NTT DATA, Cisco, Brainport Industries launch Dutch AI innovation lab

EINDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS — An innovation lab has been launched at the Brainport Industries Campus in the Netherlands, established through a collaboration between NTT DATA, Brainport Industries, and Cisco. 

According to the NTT Data press release, the “Factory of the Future Experience Center” is designed to advance the Dutch manufacturing sector.

NTT DATA and Cisco drive Dutch AI innovation

NTT DATA, a global provider of business and technology services, provides enterprise-scale AI, cloud, and digital infrastructure solutions to a majority of the Fortune Global 100. 

Backed by the extensive research and development (R&D) of its parent NTT Group, the company leverages a worldwide network of experts and innovation centers to help clients move sustainably into the digital future. This global scale and technological expertise are now being channeled into the new Dutch lab through its AI and systems integration capabilities.

NTT Data also previously ranked #24 in the OA500 2025, an objective index of the world’s top 500 outsourcing companies. 

This global footprint includes Brainport Industries, a key node integrating around 125 high-technology suppliers and knowledge centers within the established Eindhoven innovation center in the Netherlands. 

The organization contributes to enhancing the international competitiveness of the Dutch manufacturing sector by promoting partnerships in major themes, such as digitalization, sustainability, and human capital development. 

Moreover, Cisco adds to this collaboration by offering a portfolio spanning networking, security, and cooperation. For decades, the company pushed into AI-powered solutions for networking and security, enabling customers to enhance productivity and strengthen their digital resilience.

Inside the new AI and 5G innovation lab

The main idea behind the lab is to demonstrate and develop feasible Industry 5.0 solutions by integrating multiple advanced technologies into a functioning system. The project will center on the practical value of private 5G networks, AI, and edge computing, which will develop an underlying infrastructure for next-generation production. 

This technological foundation, provided by Cisco, is designed to support secure, reliable AI-driven applications. 

Those technologies will enable innovation, including the development of digital twin technology to optimize work in real time, more advanced robotics, and the application of augmented reality to educate the workforce. 

NTT DATA leverages its AI and systems integration experience to bring applications to production and transform emerging technologies, such as AI and automation, into concrete solutions for the industry at large. 

“Our goal is to make AI and automation tangible, achievable, and available to everyone in the industry. By sharing global expertise through this local project, we will accelerate innovation in both the Brainport region and in the Netherlands as a whole,” noted Jeroen van Hamersveld, Managing Director of the Netherlands at NTT DATA.

Boosting Dutch manufacturing talent and innovation

A second fundamental objective of the lab is to strengthen the entire regional manufacturing ecosystem by directly tackling the technical talent shortage and empowering smaller businesses.

The Brainport Industries Campus, which houses more than 50 high-tech firms and three schools, is the focus of the partnership, which aims to unite technology providers and educational institutions with local firms to foster innovation and create appealing high-tech jobs. 

The laboratory will focus on providing students with more practical skills, enabling them to work with more sophisticated technologies, such as AI and private 5G, and to understand the realities of their work. 

“Brainport stands for innovation, collaboration, and developing the talent that shapes the future of the manufacturing industry,” said John Blankendaal, Managing Director at Brainport Industries.

At the same time, local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups will now face much reduced barriers to innovation, with access to common state-of-the-art facilities and experience with the technology partners, allowing them to develop innovative solutions such as digital twin applications and drone-driven logistics.

“By connecting cutting-edge technology with education, Cisco and NTT DATA are helping build a strong, sustainable, and resilient Dutch manufacturing industry,” concluded Paul van der Weijden, Country Digital Acceleration Director at Cisco Netherlands.