<h1>What is an AiNed Learning Community?</h1><p>An AiNed Learning Community is a multi-year strategic partnership between companies, research institutions, and civil society organizations. Together, they work to enhance AI knowledge and skills among employees and students, with a special focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).</p><p>Case-based learning is central to a Learning Community. Employees and students from the participating organizations collaborate on real-world cases. By developing and testing practical AI solutions, they collectively build AI knowledge and skills. The collaboration also involves the development of practical learning modules so that the acquired AI knowledge and skills can be applied more widely. This enables more employees and students to be trained in AI within their respective fields of application.</p><p>The Learning Communities focus primarily on innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that want to actively learn how to work with and learn about AI techniques and AI models. By collaborating with other companies and knowledge institutions, they collectively gain knowledge and experience with AI applications for their products, services, and business processes.</p><p>Participants gain access to AI knowledge, tools, and a strong network that supports further growth and development. As such, an AiNed Learning Community is a scalable knowledge booster within a specific field of application where collaborative learning takes center stage. </p><h1>What does a Learning Community look like?</h1><p>A Learning Community consists of various private and public partners who collaborate on AI challenges. There are core partners and co-partners.</p><h2>Core partners</h2><ul><li data-list-item-id="efa3a625751dd4dc38dfea5a3f71b78cd">form the solid foundation of the Learning Community;</li><li data-list-item-id="e8c7324ecc849efa33e3eb5e413db6d8d">commit to the initiative for three years;</li><li data-list-item-id="e0b593b0e368f777b8b349d8c9fc19f18">jointly determine the substantive direction within the scope of application.</li></ul><h2>Co-partners</h2><ul><li data-list-item-id="e40e77d07a7307cbffd36ecfcf808d2bd">have a flexible role;</li><li data-list-item-id="ece78e66a91ffc1a696bb50e8469620fc">contribute real-world questions and gain targeted AI knowledge by working on a case.</li></ul><p>Partners work together on real-world cases for 6 to 9 months. Each case centers on a specific AI challenge that participants will tackle together to gain knowledge.</p><h2>At the end of a case, co-partners can:</h2><ul><li data-list-item-id="e6eceb7fc15f64284c9a79cdd706faa13">stop once they have acquired sufficient knowledge;</li><li data-list-item-id="e70c663fceed0ff3dd868b13b5a5c8996">start a new case;</li><li data-list-item-id="eeee26371e66eb9ef462b736180db5328">or further develop the case, for example in an AiNed Innovation Lab or ELSA Lab.</li></ul><h1>How much funding can be requested?</h1><p>An AiNed Learning Community can apply for up to €2,500,000 in AiNed funding for a three-year term. Within this budget, €1,200,000 in funding is available for businesses and civil society organizations. Businesses and civil society organizations receive, on average, 40% AiNed funding toward their total eligible costs, such as personnel or equipment.</p><p>The remaining costs (totaling at least €1,800,000 per Learning Community) are covered by the businesses and civil society organizations themselves, for example through:</p><ul><li data-list-item-id="eb024904d2203bdf7c91ee6891aef22e7">knowledge, time, and staff contributions (in-kind);</li><li data-list-item-id="eff64071edd2bf597c81bd450dc03a20e">a financial contribution (in-cash).</li></ul><p>In total, funding is available for up to six Learning Communities.</p><h1>What is the focus?</h1><p>AiNed Learning Communities focus on collaborative learning to address practical challenges where AI can contribute to solutions within the following sectors:</p><ul><li data-list-item-id="ed91dfd2a64033cf11bfe29cf02778727">Energy &amp; Sustainability</li><li data-list-item-id="e9192447a894642b53bec5a9ad69932e8">Mobility, Transportation &amp; Logistics</li><li data-list-item-id="e415afde7828045374b6c312e3dc01821">Engineering &amp; Manufacturing</li><li data-list-item-id="e6c779069631c673e98992162912ddb50">Health &amp; Healthcare</li></ul><p>In the first round, five Learning Communities were awarded funding. New initiatives must distinguish themselves from these, for example by having a different focus on themes or AI technologies. Learning Communities that have already received funding from AiNed are not eligible for additional (follow-up) funding. A brief description of previously funded Learning Communities can be found on the AIC4NL website. As part of a collaborative approach, they will be integrated into the group of five existing Learning Communities.</p><p>The complete overview of the criteria against which a proposal for a Learning Community will be evaluated will be available in the call for proposals to be published on <strong>May 8, 2026*</strong>, on the AIC4NL website.</p><h1>How do you participate?</h1><ol><li data-list-item-id="e7a36fc5af9ab0d28ed3e4521e1a7f274">Participation begins with submitting a short proposal to AIC4NL. The template for this will be available on the website on May 8, 2026*.</li><li data-list-item-id="e8f40d1225363701f21131c5cbbf0b747">After you submit your application, we’ll invite you to a co-creation session with other initiatives in the fall of 2026.</li><li data-list-item-id="e2948b4e4cdb2c43e5f6a6fb692fc8f48">Deadline for the short proposal: July 17, 2026*</li></ol><p>Haven’t found a partner yet or need help with your application? No problem. AIC4NL is happy to help you find partners. The regional AI hubs and leaders of the four sectors mentioned above can assist in forming a partnership. A list of contacts can be found on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://aic4nl.nl/community/ai-hubs/">AI-Hubs.</a></p><p>For questions or more information, please email: learningcommunities@aic4nl.nl</p><p>* Dates are subject to change.</p><h1>About AIC4NL</h1><p>The AiNed Learning Communities program is part of the AI Coalition for the Netherlands (AIC4NL).</p><p>AIC4NL works to ensure the strong and responsible development of AI in the Netherlands. We bring together companies, research institutions, government agencies, and civil society organizations to accelerate AI innovation and address societal challenges.</p>

Second Round of Learning Communities to Begin Soon