Project description
Building Ireland’s connected AI ecosystem
Ireland is planning a national AI ecosystem to connect enterprise, research, and the public sector. This will address major economic, environmental, and societal challenges, as well as support the country’s digital and green transition. In this context, the EU-funded AIF IRL-Antenna project aims to enable access to European and national data environments, AI sandboxes, and high-performance computing resources. It will provide practical support, training, and user-friendly tools to help organisations develop and scale AI solutions across sectors such as energy, healthcare, agriculture, climate, and advanced manufacturing. Additionally, it will connect Ireland to the wider European AI Factory network. By strengthening collaboration and capability-building, the project will accelerate real-world AI adoption and innovation across Ireland’s economy and public services.
Objective
"Ireland is actively building a connected national ecosystem for artificial intelligence (AI), where enterprise, research, and the public sector work together to drive innovation and tackle major economic, environmental and societal challenges. This collaboration supports Ireland's twin transition goals, digital and green transformation, across sectors like energy, agriculture, biodiversity, climate, healthcare, smart cities, Space, deeptech and manufacturing.
AI is a core part of Ireland's national digital strategy, ""AI – Here for Good"", and is now closely linked with efforts in advanced computing, data governance, quantum technologies, space, semiconductors, and skills development. As the use of AI grows, there is an increasing need to provide businesses, researchers, and public sector bodies with the tools, infrastructure, and expert support they need to build and scale AI solutions.
The AI Factory Antenna in Ireland (AIF IRL-Antenna) will serve as the central hub for connecting and supporting Ireland's AI ecosystem. It will offer access to national and European AI infrastructure—such as secure data environments, AI Sandboxes, AI-optimised HPC resources and data spaces—and help users make the most of AI through hands-on support, user-friendly tools, and tailored training for all skill levels.
AIF IRL-Antenna will link with AI Factory France (AI2F), network with the rest of the EuroHPC AI Factory and Antenna network, and will be Ireland's link to the wider European AI ecosystem, connecting with the AI Factories and Antennas network, EuroHPC National Competence Centres, Centres of Excellence and European Digital Innovation Hubs.
Led by ICHEC, Ireland's national centre for high-performance computing (HPC) and data platforms, and working in partnership with CeADAR, Ireland's centre for applied AI, AIF IRL-Antenna will engage closely with startups, SMEs, public sector bodies, and researchers—helping them adopt, develop, and scale AI for real-world impact."
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences computer and information sciences artificial intelligence
- engineering and technology civil engineering urban engineering smart cities
- social sciences sociology governance
- social sciences economics and business business and management innovation management
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics semiconductivity
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.2.4 - Digital, Industry and Space
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.2.4.7 - Advanced Computing and Big Data
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HORIZON.2.4.5 - Artificial Intelligence and Robotics
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-JU-RIA - HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-JU-EUROHPC-2025-AIFA-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
H91 Galway
Ireland
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.