Q: Why an SME Datalab-East?
A: We live in a time where developments in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science are progressing rapidly. AI and Data Science help us tackle the major challenges facing our society. Entrepreneurs recognize the opportunities in using AI and Data Science but sometimes struggle with how to concretely implement them. Especially for small and medium-sized enterprises, the digital transition can be challenging. SMEs and (semi-)governmental institutions often lack the technical expertise to leverage their own data to create value for themselves and their customers. SME Datalab-East aims to make a difference for these businesses. With the establishment of SME Datalab-East, we contribute in East Netherlands to bridging the gap between the potential opportunities in AI and Data Science for SMEs and what is currently being applied by them.
Q: How experienced do you need to be in AI and data to work with SME Datalab-East?
A: SME Datalab-East serves a broad group of SMEs and (semi-)governmental institutions in East Netherlands at all stages of familiarity and experience with working with AI and data:
- Companies and organizations that have no experience with data-driven work and are looking for guidance to start collecting data.
- Companies and organizations already collecting data but struggling with cleaning, storing, and preparing it for analysis.
- Companies and organizations unlocking data for analysis but lacking capacity and expertise for predictive analytics.
- Companies and organizations already performing predictive analytics but seeking insight into the latest developments in AI and data science.
- Companies and organizations aware of all developments and possibilities in AI and data science and seeking short-term capacity.
Q: What knowledge of AI and Data Science do the students working for SME Datalab-East have?
A: Projects are carried out by 3rd-year bachelor students in AI and Data Science as well as master's students from the AI program (Radboud University), Computing Science (Radboud University), Computer Science (University of Twente), Business Information Systems (University of Twente), and Applied Mathematics (University of Twente).
Q: Do projects need to meet certain requirements set by the university?
A: Students undertake assignments outside the curriculum. Therefore, projects (unlike internships, for example) can be flexibly scheduled when requested by the client and do not need to meet the university's requirements. However, the projects are supervised by full-fledged AI and Data Science professors from the university.
