Researchers at VU can now independently work with large language models through the new platform Nebula—offering full control over data and models without relying on commercial providers.
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam’s Network Institute has launched the Nebula AI platform, giving researchers easy access to over 1,500 open-source language models, including Deepseek, Llama, and Qwen. Six models are already running.
Unlike commercial services, Nebula is fully hosted within VU Amsterdam. This ensures full control over data and models, and supports compliance with European privacy and transparency standards.
With Nebula, researchers can retrieve online information via AI models with integrated web search, process academic texts (with Markdown and LaTeX), and customise models for research use. The platform is accessible even for non-technical users, with support provided by the Network Institute.
Ivano Malavolta (Associate Professor, Software and Sustainability) notes that interest in the platform is growing. Early test users come from the Departments of Language, Literature and Communication, and Art and Culture, History and Antiquity.
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