Business Developer, AI & Agrifood
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Working Toward the Future
Would you like to help build one of Europe’s most ambitious AI initiatives?
This is a unique opportunity to help build the Dutch AI ecosystem from the ground up while simultaneously making an impact on the economic development of the Northern Netherlands.
AI is changing the way we produce food, generate energy, and organize industry. The question is not whether AI will play a role, but how quickly companies will succeed in successfully applying this technology.
In this unique role, you’ll work at the intersection of AI, innovation, and AgriFood. You’ll be one of the first Business Developers working from both the Dutch AI Factory and the NOM on AI-driven innovation projects that contribute to economic growth in the Northern Netherlands.
You’ll spend a lot of time meeting with entrepreneurs. You delve into their business strategy, innovation challenges, and growth potential, and translate these into concrete AI applications, innovation projects, and new business opportunities. In doing so, you play a key role in strengthening the innovation ecosystem and achieving sustainable economic growth in the Northern Netherlands.
- At the Dutch AI Factory/Samenwerking Noord, you will focus on use case mobilization and business development: you will work with agri-food entrepreneurs to develop concrete AI use cases and guide them toward implementation.
- At NOM, you’ll work with colleagues to develop innovation projects in which AI plays a key role in driving progress, with a focus on the agrifood sector.
The Dutch AI Factory (NLAIF)
The Dutch AI Factory (NLAIF) combines computing power, data, and expertise with open and transparent procedures. Capacity is allocated through European, national, and regional calls. Tools range from vouchers for individual SMEs to thematic calls for the quadruple helix. You’ll work in a multidisciplinary team of Business Developers, ecosystem developers, and AI experts who are collectively driving the further development of the Dutch AI Factory. You won’t be selling AI; instead, you’ll help entrepreneurs discover where AI actually adds value to their business and guide them from initial idea to concrete application.
The AI Factory comprises both an AI-optimized computing facility and a center of expertise that helps companies, research institutions, and government agencies implement AI in a responsible and scalable manner. In this role, you will be part of the center of expertise and will work closely with, among others, the other Business Developers and the experts responsible for call definition and assessment.
Samenwerking Noord is a consortium partner of the Dutch AI Factory and is responsible for coordinating business development activities within the Nij Begun region. Together with partners such as AIC4NL, SURF, and TNO, Samenwerking Noord is working on the further development of the AI ecosystem in the Northern Netherlands.
NOM
The NOM (investment and development agency for the Northern Netherlands) strengthens the economies of Drenthe, Fryslân, and Groningen. At the NOM, we are committed to making a social and economic impact. We focus on companies in the following innovative sectors: Chemicals & Energy, AgriFood, Life Sciences & Health, High-Tech Systems and Materials, ICT, Water Technology & Maritime. We develop programs and projects, mentor and finance innovative SME entrepreneurs, and support companies that want to establish themselves in the Northern Netherlands or that have international growth ambitions.
About the role
This position is a joint role between the NOM and the Dutch AI Factory (NLAIF)/Samenwerking Noord and is made possible by the Nij Begun program. You will be employed by the NOM and will formally be part of the Innovation team. In practice, you will work three days a week from the Dutch AI Factory/Samenwerking Noord’s center of expertise at the Niemeyer Fabriek in Groningen and two days a week from the NOM.
In this role, you’ll serve as a unique bridge: at the Dutch AI Factory, you’ll develop concrete AI applications in collaboration with entrepreneurs and then translate these into innovation projects within the NOM that contribute to economic growth in the Northern Netherlands.
Success in this role requires curiosity, an entrepreneurial spirit, and the ability to connect people, technology, and innovation.
At the Dutch AI Factory (NLAIF), you’ll be the primary point of contact for AI-related issues in the agrifood sector. By actively engaging with entrepreneurs, you’ll gain insight into their business strategies, innovation challenges, and growth potential. Together with the experts at the Dutch AI Factory, you’ll translate these insights into concrete AI applications that truly add value.
What will you do?
- Translating business challenges into promising AI applications, in collaboration with experts from the Dutch AI Factory;
- Connecting companies to the opportunities offered by the NLAIF (data, computing power, expertise);
- Initiating and supporting consortia focused on AI applications;
- Developing a continuous pipeline of companies and AI applications that can evolve into innovation projects;
- Organizing workshops, events, and community activities;
- Focus on results: growth in usage, quality of use cases, and further development into projects;
- Contribute to the implementation of the National AI Agenda for Agriculture, Food, and Nature.
Goal: to develop concrete AI applications that lead to new innovation projects, economic activity, and economic growth.
At NOM, you will translate the opportunities and insights from the Dutch AI ecosystem into innovation projects across the various sectors in which NOM operates, with a focus on AgriFood.
This involves:
- Actively contribute to the development of projects that can grow into startups, scale-ups, or investment opportunities;
- Identifying new business opportunities and opportunities for innovation within and outside the AgriFood sector;
- Participate in the NOM Innovation Team and the AgriFood Sector Team;
- Advise fellow Business Developers on innovation projects involving AI;
- Contribute ideas on how AI can help shape new business propositions, revenue models, and growth strategies for companies.
Goal: To use AI as a driver of innovation, new business activity, and economic growth in the Northern Netherlands.
The connecting role
- Serve as a liaison between the market (companies), NLAIF, and NOM;
- Developing promising AI applications into innovation projects, consortia, and new business opportunities;
- Actively contribute to a continuous pipeline of ideas → applications → projects → growth;
- Identifying opportunities and challenges at the intersection of technology, the market, and business.
You will work closely together with
- The expert team at the Dutch AI Factory (NLAIF);
- Colleagues from the Innovation Team (NOM);
- Business Development Innovation Group;
- EDIH North and AI Hub Northern Netherlands;
- Province and regional stakeholders;
- National partners such as AIC4NL.
What do you bring?
A strong and active network within the agrifood sector is a must —you’ll be able to open doors from day one and connect entrepreneurs, research institutions, and technology partners. You understand their challenges and know how to turn opportunities into collaborations, projects, and tangible results.
- HBO+ or academic level of work and thinking;
- At least 5 years of relevant experience in business development, innovation, or project development.
Market and Business Experience
- You’re good at connecting with entrepreneurs and understand their challenges and revenue models;
- You know how to translate market needs into concrete solutions and applications;
- You have a keen sense of opportunity, timing, and economic value.
AI & Innovation
- You don’t need to be an AI specialist. What’s more important is that you understand the opportunities AI offers entrepreneurs and are eager to work with technical experts to develop innovative applications;
- Knowledge of EuroHPC/DIGITAL is a plus;
- You can bridge the gap between technology and business.
Ecosystem & cooperation
- Experience with public-private partnerships and forming consortia;
- Skilled at networking and connecting stakeholders;
- Entrepreneurial, proactive, and results-oriented.
Working method
- Data-driven and results-oriented (KPIs, impact);
- Strong communication skills (Dutch/English) and stakeholder management: you can engage stakeholders and translate complex content into action;
- Hands-on, proactive, and a team player;
- Results-oriented and able to steer the process from strategy to execution; able to influence others without formal authority.
Employment
We offer a salary between €4,854 and €7,148 gross per month (based on a 40-hour workweek). The generic job description for Business Developer B applies to this position. The term of employment is a maximum of three years, starting with a one-year employment contract.
We find it important that you can continue to develop with us. Therefore we are happy to discuss your personal growth with you. In addition, we offer good benefits, including:
- 24 vacation days and 21 ADV days per year (based on a 40-hour workweek). The ADV days can be used for personal development if desired. A certain number of ADV days are collectively determined; this is set annually;
- 8% vacation allowance;
- An end-of-year bonus of 8.33%;
- A net contribution of €45 per month toward health insurance;
- An excellent pension plan with the ABP.
Applying for a job in 3 steps
- Candidate applies.
- Candidate will immediately receive an email confirming receipt of application.
- If applicable, invitation to first interview.
- If successful, invitation for second interview.
- References are checked.
- Employment interview takes place.
- Candidates agree to terms of employment or respond by an agreed date.
- Employment contract and other required documents will be sent.
- New employee returns the signed employment contract and other required documents for hire.
- About two weeks before the first day of work, the new employee receives the welcome booklet.
- About a week before the first day of work, the supervisor contacts you about what the new employee can expect on the first day/week/month.
- On the first day of work, the new employee is welcomed by the supervisor or an assigned "buddy.
- Onboarding process officially begins.
Would you like to work with us?
To apply for this position, please use the form below. We look forward to receiving your cover letter and resume by August 17, 2026. Interviews are scheduled for August 24, 2026, and September 2, 2026.
If you have any questions about the job description, please contact:
- Melissa Fuller – NOM – fuller@nom.nl
- Edwin Kuipers – Dutch AI Factory (NLAIF) - Edwin.Kuipers@aic4nl.nl
Acquisition in response to this advertisement is not appreciated.
Obtaining references is part of the procedure.
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