Netherlands' Strategic AI Shift: Focusing on Strengths, Not Scale
Amsterdam, Friday, 28 November 2025.
Invest-NL and ROM-Nederland’s report suggests the Netherlands should leverage its strengths in energy-efficient AI technologies rather than compete with the US and China on scale.
Strategic Focus on Energy-Efficient AI
The new report by Invest-NL and ROM-Nederland, released in Amsterdam today, underscores the Netherlands’ strategic focus on developing energy-efficient AI technologies. This approach is seen as a distinct departure from the strategy of pursuing larger AI models as seen in the United States and China [1]. Instead, the Netherlands aims to leverage its strengths in qualitative data, energy-efficient technology, and real-world AI applications, areas where it holds a competitive advantage [2].
Investment and Policy Recommendations
Authored by AI expert Stefan Leijnen, the report calls for targeted investments and a robust AI industry policy to sustain and grow the sector. It suggests that the Netherlands could significantly benefit from investments in new energy-efficient hardware and applications deeply rooted in industrial data and physical processes [3]. To further this agenda, the report advocates for investments of €20–30 million for AI startups and over €100 million for hardware models [4].
Collaborative European Efforts
The report highlights the importance of reducing fragmentation and increasing collaboration across Europe to foster innovation and sustainable growth in the Dutch AI sector. By aligning with European allies, the Netherlands can create a more integrated market for AI technologies, enhancing its position as a leader in energy-efficient AI solutions [2][3]. The establishment of a future-proof AI-Gigafactory is also proposed to enhance local computing power and autonomous AI capacity [5].
Implications for Dutch Economy
The strategic shift towards energy-efficient AI is deemed economically wise and essential for future security, aligning with European values [6]. This direction not only strengthens the Netherlands’ AI position but also promises to drive substantial economic benefits, especially in key sectors like agricultural technology, logistics, high-tech manufacturing, energy, and healthcare [4][5].