RDI Hub’s AI Gateway to help Irish Businesses move from AI Testing to Deployment

RDI Hub has launched a new AI Gateway initiative aimed at helping Irish businesses, startups and public sector organisations accelerate the deployment of artificial intelligence technologies while addressing growing concerns around regulation, security and data sovereignty.

The new partnership-led programme brings together access to AI computing infrastructure, testing environments and cybersecurity capabilities through a collaboration involving the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Munster Technological University (MTU), LuxProvide and Ireland’s national high-performance computing centre, ICHEC.

The initiative is designed to address a key challenge facing many organisations as they seek to move beyond AI experimentation and into real-world implementation.

According to RDI Hub, many companies are now grappling with practical questions around building AI systems, validating models, ensuring regulatory compliance and protecting AI-enabled products from cyber threats before launch.

The AI Gateway provides a single access point to three core capabilities: computing infrastructure for AI development, sandbox environments to test systems for trustworthiness and compliance, and cyber resilience testing to assess security before deployment.

Fergal Brosnan, CEO of RDI Hub, said the new platform responds directly to the needs identified through engagement with startups, corporates and public sector organisations.

“Most AI sandboxes do one thing. The RDI AI Gateway does three,” he said.

“We’ve brought together access to infrastructure to build AI, a sandbox to test and validate it, and cyber resilience capability to test resilience and 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.”

The launch also strengthens links between Ireland and Luxembourg, creating a pathway for Irish organisations to access infrastructure and capabilities within Luxembourg’s AI Factory and broader European AI ecosystem.

European Commissioner Michael McGrath welcomed the initiative following discussions with RDI Hub and project partners in Brussels.

“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,” he said.

“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.”

Early adopters are already engaging with the platform, including financial services company Fexco and fintech startup Broc.

Fexco's Head of Innovation and Ecosystem, Liz McLaughlin, said the platform would allow the company to further test AI models, assess them against ethical standards and stress-test cybersecurity before deployment.

Meanwhile, Broc co-founder Barry Hanley said access to EU-based computing power and AI testing infrastructure would help the startup accelerate product development while meeting regulatory requirements.

The AI Gateway places a strong emphasis on data sovereignty, an issue becoming increasingly important for businesses, regulated industries and public bodies seeking greater control over how data is stored, processed and secured in the age of AI.