Ireland’s National Centre for AI to receive €5.7m funding for phase two of European programme 

Pictured (l-r) are;  Ricardo Simon Carbajo, Director of Innovation and Development, CeADAR and EDIH for AI Programme Director and John Lonsdale, CEO, CeADAR.

ADAR, Ireland’s centre for AI, has confirmed it is to receive €5.675m in funding for Phase 2 of the European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) Programme.  

The €5.675 million funding will go towards CeADAR’s European Digital Innovation Hub Programme, a Europe-wide initiative. It is co-funded by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, via Enterprise Ireland, and the Digital Europe Programme. 

CeADAR is one of Ireland’s four European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) which are at the forefront of supporting the digital transformation in Ireland. 

New Online Course Launching Soon

Introduction to Prompt Engineering for LLMs and Multimodal AI, CeADAR European  Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) for AI Online Course. This online training course helps professionals use generative AI tools effectively, safely, and responsibly in real organisational contexts.

Developed by CeADAR’s European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) for AI programme, it combines hands-on prompt design with critical evaluation of AI outputs and awareness of EU regulation. Learners will gain hands-on skills for working with text, image, audio, and video AI systems while understanding the risks, limitations, and governance responsibilities associated with AI adoption.

The course will be available via our website at the end of January.

The Sunday Times spotlighted the success of the EDIH programme in Ireland.

Since its launch, CeADAR’s EDIH for AI has focused on one clear mission: enabling Irish enterprises and public sector organisations to explore, experiment and innovate with AI, in a practical, accessible and low-risk way.

Those mentioned in The Sunday Times this month included Carol O’Toole Boon from Progressive Credit Union Ltd., who has worked closely with CeADAR to develop a chatbot prototype aimed at improving her organisation’s digital customer experience.

“What I would say to other businesses is, if you are going to do this, don’t do it as a kind of aside whenever you’re free. Enter into it in the same way as you would with any commercial contract because EDIHs are letting you utilise some of the smartest people out there”

Carol O’Toole Boon, Progressive Credit Union Ltd

Visit our website to find out more about our  EDIH for AI Programme.

CyclOps Winter School 2026

CeADAR recently presented at the CyclOps Winter School on Knowledge-based Systems and Data Spaces, that took place on the 12–14 January 2026 in Bolzano, Italy.

The Winter School is organised as part of the CyclOps project, an EU-funded initiative focused on the use of semantic technologies and knowledge-based systems to support interoperable data sharing across Europe.

Julia Palma, CeADAR’s Programme Manager, gave two presentations at the Winter School, the first on Impactful and Future-Proof Research followed by Building Trustworthy Systems from the Inside Out.

Visit our website to find out more and read both presentations.

Webinars & Events

ONLINE: The Graphene Flagship Digital Workshop

CeADAR Senior Research Data Scientist, Cristian Bosch is one of the speakers at ‘The Graphene Flagship’ digital workshop offering an introduction to the benefits and challenges of integrating AI into research workflows.

Aimed at postgraduate students and early-career researchers, the session will highlight applications in publishing, communication, productivity, and responsible research practices.

 27 January 2026,  13:00-14:30 CET

Find out more about tomorrow’s event and register below

WEBINAR: The Art of Possible with Generative AI: Build Customisable and Task Specific Gems

 Sign up for our January EDIH webinar and discover how to build task-specific AI assistants that work the way you and your teams do.

 In this practical session, you’ll see how Generative AI tools like Gemini and Gems can be tailored into focused assistants that support everyday business and public sector tasks.

29th January, 12:30 – 13:30

WEBINAR: CeADAR Tech Talk: The “ChatGPT Moment” for Advanced Manufacturing?

Speakers: Prof Denis Dowling and Dr Cathal Hoare from Research Ireland funded I-Form Advanced Manufacturing Centre 

There is growing adoption of digital technologies and AI within manufacturing to improve efficiency, predictive maintenance, and decision-making, though overall integration remains relatively low. Sign up for our first Tech Talk to hear how recent advances such as Physical AI and strategic industry alliances are accelerating this shift, enabling systems that can perceive, reason, and adapt in real time. 

 12th February, 11:00 – 12:00

Pictured (LR): Peter Byrne, CEO, South Dublin Chamber; Cliodhna O’Byrne, Deputy CEO, South Dublin Chamber; Laura Plunkett, EDIH Programme Manager, CeADAR Ireland;

The day opened with an introduction from Peter Byrne, CEO of South Dublin Chamber. This was followed by a presentation from Laura Plunkett EDIH Programme Manager at CeADAR, who provided a detailed overview of the European Digital Innovation Hubs Network, and the current AI and digital support ecosystem accessible to organisations across Ireland.

Ramy Ebeid, EDIH & Digital Engagement Lead at CeADAR gave a live AI workflow demonstration, emphasising the opportunities available to organisations in the form of “simple wins”, where basic, easy-to-use AI integrations can help to improve day to day task efficiency.

Rish Arora, EDIH Data Scientist II at CeADAR provided an introduction to the fundamentals of Agentic AI, demonstrating use cases for multi agent workflows, and helping to break down some of the misconceptions around how AI agents work and how they can be effectively incorporated within business and public service processes.

Stephen Barnes, Senior Lab Manager at the Walton Institute closed off the session with a presentation on how Walton Institute, in partnership with ENTIRE EDIH Ireland, continues to develop new and innovative ways businesses and public service organisations can utilize cutting-edge immersive technologies in the areas of Augmented, Virtual and Mixed reality.

This event was hosted in conjunction with Fingal Chamber, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Chamber of Commerce and County Kildare Chamber.

O-CEI Horizon Announces the 24 Winners of Its First Open Call

The O-CEI (Open CloudEdgeIoT Platform Uptake in Large Scale Cross-Domain Pilots) Horizon Europe project has announced the 24 winners of its first Open Call, awarding €2.4m in total funding to European start-ups and SMEs. Each selected company will receive €100,000 in equity-free funding to develop Cloud–Edge–IoT solutions aimed at accelerating the digital transformation of Europe’s energy and industrial sectors.

The technical competition was particularly focused on key digital transformation drivers, with applicants addressing 33 specific industrial challenges spanning the 8 project pilots.

The most selected challenges included:

• Innovative Edge-AI for Energy Management and Decision Making
• Performing Machine Learning training process at the edge
• Dairy product Traceability System based on Distributed Ledger Technologies
• Application of artificial intelligence technology
• Adaptation of AI techniques and flexibility services to various urban and social utilities

CeADAR are the task lead for defining the project data, monitoring and AI utilities and assets within its platform and marketplace.

O-CEI has indicated a second Open Call toward the end of 2026, with a further set of consortia expected to join the project community. Details will be published on our social media when they are available. 

Queen’s University Belfast and University College Dublin Sign Landmark Cross-Border AI Partnership

'Professor Sir Ian Greer, President and Vice-Chancellor of QUB with Professor Orla Feely of UCD.

Queen’s University Belfast and University College Dublin signed a new Memorandum of Understanding establishing a strategic cross-border partnership between Momentum One Zero at Queen’s and CeADAR, Ireland’s National Centre for Applied AI at UCD.

The agreement sets out a framework for collaboration in applied artificial intelligence, digital innovation, skills development and industry engagement. It reflects a shared ambition to enhance economic competitiveness, workforce development, research excellence, and societal impact across the island of Ireland.

The partnership will focus on strengthening cross-border applied AI, developing joint research bids across UK, Irish and European funding programmes, exploring joint capital and infrastructure projects, accelerating industry adoption of digital technologies, and supporting SME engagement and skills development.

A Joint Project Board will be established to oversee implementation of the MoU and to guide development of a major cross-border AI Alliance involving industry partners, enterprise agencies, and government stakeholders.

The collaboration aligns with the strategic opportunities presented by the Shared Island initiative, UK–Ireland research frameworks, Horizon Europe, UKRI partnerships, and programmes supported by Enterprise Ireland, Invest NI and InterTradeIreland.

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, said: “Artificial intelligence is a game changer, with the potential to transform how we learn and work. Realising that potential depends on ensuring innovators in academia and industry, including our SMEs, have access to the highest‑quality resources and infrastructure. That is why my Department has invested in the new AI Factory Antenna, of which CeADAR is a key part. I am pleased to see this work strengthened further through meaningful north–south cooperation, which will help ensure that innovation benefits the entire island.”

Minister for the Economy of Northern Ireland, Dr Caoimhe Archibald, said: “I welcome this landmark partnership as a significant step forward in strengthening cross‑border collaboration in artificial intelligence. AI offers enormous potential to drive productivity, support good jobs, and accelerate innovation across our economy, and it is vital that we seize these opportunities responsibly. By deepening research links, supporting industry adoption, and developing the skills our workforce will need, this partnership will deliver real economic and societal benefits across the island.”

Professor Sir Ian Greer, President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast, added: “This partnership marks a significant moment in strengthening collaboration between Queen’s and UCD. By combining the expertise of Momentum One Zero and CeADAR, we are creating a cross-border platform for applied AI and advanced digital innovation that will directly support industry, accelerate productivity, and deliver real economic impact across the island of Ireland. Partnering with a institution with the reputation and impact of UCD is something we at Queen’s are very proud of. This Memorandum of Understanding sets the foundation for a major cross-border AI Alliance that will bring together universities, industry and government to position Ireland and Northern Ireland at the forefront of responsible and industry-embedded artificial intelligence.”

Professor Orla Feely, President of University College Dublin said: “In a changing and uncertain world, universities like UCD and Queen’s play a vital role in supporting society through technological transition. Artificial Intelligence is one of the defining opportunities and challenges of our time. Through the combined expertise of CeADAR and Momentum One Zero, we can lead the way in using AI ethically and productively to deliver real economic and social benefits. Both institutions look forward to working alongside our university, industry, and government partners across the island to navigate the uncertainty ahead and fully harness the opportunities this presents.”

Dr John Lonsdale, CEO of CeADAR said: “This Memorandum of Understanding represents a significant step in strengthening the all-island ecosystem for applied artificial intelligence. By bringing together the complementary strengths of CeADAR and Momentum One Zero, we are creating a powerful platform to accelerate responsible AI adoption, support innovation across sectors, and deliver tangible impact for industry and society.”

Further announcements regarding joint research bids, initiatives and the development of the proposed cross-border AI Alliance will follow in due course.

Building the Future of ICU Data. Secure and AI-Ready.

While the European Health Data Space (EHDS) represents a high-level policy shift for the continent, CeADAR and Trinity College Dublin (TCD) are currently building its operational foundation in Ireland.

Through a dedicated partnership at St. James’s Hospital (SJH), CeADAR is developing the AI infrastructure required to connect Irish intensive care units (ICUs) to a secure, pan-European network, applying responsible data practices directly within the Irish healthcare system.

Responsible AI Focus of NovaUCD, CeADAR and Dutch Embassy Event at University College Dublin

NovaUCD hosted CeADAR and the Dutch Embassy at an event focussed on Responsible AI.

The event gathered a panel of experts and thought leaders together, moderated by CeADAR’s CEO, Dr John Lonsdale, to discuss and explore how AI can be designed and deployed responsibly to truly benefit and impact society.  

MARE 6G Project General Assembly

CeADAR attended the MARE 6G Project General Assembly this month in Verona, Italy.

MARE aims to create a reliable 6G service provisioning platform by defining a novel security plane with open, programmable security functions. CeADAR is leading the development on enhancing the AI Trustworthiness of 6G.

Responsible AI Focus of NovaUCD, CeADAR and Dutch Embassy Event at University College Dublin

NovaUCD hosted CeADAR and the Dutch Embassy at an event focussed on Responsible AI.

The event gathered a panel of experts and thought leaders together, moderated by CeADAR’s CEO, Dr John Lonsdale, to discuss and explore how AI can be designed and deployed responsibly to truly benefit and impact society.  

CeADAR’s EDIH for AI Cork County Council Case Study

Cork County Counciled approached CeADAR through the EDIH for AI programme, with a goal to prototype a ChatBot for their housing department. The challenge they faced at the time revolved around managing large volumes of queries relating to new affordable housing schemes. They hoped to develop a chatbot that could assist citizens to find the information they needed in a more efficient way.

UCD Impact Case Study Competition

AI2Peat were finalists in the UCD Impact Case Study Competition for their project AI2PEAT – accelerating peatland restoration.  Congratulations to UCD School of Earth Sciences researcher and faculty member Eoghan P. Holohan and Corrado Grappiolo, PhD, Snr Data Scientist at CeADAR.  Visit the https://ai2peat.ie/ to find out more about the project.

TEAGASC Food Innovation Gateways Event

Early this year CeADAR attended the Teagasc Ashtown Food Research Centre for the Food Innovation Gateway Event. The event brought together industry leaders, researchers and policymakers to explore the latest advancements shaping the future of the meat sector in Ireland and beyond.

Webinars & Events

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁: 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗜 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁
CeADAR’s EDIH for AI are hosting an event in partnership with South Dublin Chamber on the 11th of March at the Plaza Hotel, Tallaght.

Join us on the day and gain a clear understanding of how your business or organisation can take the first step to benefit from using AI.

This event is hosted in conjunction with Fingal Chamber, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Chamber of Commerce and County Kildare Chamber.

📆 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: Wednesday 11th March
🕰️𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 9:30am – 12:00pm
📍𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: The Plaza Hotel, Tallaght, The Plaza Suite

𝗧𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿: Contact Majella Nasir – [email protected]

UCD Food Horizons Breakfast Briefing

Data, AI and the Food Chain: Building Smarter and Safer Food Systems.
Join us at the UCD Food Horizons Breakfast Briefing as we explore “Data, AI and the Food Chain: Building Smarter and Safer Food Systems.”

This is your opportunity to hear directly from UCD researchers and industry experts about the trends defining Ireland’s food sector and includes a talk from CeADAR’s Programme Manager, Julia Palma.

Tuesday 10th March
UCD University Club
08:00 – 09:30

The briefing will be of particular interest to food science, production, and R&D professionals.

Spaces are limited.

Register your interest to attend by emailing [email protected]

WEBINAR RECORDING: CeADAR Tech Talk: The “ChatGPT Moment” for Advanced Manufacturing?

Thank you to everyone who attended the Tech Talk webinar this month. The recording is now available on our YouTube channel.

Special thanks to speakers, Prof Denis Dowling and Dr Cathal Hoare from Research Ireland funded I-Form Advanced Manufacturing Centre.

UCD Food Horizons Breakfast Briefing

Register your interest to attended the next Food Horizons Breakfast Briefing. Data, AI and the Food Chain: Building Smarter and Safer Food Systems.

This is your opportunity to hear directly from UCD researchers and industry experts about the trends defining Ireland’s food sector, including a presentation from CeADAR’s Julia Palma.

Tuesday 10th March
UCD University Club
08:00 – 09:30

The briefing will be of particular interest to food science, production, and R&D professionals.

Spaces are limited. Register your interest to attend by emailing [email protected]

Building the Future of ICU Data. Secure and AI-Ready.

While the European Health Data Space (EHDS) represents a high-level policy shift for the continent, CeADAR and Trinity College Dublin (TCD) are currently building its operational foundation in Ireland. Through a dedicated partnership at St. James’s Hospital (SJH), CeADAR is developing the AI infrastructure required to connect Irish intensive care units (ICUs) to a secure, pan-European network, applying responsible data practices directly within the Irish healthcare system.

This work aims to ensure that federated ICU AI tools are as resilient as they are fair, validating this privacy-preserving framework in a clinical environment. By facilitating safe and responsible primary and secondary use of health data, this infrastructure empowers patients, while driving high-impact research and informed public policy.

The strategic vision for this partnership was recently detailed in the paper  ‘The next frontier in sepsis: connected ICU data for real-world clinical decision making’ published in Intensive Care Medicine.

The paper identifies the current restrictions in critical care research and education caused by fragmented and locally siloed data. To address this, the European Health Data Space (EHDS) proposes a federated, privacy-preserving framework designed to connect intensive care units (ICUs) across Europe. Sepsis was selected as a primary model for this initiative because of its high mortality, clinical heterogeneity, and the persistent lack of standardisation in outcomes.

The paper shows that through federated infrastructures, we can enable the joint analysis of ICU data without the transfer of patient-level information and facilitate large-scale benchmarking to the benefit of the patient.

CeADAR continued its active involvement as a technical partner of the Digital Europe INDICATE project at this month’s Hackathon in Amsterdam. Alongside clinicians, researchers, data scientists, and innovators, CeADAR engaged in a full-day deep dive to co-create solutions addressing how to responsibly unlock the value of intensive care unit (ICU) data at scale, paving the way for implementation of the European Health Data Space (EHDS) and the adoption of AI-based solutions. However, to achieve this requires an integrated approach drawing on the expertise of clinicians and data science expertise at all stages of the implementation. 

Click below to read the full paper:

CeADAR are hosting an event in partnership with South Dublin Chamber on the 11th of March at the Plaza Hotel, Tallaght.

Come along and find out how CeADAR’s European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) for AI programme supports the digital and AI transitions of SMEs and Public Sector Organisations all over Ireland. The EDIH for AI programme provides fully funded business and technical support, enabling SMEs to take advantage of the benefits of AI quickly.

We’ll help demystify AI and highlight use cases relevant for SMEs and Public Sector Organisations in Ireland. The agenda includes a live Gen AI and automation workflow demonstration, and a talk from ENTIRE Ireland, the EDIH for digitalisation, who will explore how recent advancements in the area of Virtual  and Augmented Reality can deliver value to your business.

Join us on the day  and gain a clear understanding of how your business or organisation can take the first step to benefit from using AI.

This event is hosted in conjunction with Fingal Chamber, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Chamber of Commerce and County Kildare Chamber.

📆 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: Wednesday 11th March
🕰️𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 9:30am – 12:00pm
📍𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: The Plaza Hotel, Tallaght, The Plaza Suite

𝗧𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿: Contact Majella Nasir – [email protected]