Ireland’s AI Advantage: Decades in the Making…

15 Oct

Ireland: Driving Strategic Product Development

There is an old saying that it takes years to create an overnight success. That is as true for foreign direct investment as it is for the entertainment industry. While the global spotlight only truly fell on artificial intelligence following the rise of large language models in 2023, Ireland had been preparing for this moment for more than two decades.

Long before AI became a boardroom priority, Ireland was investing in the technologies that underpin today’s AI revolution, including machine learning, data analytics and semiconductors. These early investments created the foundations that now position the country as one of Europe’s leading AI hubs.

“We’ve been doing AI in Ireland for 20 years,” says Professor Alan Smeaton of Dublin City University and founding director of the Insight Centre for Data Analytics. “It wasn’t always called AI. Much of it was known as data analytics. Today, AI has become a broad term, but at its core it’s about systems that learn from human behaviour.”

As AI adoption accelerates worldwide, Ireland has found itself uniquely positioned to capitalise. According to AWS’s Unlocking Ireland’s AI Potential report, Ireland now has the highest rate of business AI adoption in Europe, with 65% of companies using AI technologies, up from 45% the previous year.

Building Business-Focused AI

Ireland’s AI momentum is evident across the multinational companies that have established operations here. Among the more than 1,800 IDA Ireland client companies, many are developing AI capabilities and embedding them into products and services delivered globally.

“Companies such as Stripe, SAP, ServiceNow, Ericsson, Shutterstock, Mastercard and Valeo are all developing business-focused AI applications from Ireland,” says Donal Travers, Executive Director at IDA Ireland.

When organisations innovate and build strategic products in Ireland, they become further embedded within the local ecosystem. This strengthens long-term commitments, encourages expansion and increases future investment potential.

Ireland is home to 13 of the world’s top 20 technology companies, many of which are scaling AI operations. Global technology leaders have reinforced their confidence in Ireland through significant AI-related investments.

Microsoft announced 550 new research and development roles focused on AI disciplines including software engineering, data science and applied sciences. IBM, through its Red Hat subsidiary, is creating up to 800 high-skilled jobs across Dublin, Cork and Waterford in areas such as AI, automation, cybersecurity and cloud technologies.

Salesforce expanded its AI capabilities through the acquisition of Dublin-developed customer service platform Fin, while Workday committed €175 million to establish an AI Centre of Excellence in Ireland. Qualcomm is investing €125 million to transform its Cork operation into a strategic AI hub within its global network. Additional investments from MongoDB and OpenText further underline Ireland’s attraction as a centre for AI innovation.

Driving Strategic Product Development

For many multinational companies, the work undertaken in Ireland sits at the heart of their global AI strategies.

DocuSign is a prime example. The company is developing its Intelligent Agreement Management platform, enabling organisations to generate, negotiate, approve and execute contracts in compliance with European regulations.

“Much of that AI platform work happens here in Ireland,” says Violeta Martin, Site Leader for DocuSign Ireland. She points to the advantage of having product, engineering and customer-facing teams working closely together in Dublin. “The speed of our feedback loops allows us to innovate faster and remain highly customer-focused.”

In 2025, DocuSign reinforced that commitment with a €4.5 million investment in its Dublin-based research, development and innovation centre focused specifically on AI.

The world’s leading frontier AI companies have also recognised Ireland’s strengths. Both OpenAI and Anthropic have expanded their Irish operations, adding new responsibilities and increasing the strategic importance of their Dublin offices.

Anthropic announced plans to create 200 new jobs by 2027 across engineering, operations, legal, compliance, finance and sales functions. OpenAI, which established its Dublin office in 2023, highlighted the depth of Irish AI talent as a key factor in its decision to invest.

Legal AI specialist Harvey similarly selected Dublin as its European base, citing Ireland’s exceptional talent pool and proximity to rapidly growing markets across Europe.

A Trusted Environment for Responsible AI

As AI adoption grows, so too does the importance of governance, transparency and trust.

Ireland offers significant advantages in this area. The country has extensive experience in data governance, privacy and regulatory compliance, partly due to the concentration of multinational European headquarters located here under the GDPR framework.

Ireland’s Digital and AI Strategy positions the country as a trusted location for businesses seeking to innovate while operating within clear regulatory guardrails. The establishment of the National AI Office and implementation of the EU AI Act further strengthen Ireland’s reputation as a responsible environment for AI development and deployment.

A National Commitment to Research

Government investment in AI research is helping ensure Ireland’s competitive position for decades to come.

In 2026, Research Ireland launched the Rinn Network, a national initiative connecting seven major research centres focused on strategic areas including advanced AI.

At the heart of the programme sits Rinn AI, supported by a €127.1 million investment. According to Research Ireland’s Director of Research for the Economy, Dr Siobhan Roche, this represents the largest non-capital research investment in Irish history and establishes one of the most significant AI research centres in Europe.

Rinn AI brings together more than 280 researchers from disciplines spanning artificial intelligence, computer science, engineering, mathematics, law, ethics, social sciences and the humanities. Led jointly by Dublin City University, University College Dublin, University of Galway and Trinity College Dublin, the initiative aims to provide a single gateway through which industry can access Ireland’s research expertise.

AI Creating Impact Across Industries

The benefits of Ireland’s AI ecosystem extend far beyond technology companies.

Broadridge, the global fintech leader, is developing AI solutions in Ireland designed to simplify complex investment documentation for retail investors. By combining AI with human expertise, the company aims to improve accessibility while maintaining full regulatory compliance.

In the pharmaceutical sector, Novartis is exploring how AI can accelerate research into rare and under-studied diseases.

“We see a distinct advantage in enabling scientists to use AI tools to explore diseases that have traditionally received less attention,” says Eamon Boland, Head of the Novartis Corporate Centre in Dublin. “The impact for patients could be transformational.”

Talent Powering Future Growth

None of this progress would be possible without a highly skilled workforce.

According to the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, Ireland is currently generating AI-related employment opportunities at two to three times the rate of other EU countries. LinkedIn data ranked Ireland fourth globally for AI skills concentration in 2025, a significant improvement from tenth place in 2016.

This reflects the continued evolution of Ireland’s education system, which has responded quickly to industry demand. Programmes such as the National AI Masters and immersive software engineering initiatives have been developed in collaboration with industry to ensure graduates possess the skills employers require.

At the centre of this ecosystem is IDA Ireland, which continues to attract and support investment in AI-driven activities. The agency reports that a significant proportion of the 190 investments secured during the first half of 2026 included an AI component, reflecting its strategy to position AI as a key engine of future growth.

Looking Ahead

Ireland’s emergence as a leading AI destination is no accident. It is the result of decades of investment in research, talent, infrastructure and innovation.

The foundations laid years before AI became a global phenomenon are now delivering tangible results. With strong industry participation, ambitious research programmes, a highly skilled workforce and a commitment to responsible innovation, Ireland is well positioned to remain at the forefront of the AI revolution for years to come.