Groningen's Zernike Campus selected for Dutch AI supercomputer

The Netherlands has selected the Zernike Campus in Groningen as the location for its national AI supercomputer. SURF, the IT cooperative for Dutch education and research, announced that the machine will be housed at Eurofiber’s data center complex.

Construction is planned for next year, with the system expected to be fully operational by early 2028. The selection process considered three sites, including a former factory in Hoogkerk, but the Zernike Campus was chosen due to its sustainability features. The facility utilizes waste heat for district heating via WarmteStad and avoids using surface or drinking water for cooling. Additionally, the existing grid connection at the site will prevent further network congestion.

The €201 million AI factory project is funded through a combination of €71 million from the EU’s EuroHPC JU, €70 million from the Dutch government, and €60 million from the Nij Begun program. The supercomputer aims to provide businesses, researchers, and government institutions with the computational power necessary to develop new AI models and applications within the Netherlands.