Dutch Pragmatism vs Iberian Passion: Building AI
TL;DR: European AI success requires synthesizing Southern research depth with Northern commercial velocity. Cross-ecosystem approach for scalable solutions.
Quick Take: European AI success requires synthesizing Southern research depth with Northern commercial velocity. A cross-ecosystem approach bridges academic rigor and business pragmatism for scalable AI solutions.
Innovation looks different depending on where you stand. My journey has taken me across Europe. I spent my formative intellectual years in the Iberian Peninsula—conducting research at the Universidade de Coimbra in Portugal and earning my PhD at the Universidad de Málaga in Spain. Now, I am building ventures like First AI Movers, Tarucca, and Desapega here in the Netherlands.
What the South Taught Me: Theoretical Depth
The academic environments in Portugal and Spain are incredibly rich. They value deep understanding and theoretical robustness. My time at CISUC taught me to never settle for a surface-level answer. That depth is what I bring to the technical architecture of our AI solutions today.
What the North Taught Me: Commercial Velocity
The Dutch tech ecosystem is different. It is pragmatic, direct, and incredibly efficient. It asks: "Does it work? And does it make money?"
Synthesizing the Two
As I lead Core Ventures from the Netherlands, I try to synthesize these two worlds.
- I apply the Iberian depth to ensure our AI models are technically sound and ethically governed through comprehensive AI readiness assessment processes.
- I apply the Dutch pragmatism to ensure those models drive immediate ROI for our clients through focused AI strategy consulting.
A European AI Strategy
For AI to succeed in Europe, we need to connect these hubs. We need the research power of the South and the commercial engines of the North. That is the bridge I am building every day—both in my career and in the software we deploy.
About the Author: Dr. Hernani Costa is a bridge between academic research and commercial application. Formerly of the University of Malaga and CISUC - Centre for Informatics and Systems of the University of Coimbra, he currently resides in the Netherlands where he leads First AI Movers, Core Ventures, and Desapega.
Originally published at First AI Movers. Written by Dr Hernani Costa, Founder and CEO of First AI Movers.
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