Ireland’s attractiveness as a destination for international investment is set to be examined as we endeavour to become a global hub for AI development.
An overwhelming majority (94 per cent) of respondents to the AmCham FDI Insights Survey said the Republic’s position as a regulatory hub within the EU is important to the State becoming a leader in digital and artificial intelligence (AI), with 60 per cent saying it is extremely or very important to their company. In addition, 96 per cent of respondents said EU investment in AI is important to ensure Ireland remains a destination of choice for investment.
Many are already walking the walk in this regard. Darryl Williams is chief executive and founder of Partsol, a US AI company that made the decision to relocate its global headquarters from the United States to Ireland in recent months.
“Partsol’s move to Ireland didn’t happen despite the global uncertainty or because of who sits in the White House,” he wrote in The Irish Times earlier this year. “It happened because of Ireland’s stability, its deep alignment with European regulatory clarity and its position as a bridge between the best of American innovation and the rigour of European accountability and regulation.”
Rhonda Doyle is country president of Schneider Electric Ireland, which is working to integrate AI into systems that optimise energy use, automate processes and reduce consumption. It is her view that the Irish ecosystem is not only supportive of AI development but is “actively driving” it.
“Ireland has become a highly attractive location for AI companies, underpinned by a booming tech sector, a pro-business environment and a deep culture of innovation,” says Doyle.
The State is particularly well-positioned to lead in AI, with adoption projected to contribute more than €250 billion to the economy by 2035. Start-ups are playing a vital role, Doyle says: “Ireland boasts a strong R&D-driven start-up culture, with 63 per cent of start-ups already adopting AI, more than double the European average.”
In parallel, the presence of big global tech players continues to bolster the ecosystem, she adds. “These companies are not only advancing AI innovation but also investing in workforce development through upskilling programmes and strategic partnerships. Together, this dynamic mix of innovation, investment and collaboration creates a fertile environment for AI to thrive in Ireland, making it one of the most attractive locations for AI development in Europe and beyond.”
Noesis is a global IT services company. Its business development manager, Conor Bartley, says the firm is focused on expanding its global AI capabilities to help clients drive innovation and unlock business value through advanced technologies.
“We see Ireland as a strategic part of our global business, with a strong talent pool that has the potential to lead the way for AI in Europe,” says Bartley. “Our centre of excellence in Dundalk plays a key role, leveraging close ties to top universities and strategic time zone alignment with the UK and US. Noesis recognises this opportunity and is committed to investing in Ireland to turn that potential into impact.”
João Martins, data analytics and AI senior manager with the organisation, says this is due to several factors: “It’s the maturity of the market, the high concentration of companies operating in Ireland and the specific challenges these organisations face – which, in many cases, mirror those we have already addressed in other geographies where Noesis operates.”
Ireland is also a market that demonstrates both financial capacity and strategic vision, with a medium- to long-term perspective, Martins adds.
“Many organisations have moved beyond early-stage proof of concept or value validation,” he says. “They are now engaging in full-scale production projects where AI plays a central role. Ireland also attracts highly skilled professionals and we have observed a parallel maturity in mindset and openness to innovation.”
As a result, Martins says the Irish ecosystem is primed to be a global hub for AI development. “When we see the multinational companies that have already chosen Ireland as a key European hub, alongside the strength of the local talent pool – we see a powerful combination of factors enabling various sectors to grow in a robust, consistent and forward-looking manner.”
Yet Doyle points out that the State’s ageing energy infrastructure risks deterring investment, as the rapid growth of AI data centres, which require a significant amount of energy, has raised concerns around grid resilience and energy supply.
“To maintain Ireland’s appeal as a tech hub, we need more investment in grid modernisation and incentives for businesses to adopt ‘prosumer’ solutions like microgrids that offer a reliable, localised energy supply, helping businesses withstand disruption while easing pressure on the grid,” says Doyle.
He says continued collaboration between Government and industry is needed to fast-track energy-efficient technologies.
Beyond infrastructure, talent development is equally crucial. “While Ireland has a strong workforce, there is a growing Stem skills gap that threatens progress in key sectors like AI and clean tech,” says Doyle.
“Government initiatives are necessary to support education and training on a country level, but businesses must also invest in developing talent and upskilling employees to meet evolving demands.”
Schneider Electric is taking matters into its own hands and last year it launched a UK and Ireland training programme focused on automation, AI, regulation and energy management.
