RDI Hub today launched the RDI AI Gateway, a new partnership-led offering designed to help Irish firms and public bodies move faster from AI experimentation to deployment. 

The gateway brings together three capabilities that many organisations cannot easily access on their own: compute and infrastructure to build AI, sandbox access to test systems for trustworthiness and regulatory readiness, and cyber resilience capability to stress test and secure AI-enabled products before launch. It is designed to remove a major bottleneck in AI adoption within the Irish corporate and start-up environments. 

The initiative is built through agreements with the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Munster Technological University (MTU), and LuxProvide, supported by ICHEC, Ireland’s national high performance computing centre. Together, the partners create a cross-border pathway linking Irish demand with Luxembourg’s AI Factory, sandbox and sovereign infrastructure capabilities, while also opening opportunities for Irish research and cybersecurity expertise to contribute into that wider European ecosystem. 

European Commissioner Michael McGrath, following a meeting in Brussels with the RDI and parties to the agreements, welcomed the collaborations and said: 

“I want to commend the team at the RDI for connecting the dots making sure founders, scaling companies and established corporates can reach the AI infrastructure being built across the European Union. This is what we are about: breaking down barriers, ending fragmentation, and giving Irish companies access to cutting edge AI to scale, grow and succeed as European companies with global reach.” Michael McGrath EU Commissioner 

The launch comes as Irish organisations face growing pressure to move from AI experimentation to real-world deployment. Many are now asking practical questions about how to build AI systems, validate existing models, secure them before launch, and stay aligned with European regulation and data sovereignty requirements. 

RDI Hub’s work with startups, corporates, public bodies and government stakeholders over the past six months identified three recurring needs: the ability to build AI models and AI-enabled products, the ability to test those systems for trustworthiness and readiness, and the ability to secure them through cyber resilience environments. For many regulated organisations, all three are required. 

The AI Gateway is designed as a single access point to those capabilities, helping organisations move from early interest in AI to more trusted deployment. Early market engagement is already under way, with Fexco and fintech startup Broc among the organisations exploring the new pathway. 

Fergal Brosnan, CEO of RDI Hub, said: 

“Most AI sandboxes do one thing. The RDI AI Gateway does three. We’ve brought together access to infrastructure to build AI, a sandbox to test and validate it, and cyber resilience capability to test resilience & secure it before deployment. That combination is what organisations have been asking for, and it can help turn AI pilots into systems that are ready for real-world use. A first for Ireland.” 

Data sovereignty 
Data sovereignty and sovereign cloud are central to the announcement. Irish organisations are increasingly seeking cloud, AI, data and security solutions that provide greater control, compliance and resilience. For boards, regulated sectors and public bodies, questions around where data sits, who controls it, how AI models are trained, and how systems are secured are now core business and trust issues. 

For Irish startups and corporates, RDI AI Gateway removes a major bottleneck in AI adoption by combining infrastructure, sandbox testing and cyber resilience in one offering. 

Gearoid Kearney, Innovation Services and Delivery Lead at RDI 

"AI is the immediate need; quantum is the next horizon. Our role is to make sure Irish firms and public bodies have a practical pathway through both real access to infrastructure, sandboxes, cyber capability and sovereign compute, with the expertise to use them well. Data sovereignty is at the core of how we've designed the Gateway, and the partnerships we've built today are designed to scale, so Ireland is ready for the next wave when it arrives." 

Daniele Pagani, Lead Partnerships Officer, Human Centred AI, Data & Software, at the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), said: 

“This collaboration with the RDI gives Irish organisations a trusted route into LIST’s AI Sandbox at exactly the moment they need it, as Europe moves from preparing for the EU AI Act to applying it. It is a practical model for cross-border cooperation, and a real strengthening of the innovation link between Luxembourg and Ireland. Together with the RDI, we look forward to fostering the adoption of trustworthy AI solutions in both countries.” 

 
Dr Hazel Murray, Chair of Cybersecurity at Munster Technological University, said: 

“This collaboration combines MTU’s research and cybersecurity infrastructure with RDI Hub’s industry network and delivery model. Together, we can help turn specialist technical capability into practical support for trusted AI and cyber resilience, while also strengthening links between Ireland and Luxembourg.” 

 
First Corporate Customer: 
Liz McLaughlin, Head of Innovation and Ecosystem at Fexco, said: 

“Through the sandbox, we can further test and validate our AI models and products, assess them against ethical and behavioural guidelines, and stress test the cybersecurity of our platforms before deployment. That is a valuable capability for a business like ours.” 

First Startup Customer: 
Barry Hanley, Co-Founder of Broc, said: 

“For a Fintech startup at Broc's stage, access to the sandbox, scaled EU-based compute power and the AI Factory is the difference between building cautiously and building safely at speed. It will accelerate our product development and our ability to test and meet regulatory standards. 

This infrastructure was the gap within the Irish ecosystem. Our thanks to the RDI team for developing these partnerships and offerings, and for opening these doors to companies like ours.”