UCD AI institute launches at AI in Science Summit

What happened

University College Dublin (UCD) is launching an institute dedicated to helping scientists conduct AI-powered research. The UCD AI Institute was launched today (15 October) at the European Commission AI in Science 2026 summit (AIS26), one of many high-profile events taking place in the country as part of Ireland’s presidency of the EU Council.

The launch comes just after the International AI Summit concluded in Dublin yesterday (14 October). The model is designed to make advanced AI capability available beyond computer science, UCD said.

The university already conducts AI-enabled research across fields – from using AI to create digital twins of paediatric cancer patients to improve care and improve the diagnosis of pre-eclampsia in maternal health, to advancing weather forecasting. More than 200 faculty members already work in AI-related fields across the University’s six colleges, many of whom are funded under national programmes, such as Rinn AI, CeADAR and Precision Oncology Ireland.