The aim is simple: help small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) use AI in a practical, affordable and human-centred way.

A regional collaboration powered by UvA expertise

AI is rapidly transforming the way we work. Many SMEs see opportunities in AI but encounter significant obstacles. They don’t know where to start, they have concerns about costs and applicability, and there is a lack of knowledge or time among their employees.
Entrepreneurs want to increase productivity and work more efficiently. The UvA and AI in je Bedrijf provides them with practical examples, success stories and makes AI accessible. The SMEs who start gaining experience now will have a head start. Not only will they become more efficient, they will also create more job satisfaction, innovation and achieve long-term resilience.

Over the course of 20 weeks, around 30 SMEs from the provinces Noord-Holland and Flevoland will collaborate closely with 100–150 students from the UvA and the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (HvA). Along with the University of Amsterdam’s AI4Business Lab, Amsterdam Business School researchers Inez Zwetsloot and Bart Lameijer are part of the education and research branch of AI in je Bedrijf. Under the guidance of experienced AI specialists and lecturers, student teams work directly inside real business processes - from sales and marketing to customer service, administration and daily operations.

By testing and refining AI applications in practice, companies discover what AI can truly mean for their organisation: more efficiency, clearer insights and more enjoyable work, with people always at the centre.

The AI in je Bedrijf programme website (in Dutch) is now online and offers a first look at what’s ahead. You can find:

• inspiring examples from early pilots;
• updates on the full programme, from the kick-off to the final event and ongoing research;
• stories from entrepreneurs who are already putting AI to work in their organisations.

This launch marks the beginning of a transformation where people and technology strengthen each other to build resilient, future-proof businesses.

A shared mission

As project manager Joost Reimert explains: ‘By bringing small and medium-sized businesses and employees together to work on AI adoption and implementation, we’re creating a future-ready way of working with AI that helps both businesses and their teams grow.’

UvA’s role in using AI to create impact

The UvA’s role in AI in je Bedrijf strengthens its commitment to connecting academic knowledge with societal impact. By collaborating directly with regional businesses, the university helps them move from theory to practice and making AI meaningful in real workplaces.