Government Supports Ireland's bid for an AI Factory Antenna

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, has announced Government support for a major new initiative to boost Ireland’s artificial intelligence (AI) capacity by bidding to host a European AI Factory Antenna.

This is a key step in strengthening Ireland’s national capacity and capability in AI that will give Irish researchers, businesses, and public sector organisations access to world-class AI computing power and expertise. 

The AI Factory Antenna will link Ireland directly to one of Europe’s leading AI hubs, the French “AI2F” Factory. The Irish centre would provide access to computing infrastructure, technical support, and training to help Irish innovators develop, test, and scale AI models and applications. 

This is central to the EU AI Continent Action Plan to significantly enhance Europe’s global AI leadership. 

Minister Lawless said: “This is about ensuring Irish startups, SMEs, researchers and the public sector can fully participate in the next generation of AI innovation. By connecting to the French AI Factory, we will unlock cutting-edge tools and computing power for use here at home, with a focus on sectors where AI can make a real difference like health, energy and advanced materials.”

The Irish proposal named AIF IRL-Antenna is being led by the Irish Centre for High-End Computing (ICHEC) at University of Galway and CeADAR, Ireland’s national AI technology centre based at UCD. The new Antenna would operate as a gateway for Irish innovators to use the services of one of Europe’s leading AI supercomputers, while also providing local support and training.

Minister Lawless continued, “This initiative will enhance Irish uptake of AI, enabling AI scaling and optimisation, in a way that is inclusive and affordable. It aligns closely with the ‘AI Continent Action Plan’, launched in April 2025, which sets out plans to establish the EU as a global AI leader. It is also fully in line with key Irish strategies such as the National Digital Strategy and the ‘National AI Strategy’ which Government recently agreed to update during 2025, signalling Ireland’s ambition to remain a global AI and digital leader.”

“We want Irish innovators to be AI creators and not simply users. I am also strongly committed to strengthening Ireland’s High Performance Computing Infrastructure which is strategic investment in Ireland’s digital future.” Minister Lawless concluded.