Great news: 10x10x10 has been nominated for the 2026 Sustainable 30, an initiative by Dagblad van het Noorden, Leeuwarder Courant and Friesch Dagblad. The project has been selected in the Sustainable Collaboration category.
So, what exactly is 10x10x10? Northern companies in the green chemistry sector are joining forces to accelerate the transition from fossil to renewable feedstocks. The ambition is bold: to realise at least ten new showcase plants over the next ten years, representing a total investment of more than €1 billion. The aim is to turn groundbreaking technology into real-world industrial applications in the Northern Netherlands.
10x10x10 brings together companies, knowledge and innovation. The initiative is supported in part by Chemport Europe and contributes to the ambition of making the Northern Netherlands a leading region for green and circular chemistry.
Help 10x10x10 win the public vote!
Now it’s up to the public. Would you like to support 10x10x10? Cast your vote on the Sustainable 30 website. Every vote helps put this ambitious Northern initiative in the spotlight.
👉 Vote for 10x10x10 via duurzamedertig.nl
Dagblad van het Noorden spoke to those involved in 10x10x10. Read the article below.
Groningen – What started as an informal dinner for entrepreneurs at Zernike Campus has grown into 10x10x10: a collaboration between twenty Northern Dutch chemistry companies.
Together, these companies are working to move away from fossil feedstocks and develop products based on CO₂, biomass and recycled materials. “The huge CO₂ savings make it highly sustainable, but it is also sustainable in the long term because it reduces our dependence on fossil resources,” says Ton Vries, board member of Campus Groningen and CEO of BioBTX. “This is truly unique and exactly in line with what Peter Wennink and Mario Draghi highlighted in their reports on how the Netherlands and Europe can become more competitive again.”
10x10x10 is the driving force putting Northern chemistry at the forefront globally
The ambition is substantial: €1 billion for the green future of the Northern Netherlands. In other words, ten years, at least ten plants and a total investment of €1 billion. The first examples are already taking shape: Avantium (sustainable plastics from biomass), Sky Energy (sustainable aviation fuel for KLM), Circtec (recycling tyres) and BioBTX (producing BTX from biomass and plastics).
“10x10x10 is the driving force putting Northern chemistry at the forefront globally,” says Vries. Campus Groningen plays a key role by bringing together companies, knowledge institutions, public partners, talent and entrepreneurship. “It is a driving force that unites us around a strategy to become independent of oil. As companies, we are working together to shape the green future of chemistry and the Netherlands.”
Who: Campus Groningen, 10x10x10
What: A collaboration of 20 Northern Dutch companies working together to accelerate the transition from fossil-based to sustainable chemistry
Where: Groningen, the Netherlands
Since: 2025
Website: www.10x10x10.nl
Engineero vestigt zich op Campus Groningen.
Ruim 200 professionals uit de Life Sciences & Health-sector kwamen op dinsdag 22 september samen tijdens de vijfde LIFE Science Conference in Forum Groningen.
The announcement of the location on 21 September 2026 marks another step in the development of the Dutch AI factory. In addition to the AI supercomputer, the facility includes an expertise centre in the former Niemeyer factory, where knowledge, expertise and AI applications come together. The combination of knowledge, talent, entrepreneurship and advanced digital infrastructure further strengthens Groningen’s position as a hub for innovation. During her visit to Groningen, State Secretary for Digital Economy and Sovereignty Willemijn Aerdts also highlighted the importance of the new infrastructure. In her LinkedIn post, she emphasises access to knowledge, computing power and space as essential for developing and scaling AI applications in the Netherlands. Read more details in the article below by Richold Brandsma, originally published in Dagblad van het Noorden.AI factory supercomputer to be located at Zernike Campus in Groningen The supercomputer of the AI factory in Groningen will be located at Zernike Campus, near Eurofiber’s data centre. ICT cooperative SURF announced this on Monday afternoon during a visit to Groningen by State Secretary Willemijn Aerdts (Economic Affairs). The computer is expected to be operational by early 2028.EU seeks to reduce dependence on China and US To provide a counterweight to China and the US in particular, Europe is building its own AI factories. In addition to the Netherlands, these are being established in countries including Germany, France, Finland, Greece and Poland. An AI factory is already operational in Luxembourg. The factories are intended to increase Europe’s independence from major technology companies while strengthening its competitive position. Businesses, governments, researchers and educational institutions in the Netherlands will be able to use the enormous computing power provided by the supercomputer at Zernike Campus. They will have the opportunity to develop and apply AI models. The hope and expectation is that the Groningen supercomputer will contribute to economic growth.Computer’s residual heat to be used by WarmteStad According to SURF, the computer at Zernike Campus has already been incorporated into the electricity grid. The large amount of energy required by the computer is therefore not expected to lead to additional grid congestion. Its residual heat will be reused by municipal heating company WarmteStad, which currently supplies heat to more than 9,000 households. In addition to the computer at Zernike Campus, the AI factory includes an expertise centre located in the former Niemeyer factory in Groningen. The expertise centre is already supporting projects that make use of computing capacity at European AI factories. The AI factory is funded by the European Union, the Dutch government and the northern Netherlands region through the Nij Begun programme.
