Minister Niamh Smyth TD to Open TechIreland National AI Meet 2026

Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, Niamh Smyth will deliver the opening keynote address at the TechIreland National AI Meet 2026, taking place in Galway, on Thursday, 24 September.

Minister Niamh Smyth TD returns to the TechIreland National AI Meet for the second consecutive year, joining a growing programme of leaders from government, industry, technology, research and Ireland’s innovation ecosystem for a day focused on the practical adoption and impact of artificial intelligence.

The event is supported by lead partners Enterprise Ireland and European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH) Network, along with strategic partners InsTech.ie, Google Cloud, OpenAI and Manus, and supporting partners Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet, Sia Partners, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Skillnet Innovation Exchange and itag.

The TechIreland National AI Meet will also mark the culmination of the TechIreland National AI Challenge 2026, which attracted almost 1,000 registrations from across Ireland and Northern Ireland, making this the largest edition of the Challenge to date, and up almost 100% on the 2025 competition.

Over 90 teams are currently developing practical AI solutions to real industry and societal problems, supported by an all-island network of more than 13 regional hubs, mentors, technology providers, industry partners and community organisations.

Following Regional Hub Showcases on 14 September, the strongest teams will progress to Galway, where their solutions will be showcased throughout the TechIreland National AI Meet before the 2026 National AI Challenge finalists ceremony.

Ireland’s AI community comes together in Galway

The 2026 National AI Meet will bring together policymakers, technology leaders, researchers, entrepreneurs and organisations implementing AI in practice.

Alongside Minister Smyth, the developing programme includes Naoise O’Cearuil TD, Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence and speakers and contributors from Enterprise Ireland, OpenAI, Google Cloud, IDA Ireland, Research Ireland, InterTradeIreland, Carne Group, Genesys, and CeADAR, as well as technology founders, AI practitioners and participants from the TechIreland National AI Challenge.

The programme will move beyond the potential of AI to focus on its implementation and will examine AI transformation, organisational adoption, leadership, innovation and real-world industry applications.

Sessions will explore the urgency of AI transformation for Irish businesses, the adoption of AI within existing organisations, AI and data leadership, innovation and practical industry case studies.

The programme will also connect Ireland’s established technology and business community with the emerging generation of AI builders coming through the TechIreland National AI Challenge.

From AI experimentation to implementation

The 2026 theme, “AI & Agents: Strategy, Processes and Roles,” reflects the rapid shift taking place as organisations move from experimenting with artificial intelligence towards embedding AI and increasingly capable agents into their operations.

For businesses, this creates questions that extend well beyond technology: where AI can deliver the greatest value, which processes should change, how roles will evolve, what new capabilities organisations require, and how adoption can be managed responsibly.

The TechIreland National AI Meet will bring those conversations together with practical examples of organisations already implementing AI and the new solutions being developed through the TechIreland National AI Challenge.

Niall Norton, CEO, TechIreland said:

“We are particularly delighted to welcome Minister Niamh Smyth TD back to Galway for the second consecutive year. Her return comes at a time when the TechIreland National AI Challenge has reached unprecedented scale, with over 90 teams formed and teams participating through more than 13 regional hubs across Ireland and Northern Ireland.”

“The collaboration behind this year’s programme has been extraordinary. The National AI Meet is where that community comes together and where we get to showcase what people across the island have actually built.”

Minister Niamh Smyth TD said:

“I am delighted to return to Galway to open the TechIreland National AI Meet for a second year. The pace of change in AI over the past twelve months has been remarkable. We have moved from rapidly exploring the potential of AI to the practical challenge of adopting it responsibly across our businesses and organisations. The TechIreland National AI Meet provides an important opportunity to bring together businesses, technology leaders and policy makers, with a strong focus on what organisations can do with AI today and how they can prepare for what comes next.

“I am particularly encouraged to see the growth of the TechIreland National AI Challenge. Seeing teams from across the island of Ireland developing solutions to real industry and societal challenges demonstrates the talent, ambition and innovative capacity that exists across the island.

“The TechIreland National AI Challenge and Meet comes at an important time, ahead of the International AI Summit on 14th October, where Ireland’s position as Europe’s premier AI innovation hub will be strengthened.”

Conor O’Donovan, Head of Startups at Enterprise Ireland, said:

“The National AI Meet has established itself as a key gathering for Ireland’s Artificial Intelligence community. The strong levels of collaboration and high numbers of AI projects being showcased this year reflects the strength of talent in Ireland and how central AI has become to businesses in all sectors of the economy.”

Mike Conroy, Ireland European Digital Innovations Hubs (EDIHs) Network, said:

“The EDIH network has been proud to support and shape the Tech Ireland National AI Challenge and Meeting since the beginning. It has helped inform thousands of EDIH services to hundreds of SMEs, while building sectoral AI and innovation ecosystem alliances countrywide. Also, as a member of DETE’s Enterprise Digital Advisory Forum, I have seen firsthand the Ministers’ commitment to continually challenge us to strengthen AI and sectoral ecosystem collaboration to incubate ideas and improve competitiveness. We’re delighted to have the Minister again this year to engage with the community at the TechIreland National AI Challenge and Meet.’’

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