the possibility of entrepreneurship using AI solutions.
Future Vision
By leading and developing technology itself, ICAI contributes to economic growth while safeguarding the values and ethical aspects that the Netherlands upholds. In this way, the Netherlands will become a strong European catalyst in the field of AI talent and AI knowledge development through the following means: attracting talent for researchissues; attracting issues and data for talent research; providing nourishment for talent and knowledge development to local and national ecosystems.
Funding Support
ICAI's organization receives financial support from the AI Technology for People initiative (a joint initiative of Amsterdam knowledge institutions) and NLAIC (the Netherlands AI Coalition). ICAI labs are funded by their respective partners (knowledge institutions, industry partners, government partners, and/or other non-profit organizations).
