About the National Education Lab AI

NOLAI is the National Education Lab AI. Financed by the government, from 2022 to 2032 academics and businesses are working with primary, secondary and special education on using smart technology in the classroom.

We are using ever more intelligent technology in education. This development has been reinforced by the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of ChatGPT. But what does this mean? What opportunities and risks does this involve? NOLAI researches this in practice, together with education and businesses, and it develops reliable products for teachers and students.

AI provides opportunities

  • Greater digital literacy
  • More tailored education
  • More equal opportunities
  • Increased motivation and greater learning gains for students
  • Lower student dropout
  • Increased teaching and preparation time for teachers

NOLAI helps seize opportunities

  • NOLAI develops intelligent technology to improve the quality of primary and secondary education
  • NOLAI reveals the pedagogical, societal and social implications of smart technology in education

Teachers and students are central

NOLAI believes that the cooperation between people and machines creates opportunities for teachers and students, provided the right combination can be found. More information on this can be found in our reference framework for education and business.

Of, for and with schools

We ask lots of teachers, school leaders and administrators every year: what is needed? We arrive on creating a clear research question together with academics and businesses. We translate this into concrete project proposals together too. The first classroom projects will start in the 2023-2024 academic year.

Organisationally in order  

NOLAI is part of Radboud University and located in the Faculty of Social Sciences. The education lab is led by a management team (MT), headed by Inge Molenaar. The MT reports to a steering group, with representatives from education, academia and businesses four times a year. They make up NOLAI’s strategic partners.

Financed by the National Growth Funds (Groeifonds)

After extensive exploration, the National Growth Funds (Groeifonds) has allocated €80 million for the 2022-2032 period. A further €63 million has been reserved for developing prototypes into products for the educational market. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (EZK) and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) are responsible for the project, and they provide advice on the process through a programme council.

NOLAI team
September 2023

Broad team of specialists

NOLAI has around 40 employees divided into three teams, each with their speciality and expertise. The focus is on science, co-creation, innovation and operational management. Curious about who works with and for NOLAI?

Strategische partners NOLAI