Date published: 18th June 2026
In a fast-paced, five-day sprint at Trinity College Dublin’s Innovation Hub, the latest cohort of the AI & Climate Sustainability Sandbox has demonstrated that speed isn’t a resource problem – it’s a mindset problem.
Delivered by The Co-Centre for Climate Biodiversity + Water in partnership with Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet, the March 2026 programme brought members of Galetech Group and Grant Thornton Ireland together with experts in AI, climate modeling, hydrology, and energy. The goal? To move rapidly from problem definition to early-stage technical solutions and clear roadmaps for deployment.
A Unique Collaborative Environment
For companies, the AI and Sustainability Sandbox provides a rare opportunity to pause daily operations and focus entirely on innovation.
“When you’re alive in business, you’re operationally trying to be productive all the time,” says Georgina Quigley, Group Business Integration at Galetech Group. “So to be able to step outside, look in at the problem, is not something you get to do when you’re in the trenches all the time. This is a wonderful opportunity”.
Bridging Research and Industry
The programme also serves as a vital bridge for early-career researchers to apply their theoretical knowledge to high-stakes, real-world data challenges.
“I enjoyed that you could work on a problem that was going to be implemented by a real company and not just work on some theoretical things,” shared PhD student Chantelle Amoako-Atta.
Sam O’Neill – Assistant Manager, Risk Advisory at Grant Thornton Ireland, added to this, saying “In terms of the climate risk analysis we have done before, there were new variables that PhD students were able to bring to the table that we’d not even thought of. So we’ve definitely benefited greatly from that.”
Building Future Competitiveness
Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet plays a pivotal role in this initiative, viewing it as an essential tool for keeping Irish businesses at the cutting edge of sustainability.
“This event has been an amazing showcase of what’s possible when companies come together with researchers to solve their business challenges in the area of climate and sustainability using practical AI development,” says Susan Kelly, Network Director, Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet. “This is an incredible initiative and I would urge any companies to get involved”.
Ready to innovate?
The AI & Climate Sustainability Sandbox offers a risk-free environment to test AI models and data strategies without disrupting your existing systems.
Express your interest for the upcoming AI and Sustainability sandbox.
