NS, the national railway operator in the Netherlands, is extending its collaboration with KickstartAI through 2029, alongside Ahold Delhaize, ING, and KLM. For the railway sector, one of the key projects is developing a method to detect abandoned luggage at stations without infringing on privacy.
KickstartAI was launched in 2019 by Ahold Delhaize, ING, KLM, and NS, based on the idea that the Netherlands needs not only technology and specialists, but also organizations capable of applying artificial intelligence to concrete problems.
In this new multi-year phase, the founding partners aim to expand the circle of participating organizations to new sectors, so that the applications developed and lessons learned in specific projects can be applied more quickly in other fields as well.
AI for abandoned luggage at stations
For NS, KickstartAI has developed a method for detecting abandoned luggage at stations without violating privacy rights. The project is relevant to the railway sector because unattended luggage can cause delays, security interventions, and traffic disruptions at busy stations.
The company does not provide technical details in the press release, but emphasizes that the application is designed to meet an operational need without turning monitoring into intrusive surveillance.
Erick Webbe, CEO of KickstartAI, says that the main challenge is no longer the technology itself, but the transition from ambition to implementation.
“The biggest challenge related to AI is not, at this point, the technology itself, but the step from ambition to implementation. Real progress happens when you build concrete solutions together, learn from them, and share these lessons so that others can move forward more quickly. In this new phase, we want to expand the group of partners so that successful applications and practical lessons can reach other sectors more quickly, and the positive impact of AI in the Netherlands can grow,” said Erick Webbe.
From experiments to widespread use
The KickstartAI partnership also includes applications developed in other sectors. At Bol, AI models have been used to improve forecasts of parcel volumes, which can lead to more efficient transport. ING is working on a digital financial guide to provide consumers with easier-to-understand information about money, and together with KLM, solutions are being developed to reduce food waste through more precise planning of in-flight meals.
KickstartAI also collaborates with organizations such as Erasmus MC and the National Police in the Netherlands.
Wouter Koolmees, CEO of NS, states that artificial intelligence must be used more boldly to address issues with social impact.
“It’s time to boldly bring together the social challenges we face and the possibilities offered by artificial intelligence. This way, we make work easier for our colleagues and develop solutions that benefit the whole of the Netherlands. That’s what KickstartAI will be doing in the coming years,” said Wouter Koolmees.
Social Challenges and Infrastructure Under Pressure
KickstartAI argues that practical experience in applying AI is essential at a time when the Netherlands is facing significant economic and social pressures, ranging from slowing productivity growth and rising healthcare costs to climate pressure and increasingly congested infrastructure.
In this context, the partners believe that AI can contribute to tangible progress only if organizations manage to move from pilot projects to large-scale implementations. For the rail sector, the NS example shows how the technology can be used in stations for safety and more efficient operations, provided that data protection and public acceptance are integrated from the outset.
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