CeADAR and Google sign strategic partnership to help Irish businesses unlock benefits of AI

12 March 2025

_{Vanessa Hartley, Head of Google Ireland and VP of Large Customer Sales, EMEA; Lorraine Twohill, CMO, Google;  Minister Peter Burke TD; Dr John Lonsdale, CEO, CeADAR and Professor Kate Robson Brown, UCD Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Impact}

Google Ireland has signed a strategic partnership with AI hub (opens in a new window)CeADAR to support Irish businesses seeking to take advantage of the economic potential of artificial intelligence.

Under the new agreement, they will work together using a three-pillar approach to address AI skills gap, help businesses to implement AI solutions, and train the workers for the next phase of AI.

(opens in a new window)Recent research from Google, and the Implement Consulting Group, shows that widespread adoption of AI has the potential to boost Ireland’s GDP by €40-45 billion.

“Unlocking AI’s economic potential won’t happen automatically and requires a proactive approach to workforce adaptation,” said Dr John Lonsdale, CEO of CeADAR, Ireland’s European Digital Hub for AI, which is hosted at University College Dublin.

“We have been working with Irish businesses in recent years to help them leverage AI and machine learning but with the dynamic evolution of the technology more can be done to upskill Irish businesses, grow and nurture AI talent and facilitate faster adoption of AI.

“Ireland has a unique opportunity to harness the wider expertise that exists in our bustling tech sector - bringing our expertise together with Google is one key that can begin to unlock the economic opportunity AI will bring.”

Lorraine Twohill, Chief Marketing Officer at Google added: “AI presents a tremendous opportunity for Ireland, with the potential to significantly boost the economy. Ireland has built a strong foundation for a safe and reliable AI environment, supported by the Government’s clear ambition to capitalise on this transformative technology.”

The three-pillar approach:

• Addressing the AI skills gap - this includes tailored learning paths that provide on-demand training for varying proficiency levels, enhancing technical skills in cloud and product mastery while transforming leaders into AI-driven strategists.
• Scaling AI capabilities - empower Irish businesses to rapidly and responsibly test and implement AI solutions by leveraging Google's expertise and resources. CeADAR will provide access to Google Cloud resources, including €3 million in Google Cloud credits and advanced AI tools like Vertex AI and Gemini 2.0.
• Investing in the future - preparing Ireland for the next phase of AI through training and mentorship initiatives, for CeADAR staff and interns, building key cloud related skills.

Welcoming the new partnership, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke TD said it represented the “type of public and private sector collaboration that is needed to ensure we are equipping Irish businesses to benefit from the economic opportunities AI presents.

“AI has the potential to have a transformative, positive impact on Ireland’s competitiveness and the government is committed to creating an ecosystem where businesses can fully utilise the power of AI to innovate, expand, and compete on a global

Professor Kate Robson Brown, UCD Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Impact said the new partnership would bring together “the diverse expertise, strengths and resources of CeADAR and Google to build an AI-ready workforce and drive the adoption of AI-powered solutions boosting the competitiveness and productivity of Irish businesses.”

“Our researchers and innovators at UCD draw on the breadth and depth of their expertise to deliver knowledge and solutions that matter. They are leading the way in fields, such as AI, that are transforming the world around us. Advancing research and innovation is one of UCD’s central pillars guiding the University to break boundaries and to deliver lasting and meaningful impact.”

By: David Kearns, Digital Journalist / Media Officer, UCD University Relations (with materials from Micéal Whelan, UCD Research and Innovation)

To contact the UCD News & Content Team, email: newsdesk@ucd.ie