Last month, global data analytics and digital operations leader EXL opened its new international headquarters in Dublin. The move signals a major commitment to Ireland as a base for driving data-led transformation and innovation across Europe and beyond. Alongside this expansion, EXL also launched a strategic partnership with University College Dublin to nurture innovation and leadership in artificial intelligence.
For CeADAR, Ireland’s Centre for AI, this development highlights the growing role of applied AI expertise in supporting industry leaders to unlock value from data and build the next generation of intelligent solutions.
Building the foundation with UCD
In 2023, CeADAR co-developed the UCD AI and Innovation Lab with UCD Innovation Academy. The Lab was designed as a collaborative environment where organisations can experiment with AI, test ideas quickly, and understand how emerging technologies can translate into real-world impact. Rather than focusing on abstract concepts, the Lab centres on applied AI, practical, industry-relevant projects that equip leaders to act decisively in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
Training global leaders at EXL
That same year, CeADAR and UCD Innovation Academy came together again to deliver an executive training programme for EXL’s global leadership team. Across two cohorts, almost 70 of EXL’s Vice Presidents took part in an intensive learning experience on AI solution and product development.
The programme combined CeADAR’s applied AI expertise with the Innovation Academy’s hands-on learning model. Participants weren’t just given theory, they were guided through the process of designing, validating, and iterating AI-driven solutions. The outcome was a leadership group equipped not only with new technical understanding but also with the confidence to translate AI opportunities into business transformation.
Why EXL’s move matters
EXL’s decision to establish its international headquarters in Dublin underlines Ireland’s growing reputation as a global hub for AI, analytics, and digital innovation. CeADAR is the national centre supporting organisations across Ireland to explore, experiment with, and integrate AI into products and processes.
CeADAR empowers companies to boost productivity, competitiveness, and sustainability through innovative, real-world AI applications. In addition to delivering technology services and collaborative research projects
Looking ahead
EXL’s AI Innovation Lab builds on EXL’s existing partnerships with Irish academic institutions such as University College Dublin (UCD), CeADAR, and Trinity College Dublin, which were initiated in 2023, including:
EXL and UCD Innovation and AI Lab: an ongoing collaborative initiative with University College Dublin and CeADAR, a leading AI research agency. The objective is to provide select leaders at EXL a unique and dynamic ecosystem to experiment and build innovative solutions towards an AI-driven future.