The Dutch AI Coalition, launched in October (now with 350 companies, knowledge institutions, governments including the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate, and social organizations), receives a starting boost of 23.5 million euros from the cabinet today for research and development of applications. This public-private partnership has developed the Dutch approach to AI and aims for a total public-private investment of two billion euros over seven years. The cabinet had already invested 64 million euros in this technology in 2019 and aims to double the public part.

AI promises, if people can trust that it is deployed carefully, to be an important basis for innovation in healthcare, energy, mobility, agriculture and food, manufacturing, and education. Therefore, research into ethical, legal, and social aspects for the responsible application of AI is also an important goal of this coalition.

Digitalization of industry is essential for the future earning capacity of the Netherlands. The number of so-called smart industry field labs has now grown to 45. Together, companies, governments, regions, and research institutions have already mobilized a total of 314 million euros in investments. Earlier this year, the so-called Data Sharing Coalition was also launched. More than twenty parties from different sectors are working on agreements to facilitate data sharing between sectors.

The Dutch SMEs are increasingly using online sales and earning more from it: this year for the first time above the EU average for digital business. The cabinet actively supports smaller companies with knowledge and financial resources to operate digitally and cyber safely.

Digital skills are crucial for seizing the opportunities of digitalization and lifelong learning, both broadly within education and for workers. From this year, the SLIM scheme has come into effect for workers. This allows SMEs to apply for subsidies to encourage learning and development in the workplace. Up to and including 2022, 48 million euros is available annually for this purpose. Additionally, through ongoing campaigns such as Doe je updates and Eerst checken dan klikken, the Dutch receive active information to become more digitally resilient.

With the outbreak of the corona crisis, the continuity of care and support for vulnerable individuals required extra attention. Digital tools are not immediately available to all care organizations. Therefore, within the Stimulating eHealth at Home scheme, 23 million euros have been accelerated to make remote care possible more quickly.

It is important that the government also digitalizes responsibly. The premise is to ensure that everyone can participate in a digital society. For this reason, we are expanding the number of Digital Government Information Points in libraries to support citizens in digital dealings with the government. At the same time, we are focusing on new solutions for societal challenges with the Innovation Budget. So far, twenty projects have been supported that contribute to societal challenges around AI, citizen participation, and smart mobility.

The strategy Netherlands Digital was launched in 2018 at the initiative of Secretary of State Mona Keijzer (Economic Affairs and Climate), Minister Ferd Grapperhaus (Justice and Security), and Secretary of State Raymond Knops (Interior and Kingdom Relations). This Dutch digitalization strategy forms the basis for a cabinet-wide integrated approach to digitalization. The cabinet also organizes the annual conference Netherlands Digital with entrepreneurs, scientists, local governments, and social organizations to keep renewing the strategy. The 2020 edition in Groningen has been postponed from March to a later date due to corona.