Netherlands Initiative for Energy-Efficient Computing

Dutch National Science Agenda (NWA) program

Image taken in cleanroom
Image taken in cleanroom

NL-ECO program

NL-ECO is inspired by the need for a radical improvement in the energy efficiency of information and communication technology (ICT). This energy consumption is problematically high and is growing to unsustainable levels. The NL-ECO program, part of the Dutch National Science Agenda (NWA), aims to develop new concepts and associated materials for this purpose. In NL-ECO, 33 academic, industrial, and societal organisations join forces on one of the major social challenges; how can the rapidly increasing consumption of energy in ICT be curbed?

Paradigm shifts

In an interdisciplinary approach, the NL-ECO program explores frontiers in energy-efficient computing technologies which go beyond existing paradigms. We focus, among other things, on the development and application of new chip technologies that combine electrical, optical and magnetic effects, on new ways of data processing inspired by the functioning of the brain, and on materials structured in such a way that they can perform calculations automatically.

Man working high tech apperature
Man working high tech apperature

Recent News

news_image
NL-ECO
Watt Matters in AI: Redefining the energy footprint of Artificial Intelligence

Conference on radical energy efficiency in AI – November 26, 2025, Microstad, Eindhoven (NL) Artificial Intelligence promises to solve some of humanity’s most pressing challenges, from climate change to healthcare, but its own energy appetite threatens to undermine these ambitions. On November 26, 2025, the conference Watt Matters in AI will bring together leading scientists, technologists, and policymakers to explore one of the most urgent questions of our digital age: Can we make AI sustainable? Hosted at Microstad in Eindhoven and supported by NL-ECO, the event will convene experts from academia and industry to explore radical shifts in how AI systems are designed, powered, and regulated. The goal: to move beyond incremental efficiency gains and toward orders-of-magnitude breakthroughs in energy performance. The conference will not only explore technological roadmaps but also delve into social, economic, and ecological challenges, all with the goal of exploring solutions. Key themes ● How can Europe lead the global transition toward energy-responsible AI? ● What technologies can deliver 10x to 100x efficiency gains? ● What infrastructure (from chips to data centers) supports sustainable AI? ● What policies and ethical frameworks can guide responsible innovation? From Setting the Stage to Advanced Solutions The conference follows four thematic steps, moving from the global challenge to tangible solutions. Following the opening remarks by chair Hans Hilgenkamp (University of Twente), the morning session, “Setting the Stage,” features Laura Cozzi from the International Energy Agency, who will outline the facts & figures on AI's energy consumption and its future trends. She will be followed by Stijn Grove (Dutch Data Center Association) and Axel Berg (SURF), who will offer insights into sustainable data center strategies and high-performance computing, and will also address the new AI factory that will be built in Groningen. The second block, “Technology & Policy,” adds the industry view from NVIDIA and a regulatory perspective from Kristina Irion (University of Amsterdam). After lunch, the focus shifts to Hardware Breakthroughs, with Christian Bachmann (imec), Martijn Heck (Eindhoven University of Technology) and Christian Mayr (TU Dresden) discussing advances in semiconductor, photonic, and neuromorphic computing. Finally, “Advanced Solutions” showcases frontier technologies with Tamalika Banerjee (IMCHIP), Ioannis Papistas (Axelera AI), and Phil Burr (Lumai), exploring in-memory computing, edge AI, and optical computing.