By David Crozier CBE, Director, Artificial Intelligence Collaboration Centre (AICC)
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer just the domain of tech giants or futuristic headlines. It is already embedded in our businesses, our public services and our everyday lives. From predictive diagnostics in healthcare to supply chain optimisation in logistics, AI is quietly but powerfully shaping how we live and work.
Yet, the question for Northern Ireland is not whether AI is coming, it’s whether we will be prepared to seize its opportunities. We stand at a crossroads. One path risks leaving us behind, as global competitors adopt AI at pace. The other positions us as a region that embraces innovation, builds trust and uses AI to drive productivity, growth and societal value.
That second path is the one we must take, and the one we are taking.
READ MORE: Northern Ireland Takes the Lead in Responsible AI with New AICC Hub
Why this moment matters
Northern Ireland has enormous potential in AI. We are home to Ulster University and Queen’s University Belfast, two research-intensive universities with world-class expertise, a thriving SME base and a track record of punching above our weight in areas like cybersecurity, fintech and advanced manufacturing.
But potential alone is not enough. Globally the AI landscape is accelerating at breakneck speed. Generative AI is transforming creative industries, autonomous systems are reimagining how goods and services are delivered, and governments worldwide are racing to establish ethical guardrails.
If Northern Ireland fails to keep pace, the cost is not abstract, it is measured in lost competitiveness, stagnant productivity and opportunities that pass us by. On the other hand, if we act decisively, AI could be the lever that unlocks our next wave of economic and social progress.
That is why Invest Northern Ireland, with support from the Department for the Economy, committed £16.3 million to establish the Artificial Intelligence Collaboration Centre (AICC) in 2024, a groundbreaking initiative led by Ulster University, in partnership with Queen’s University Belfast. Our mission is clear: accelerate AI adoption across businesses, upskill our workforce and create a thriving ecosystem that places Northern Ireland on the global AI map.
From vision to impact
In just our first year, the AICC has moved swiftly to turn ambition into reality. We have built a team of 19 specialists located across Ulster University’s Belfast and Derry~Londonderry campuses and Queen’s University Belfast, drawing expertise from both academia and industry. We are currently supporting over 100 SMEs across the region, of varying sizes, sectors and technical capabilities, through our Transformer Programme, offering fully funded hands-on AI consultancy. These are not theoretical exercises; they are real projects solving real problems.
Alongside business support, we are investing in the talent pipeline. 260 postgraduate scholars have been accepted onto AI-related courses at Ulster University and Queen’s University Belfast. The first 17 have already graduated, bringing their skills directly into the workforce. New MScs in Ethical & Responsible AI and AI in Business are ensuring our students are not only technically proficient but also ethically aware.
And we are reaching professionals, too. Our Driving Value from AI online course, delivered in partnership with The Data Lab, has trained over 100 leaders across industries, while our AI Acceleration Tour has brought practical workshops to communities across the region, educating nearly 270 participants to date.
These interventions matter because they help to demystify AI, build trust and make adoption feel achievable for businesses and individuals alike.
A global conversation, a local opportunity
AI innovation doesn’t happen in isolation. Northern Ireland cannot simply look inward; we must connect with the global AI community. That’s why we’ve taken Northern Ireland’s story to stages such as Big Data New York, The Dublin Tech Summit, and Scotland’s DataFest. At home, our seminal AI Castle Conversations event convened industry leaders, senior policymakers and academics to debate the big questions around AI adoption and ethics.
These engagements ensure Northern Ireland is not just a consumer of AI technologies developed elsewhere, but an active participant shaping how AI is used responsibly and productively worldwide.
And the world is paying attention. Our AI Capability Census, launched in August 2025, identifiednearly 200 AI-active firms in Northern Ireland, employing over 1,300 professionals and contributing £82 million in Gross Value Added (GVA). With continued adoption, this figure could reach £200 million by 2028.
That growth will not come automatically. It requires strategic investment, collaboration and the confidence of businesses and citizens.
Responsible AI as our differentiator
But growth at any cost is not the goal. Our predictions should avoid the temptation to be sensationalist. AI adoption must be responsible. As algorithms become more powerful, they also raise important questions: How do we ensure fairness? How do we protect privacy? How do we hold systems accountable when things go wrong?
At the AICC, we believe Northern Ireland can differentiate itself globally by embedding Responsible AI at the heart of our approach. We have recently launched our brand new Responsible AI Hub, which will equip businesses with practical tools such as harm assessments, policy builders, governance checks and much more. We are educating the next generation of AI practitioners to think not just about what AI can do, but what it should do.
By making responsibility our hallmark, we can build the public trust that will be essential for widespread adoption.
The road ahead
With our mandate now extended to 2029, the AICC has the certainty to think long-term. In the coming years we will:
Scale up SME engagement through the Transformer Programme and other initiatives.
Expand training for professionals and students, ensuring AI skills are embedded across the workforce.
Grow our research portfolio, building on more than £15.5 million in collaborative RD&I projects already secured.
Strengthen international partnerships, ensuring Northern Ireland is represented on the global AI stage.
Lead the conversation on Responsible AI, regionally and internationally.
We are also exploring new opportunities with strategic partners, from health innovation to Net Zero solutions. The appetite for collaboration is clear, and the potential is enormous.
Seizing the opportunity
Northern Ireland is at a crossroads. We can choose to let AI happen to us, or we can choose to shape how it works for us. With the right investment, skills and partnerships, we can use AI to increase productivity, grow our economy and improve quality of life.
But time is of the essence. Other regions are moving quickly, and the pace of technological change will not slow down. The good news is that we have the building blocks: world-class research, innovative businesses and a collaborative culture that has served us well in areas like cybersecurity and financial services.
The AICC was created to turn these strengths into impact. And the early signs are promising. From SMEs adopting AI for the first time, to students graduating with AI expertise, to Northern Ireland’s presence on global stages, we are demonstrating that our region is ready to lead.
READ MORE: Tech Trailblazer: Nicole Costello, Marketing Officer, AI Collaboration Centre
The future is not predetermined. It is shaped by the choices we make today. If we choose to invest, to collaborate and to innovate responsibly, Northern Ireland can carve out a distinctive and competitive role in the global AI economy.
We stand at that crossroads. Let's choose the path forward, together.
Discover more at www.aicc.co and follow theAICC on LinkedIn to stay connected.
Sync NI's Autumn 2025 magazine explores how Northern Ireland is moving AI from pilot to production
This issue features exclusive insights from industry leaders on real-world AI implementation, responsible adoption, enterprise infrastructure, and how data-driven innovation is transforming businesses across the region.
Read the Big Data Special Edition free online →
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