“Everyone starts their AI adventure in a different way, but there is no wrong way.”
There is no single route towards AI adoption. Every region, organisation and SME starts from a different position. In our Meet the Boost AI Partners series, we introduce the people and organisations working together to make Artificial Intelligence more practical, safe and accessible for smaller businesses across North-West Europe.
This time, we meet Jamie Visser, Project Manager at MKB Cyber Campus in the Netherlands.
Strengthening the digital resilience of SMEs
MKB Cyber Campus brings together education, government and local companies to strengthen the digital resilience of smaller businesses and organisations. Through awareness training, cyber scans and penetration testing, it helps SMEs improve their cybersecurity in a practical and sector-specific way.
Jamie has worked at MKB Cyber Campus for five years. Alongside her role as Project Manager, she works on legal topics and supports the organisation’s management. Her experience of working closely with SMEs also shapes MKB Cyber Campus’ contribution to Boost AI.
Why should SMEs start exploring AI now?
AI is increasingly becoming part of the tools and devices businesses use every day. At the same time, the sheer number of possibilities can be overwhelming. SMEs are asking which tools are useful, how they could support their daily activities and what happens to business data entered into AI systems.
For Jamie, that uncertainty is not a reason to wait.
“Right now is the best moment to invest in the possibilities of AI and learn about the dangers of AI.”
Starting now gives SMEs the opportunity to understand both the opportunities and risks while the technology continues to develop.
Three concerns regularly come up in Jamie’s conversations with SMEs:
“We have heard of it, but it is no use for us. We are too small.”
“I do not know what happens with the data I would use as input, so I cannot use it.”
“There are so many AI tools, I have no idea where to begin.”
With so many AI tools and providers available, finding the right solution can be difficult. And even after selecting a tool, questions remain about the safe and responsible use of company data. This is why the connection between AI and cybersecurity is an important part of MKB Cyber Campus’ contribution to Boost AI.
Nobody is falling behind
If Jamie could remove one barrier to AI adoption, it would be the feeling among SMEs that they are already behind.
“Nobody is falling behind on this subject and there are plenty of opportunities for everyone interested in AI.”
Smaller companies may have fewer financial resources than larger organisations, making accessible guidance particularly important. Rather than expecting SMEs to navigate the entire AI landscape themselves, they need help understanding what is actually relevant to their business.
Making AI practical starts with making it understandable
This practical SME perspective is exactly what MKB Cyber Campus brings to Boost AI. The organisation understands the challenges smaller businesses face and, as Jamie puts it:
“We have a good understanding of the language they speak and understand.”
Instead of presenting SMEs with an overwhelming list of AI possibilities, tools can be organised into clear categories and connected to individual business needs.
The starting point is not the technology itself, but the business and what it needs.
From there, Boost AI can help SMEs identify relevant applications and move from general interest towards practical use.
What would success look like in 2028?
Jamie envisions a future in which SMEs no longer have to navigate AI alone.
Ready-made tools developed through Boost AI could help SMEs and business support organisations identify suitable AI applications. Training can then provide the knowledge needed to understand and use those tools effectively.
Success, therefore, is not simply about providing technology. It is about giving SMEs the knowledge and confidence to use AI effectively and responsibly.
And if there is one thing Jamie wants every SME to remember, it is this:
“There is a way for everyone to use it to advance their daily activities, and everyone starts their AI adventure in a different way, but there is no wrong way.”
About MKB Cyber Campus
MKB Cyber Campus works with education, government and local companies to strengthen the digital resilience of SMEs and smaller organisations. Within Boost AI, it contributes its experience of working with SMEs, cybersecurity expertise and knowledge of the connection between cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence.
About Boost AI
Boost AI brings together partners across North-West Europe to help smaller SMEs build their capacity to use Artificial Intelligence in a practical, safe and responsible way. The project focuses particularly on SMEs in agrifood, hospitality and small-scale manufacturing.
Follow Boost AI for more partner stories, project updates and practical insights into AI adoption for SMEs.