Every quarter, we list five opportunities for grants, financing, loans or other programmes, because they can be an important push for start-ups and other ambitious, innovative companies. More and more of these opportunities have to do with artificial intelligence. Therefore, now an extra AI edition of the overview.
Innovation Labs: developing AI methods and tools
The AiNed investment programme was launched with the call for proposal of InnovationLabs. In doing so, AiNed invites innovative SMEs, start-ups and scale-ups to develop AI methods and tools together with larger companies, knowledge institutions and civil society organisations. This can strengthen the Dutch competitive position and contribute to a sustainable future. About €21 million is available for this call.
The InnovationLabs call 2024 focuses on four specific application areas: energy and sustainability, health and care, mobility, transport and logistics and, finally, technical industry. At AiNed's website stands more information on the associated conditions, the schedule and how to compete.
MIT: R&D Collaborative Artificial Intelligence (AI) projects
Do you collaborate with other SMEs to develop or innovate products, production processes or services, and do you want to contribute to the development of the key digital technology Artificial Intelligence (AI)? If so, you can submit an application for an R&D Collaboration Project on the theme of AI. This is how the government encourages innovation.
Read more about the opportunities and conditions on the website of RVO.
SME Datalab East
Since mid-2023, you as an SME entrepreneur can take your first steps in applying AI with the help of the SME Datalab East. This is a collaboration between Radboud University and Twente University, where students in AI carry out an assignment for your company, under the guidance of a lecturer.
Creating talent pool
Investment programme AiNed is coming up with another call: Learning Communities 2024. Its aim is for SMEs and civil society organisations to increase their AI knowledge and skills. This is done on the basis of case-based learning. EUR 28.4 million has been made available for this call, which will be awarded in two rounds. The aim is to create and retain an AI talent pool of employees and students.
Both companies, social organisations and knowledge institutions (from MBO to WO level) can be part of an AiNed Learning Community. The call focuses on the same four specific application areas as the InnovationLabs call: energy and sustainability, health and care, mobility, transport and logistics and finally technical industry. Visit the website of AiNed For more information, including on the planning and application procedure.
Ethical issues
This quarter, AiNed will also announce more about the ELSA Labs call. This will focus on the ethical, legal, social and economic issues surrounding AI. AiNed believes that developing AI technology, social embedding and cashing in on economic opportunities should go hand-in-hand. The goal is to realise methods, techniques and tools that contribute to AI in the service of people and the common good.
About EUR 6.8 million is available. More will be announced about this call soon. Here is the advance notice to read.
Improving processes
The European AI REDGIO 5.0 is there for innovative SMEs in the manufacturing industry that want to transform their processes. They can receive financial support to develop pioneering projects on 'AI at the Edge' and Industry 5.0 to be realised.
The overarching goal is to improve solutions, products or processes within the production sector. The aim is to support up to ten studies by SME organisations. Retrieved from The site of AI redgio 5.0 state more information.
Pioneering research
At European level, there are also the NGF AiNed XS Europa grants. These are intended to enable promising ideas and innovative and high-risk initiatives that address the challenges in the national AI research agenda AIREA-NL. They should be designed in collaboration with at least one foreign European partner organisation. The proposed research should be groundbreaking, where it is not certain in advance whether the intended objective will be achieved.
A total maximum of EUR 80,000 can be applied for. The maximum duration of the proposed project is 12 months. Retrieved from nwo.nl stands more information, including how to apply.
