The AI in Healthcare Phase 3 programme officially got underway in December and this month we invited all participants to an in-person workshop at Dundalk Institute of Technology, bringing together healthcare innovators, clinicians, researchers and industry experts for a day focused on practical progress, real-world application and regulatory readiness.

Hosted in the RDC Building at DKIT, the workshop marked an important transition point for participants – moving beyond early-stage exploration and into feasibility, validation and delivery of AI solutions within healthcare settings.

Setting the scene for Phase 3

The morning opened with a welcome and introductions, giving participants the opportunity to briefly outline their backgrounds and the AI projects they are developing. This peer-to-peer visibility set a collaborative tone for the day, reinforcing one of the programme’s key strengths: learning from others who are tackling similar challenges in different healthcare contexts.

Insights from global and local leaders

A series of guest presentations provided both strategic perspective and grounded healthcare insight.

Martin Curley, Professor of Innovation at Maynooth University and former Director of Digital Transformation at the Health Service Executive, delivered a compelling session on “Stay Left, Shift Left – 10X”. His talk explored how healthcare organisations can embed innovation early, design for scale and maximise impact through structured digital maturity and capability frameworks.

John Shaw, Chief Country Executive for Carelon Global Solutions Ireland, followed with a session on Innovation in Healthcare, focusing on how AI is reshaping global healthcare delivery models. His perspective highlighted the importance of designing solutions that support “whole health” while remaining commercially and operationally viable.

Dr Natalie Cole, Head of Innovation at Tallaght University Hospital, brought the conversation firmly into the Irish healthcare system, sharing real examples of how AI is being explored and implemented within a hospital environment. Her session offered valuable insight into the realities of deploying innovation within complex clinical settings.

Participant presentations and feedback

A key highlight of the day was the participant presentation session, where six companies presented overviews of their AI projects and feasibility work to date. Each presentation was followed by structured Q&A and feedback, helping participants stress-test their ideas, identify gaps and refine next steps.

These sessions reinforced the applied nature of Phase 3 – moving from concept and enthusiasm to clarity, evidence and implementation planning.

Looking ahead

The workshop closed with a wrap-up and outline of next steps for the programme. As Phase 3 progresses, participants will continue to build on the foundations laid during this session, supported by mentoring, peer learning and expert guidance.

The kickoff workshop clearly demonstrated the ambition, quality and diversity of innovation emerging from the AI in Healthcare programme – and the importance of combining technical capability with clinical insight, regulatory awareness and real-world feasibility.

Phase 3 is now firmly underway, with participants focused on turning promising AI ideas into solutions that can deliver meaningful impact across healthcare settings.

The workshop also demonstrated strong momentum for connected health across the South East, with a shared ambition to align regional strengths with national connected health priorities. Attendees engaged in open discussion around future focus areas for the South Chapter, including knowledge sharing, cross-sector working groups and sustained engagement between stakeholders.

The Connected Health & Wellbeing Cluster – South Chapter aims to provide a platform for ongoing collaboration, shared learning and practical action that supports the adoption of connected health solutions and delivers measurable impact for health systems and communities.

To learn more about the Connected Health & Wellbeing Cluster or to get involved in future events and activities, visit Membership – Connected Health and Wellbeing