The 6 data and AI decisions CxOs must make now

Macro Matters 2026-Q1 | Why subsidies, AI agents, and regulation converge in one strategic decision point

  • Article
  • Data Strategy
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Want to move faster with a strategic view on your data? Every quarter, Elias zooms in on the market developments that impact your data-driven organisation.

1. Political

EU subsidies via DEP accelerate AI innovation in the Netherlands

The Netherlands has secured €1.7 billion in EU funding through the Digital Europe Programme (DEP) for 2025–2027, with a focus on AI, data, cloud and cybersecurity. In 2024, Dutch SMEs and knowledge institutions already captured 11.7% of the total budget (€46 million). Minister Beljaarts has stressed the importance of digital sovereignty in relation to the US and Asia.

The level of digitalisation among SMEs has risen to 81.5%, but the use of advanced AI and cloud applications needs to increase to 75% by 2030.

So what? (board-level)

DEP subsidies are not a tactical benefit, but a strategic accelerator. Deploying these resources now allows organisations to speed up AI and cloud transformation using external capital, while reducing dependency on non-European technology.

Action this quarter

Identify 2–3 core initiatives (AI, cloud, data platform) and actively position them for DEP funding.

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2. Economic

AI adoption in SMEs is growing, but investments remain behind

CBS reports from autumn 2025 show that 23% of Dutch companies with more than 10 employees are using AI, double the figure from 2021. Text mining (14%) and natural language generation (12%) are the most widely applied. Despite 71% cloud adoption, investments in digital infrastructure remain limited, signalling a risk of structural delays in SME digitalisation.

So what? (board-level)

AI delivers measurable productivity gains. Delaying action increases the risk of falling behind, especially for mid-market and B2B organisations.

Action this quarter

Reassess investment priorities towards scalable data and cloud foundations, and leverage existing funding conditions.

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3. Social

Structural AI talent shortage drives need for upskilling

Analyses from SER and UWV highlight that the shortage of ICT and AI specialists persists. Globally, millions of jobs are being affected by AI, while Dutch SMEs struggle to secure data and AI skills. Additionally, AI tools are reshaping expectations around productivity and ethics.

So what? (board-level)

The shortage of AI talent presents a structural capacity risk. Relying solely on external recruitment limits speed and continuity.

Action this quarter

Embed AI upskilling into strategic workforce planning and make AI skills a key part of performance and development.

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4. Technological

AI agents and MLOps accelerate data operations

AI agents and mature MLOps practices enable the automation of analytics and decision-making. In SMEs, the focus is growing on areas such as sales forecasting, operational automation, and scalable AI architectures.

So what? (board-level)

Data-driven operations are shifting from analysis to action. Organisations that start now will build a structural advantage in speed and scalability.

Action this quarter

Select one operational domain for AI agents and accelerate MLOps maturity with a clear focus on security and architecture.

Sources

5. Legal

AI Act mandates governance adjustments

The AI Act activates compliance deadlines for high-risk AI systems. This impacts training data, privacy, and cloud dependencies. Organisations must begin audits on existing and planned AI applications.

So what? (board-level)

AI compliance is a current governance risk with implications for fines, reputation, and ESG accountability.

Action this quarter

Initiate a targeted audit and embed AI governance into existing risk and compliance frameworks.

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6. Environmental

Green data centres determine AI feasibility

The growth of AI is increasing pressure on energy and infrastructure. EU targets and ESG requirements make sustainability a critical prerequisite for cloud and AI decisions.

So what? (board-level)

Energy and sustainability are fundamental to achieving AI ambitions.

Action this quarter

Explicitly incorporate sustainability into AI and cloud decision-making, and assess suppliers based on energy efficiency.

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What does this mean for you this quarter?

These six developments clearly show that Q1 2026 demands cohesive choices:

  • Political: DEP subsidies now provide an opportunity for acceleration
  • Economic: AI adoption justifies investment
  • Social: Talent shortages require structural upskilling
  • Technological: AI agents enable scalability
  • Legal: Governance and compliance are prerequisites
  • Environmental: Sustainable infrastructure determines feasibility

The organisations that will succeed are those that don’t treat these trends in isolation but bring them together into one clear data and AI agenda.

This is an article by Elias Hassing

With a background in product management and over 15 years of experience leading international development teams, Elias helps organisations develop their data strategy. With his expertise in product development and experience as Head of Product at companies such as Coolgradient and Infinitas Learning, Elias guides digital transformations from strategy to execution.

Elias Hassing

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