en.Wedoany.com Reported - Ireland has launched the "AIF IRL-Antenna" AI factory antenna, positioned as the country's national gateway to the European AI network, aiming to provide local organizations with the advanced computing power needed to develop, test, and deploy AI solutions at scale.

The antenna is described as Ireland's national initiative, connecting the Irish AI ecosystem with the European AI factory infrastructure.

This initiative has received €10 million in joint funding from Europe and the Irish government, aiming to drive AI adoption and innovation in the country, while securing a place in the broader European AI ecosystem as part of a network of AI factories and high-performance computing facilities.

The antenna will serve as Ireland's national access point to Europe's advanced AI and high-performance computing infrastructure, providing startups, SMEs, researchers, and public sector organizations with streamlined access to world-class AI resources, technical expertise, training programs, and innovation support.

The antenna connects the Irish AI ecosystem with the European AI factory infrastructure under the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking, offering AI-optimized high-performance computing and the related expertise needed to transform ideas into deployable AI.

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, stated that the launch of the AI factory antenna is a significant step for Ireland's digital future, bringing together businesses, researchers, and public sector organizations to help create an environment where innovation thrives, enabling organizations of all sizes to access the support needed to fully leverage AI.

The antenna will be operated by the Irish Centre for High-End Computing, based at the University of Galway, in collaboration with CeADAR, Ireland's AI centre.

Professor Jean-Christophe Desplat, Director of ICHEC, stated that the AIF IRL-Antenna leverages Ireland's leading advanced computing and artificial intelligence centres to simplify access to EU sovereign AI platforms and services, and to promote their adoption within Ireland's startup and scaling ecosystem. The collaboration involves seven regional innovation hubs, ensuring all companies benefit equally regardless of their location.

The project aims to expand and accelerate AI innovation by lowering adoption barriers and supporting national strategies in advanced computing, high-performance computing, AI, data spaces, and quantum computing, while accelerating the digital and green transition in sectors such as energy, agriculture, climate, healthcare, smart cities, and manufacturing.

The EuroHPC JU is part of the EU's broader effort to strengthen AI excellence, foster innovation, and ensure that businesses, researchers, and public sector organizations in member states can benefit from access to cutting-edge AI technologies and infrastructure.