Embraisme

11/02/2026

📍 EmbrAIsme – insights from today’s discussions on practical, legal and ethical AI

Today’s programme in Galway brought forward concrete examples of how organisations are applying AI responsibly and effectively in real business environments.

Lightning talks and keynotes highlighted:

The continuing importance of human oversight in AI systems and the measurable impact of high-quality technical documentation.

How companies are scaling AI adoption across non-technical teams, improving inclusivity, and enhancing user experience.

The need for organisations to actively adapt their skills and processes in order to benefit from AI-driven transformation.

Clarifications on the EU AI Act, underlining that its objective is to support adoption and innovation while focusing regulation on high-risk use cases.

Practical demonstrations of building AI-first business models, from structured use-case development to AI-assisted sales processes.

The day also marked the opening of the itag & itag Skillnet AI Forum AI Summit, setting the scene for further exchange on practical, legal and ethical AI.



Interreg Europe

11/02/2026

📍 EmbrAIsme partners meet in Galway for workshop on legal & ethical AI

The 6th Interregional Thematic Workshop & Site Visit of the Interreg Europe Project embrAIsme is taking place in Galway in cooperation with the Western Development Commission, focusing on “Legal & Ethical Issues in AI for SMEs.”

Over the next two days, project partners are examining how legal and ethical aspects of AI, including the EU AI Act, are implemented in practice, with an emphasis on real-world application rather than legal theory.

On Tuesday the day opened with contributions from:

⚡Sharon Walsh, Senior VP, Technology at Fidelity Investments and itag Board Chair

⚡ Ian Brannigan, Head of Regional Development at Western Development Commission

⚡ Mike Conroy, Director of EDIH and Data2Sustain

Discussions highlighted the strength of the West of Ireland’s technology ecosystem and its potential for further AI development.

📸 Photos from the workshop below.

18/12/2025

Official Launch of "Powered by AI – Unlocking SME Growth in the West" Report was on Dec 2nd, at the Galway Bay Hotel 🙌

The report, a regional initiative led by itag & itag Skillnet/ Interreg Europe Project embrAIsme and Regional Skills West in partnership with the Western Development Commission and Atlantic Technological University, presented key insights into the current state of AI adoption, challenges, and opportunities for SMEs.

It outlineed actionable recommendations to guide future training needs, funding, and policy supports, directly answering the question: How can we make AI work for regional businesses?

We are delighted to invite you to the official launch of the “Powered by AI” Skills Report

18/12/2025

Shaping the Slovenia's National programme on AI 2030🤖🇸🇮🇪🇺

We are pleased to share the success of our recent working consultation, hosted on 1.12.2025 in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (GZS). The event was a crucial step in shaping the next iteration of the National Programme for AI 2030 (NpUI 2030).

Jure Trilar,representing the Interreg Europe embrAIsme project and 4PDIH, had the privilege of leading a dynamic workshop focused on the real-world needs of the Slovenian economy.

Key takeaways from the session:
✅ Direct Stakeholder Engagement: We gathered invaluable inputs from key Slovenian industry representatives and SME leaders.
✅ From Theory to Practice: As I emphasized during the workshop, a strategy is only as good as its implementation. We focused on identifying concrete barriers and opportunities to ensure NpUI 2030 truly serves the market.
✅ Industry & SME Focus: The dialogue highlighted specific measures needed to support SMEs in adopting AI technologies effectively.

It was inspiring to see such active collaboration. By integrating practical insights into the national strategy, we are ensuring that Slovenia's AI ecosystem becomes robust, competitive, and useful for businesses to enhance regional and global competitiveness.

Interreg Europe
Austria Wirtschaftsservice
Instituto de Desenvolvimento Empresarial
Laboratorij za telekomunikacije Fakultete za elektrotehniko
Business agency association
4PDIH

23/10/2025

The second day of the Interreg Europe project embrAIsme interregional event “AI - Governance and Strategy in Zaragoza Spain, was held in the premises of the host - ITA – Instituto Tecnológico de Aragón.

Partners discussed vividly on their exchange of good practices related to innovative approaches to ease the SMEs access to AI tools. The AI support schemes designed by Slovenian Ministry of digital transformation have been presented and became the base for an intensive discussion on how combining EU funds and national funding can boost the gradual improvement of the AI readiness of private and public entities.

The Slovenian launchpad concept was accepted as an inspiring model for Bulgaria and other partner countries. Then a detailed review of a research launched in Ireland by Innovation Technology AtlanTec Gateway (itag) gave an additional uplift of the group dynamics and has given rise to numerous new common actions to be planned within the consortium.

After the presentations the host invited Mrs. Carolina Garcia from METAUDAZ S.L. to lead an unusual but highly motivational and extremely fruitful co-creation workshop “AI basecamp workshop for the future” to plan together the most relevant and effective policy improvements in the partner countries and regions based on the consortium rich and inspiring pool of expertise and practices.

The event has been rated as a wonderful gem in the series of all the motivational and energising international meetings that the embrAIsme community holds regularly across Europe.

Interreg Europe
Austria Wirtschaftsservice
Instituto de Desenvolvimento Empresarial
Laboratorij za telekomunikacije Fakultete za elektrotehniko
Business agency association
4PDIH

21/10/2025

Partners and stakeholders in Interreg Europe project embrAIsme met in Zaragoza, Spain, to work together in the interregional event “AI - Governance and Strategy”, held by the Technological Institute of Aragon (ITA)

The two-days program started with presentations and lectures on strategies and policies on EU and national level. Mr Alberto Gago presented the EU perspective on AI strategy and implementation in Spain. Mrs. Ana García presented the role of BDVA and our ecosystem as deployers of AI and data strategies in the EU.

Mrs. Tanja Spennlingwimmer, Head of Business Unit at Austria Wirtschaftsservice Gesellschaft mbH has explained in details the role of national promotional banks in correlation to the national AI Strategy.

Next, Mrs. Cristina Aranda offered to participants the ideas that AI goes beyond algorithms and presented the approach for building Human-Centered AI Governance for a Diverse Future.

The first day ended with a review of success cases related to AI deployments in SMEs as a source of inspiration.

Interreg Europe
Austria Wirtschaftsservice
Instituto de Desenvolvimento Empresarial
Laboratorij za telekomunikacije Fakultete za elektrotehniko
Business agency association
4PDIH

02/10/2025

02/10/2025

The “embrAISme x Women in AI” initiative Kick- Off Meeting has been held on 25 September 2025, facilitated by Clemens Zeiler , Christina Koch & Julia Eisner from aws.

Experts gathered to discuss the following commonly identified problems:

Fragmentation across Europe
Many gender & AI initiatives exist, but they are scattered and disconnected.
Interreg projects like embr AIsme aim to bridge regions
Without exchange: duplication of work, weak impact at European scale

Underrepresentation in AI & Policy Spaces
Policy and corporate AI strategies often lack diverse perspectives.
Female AI experts are available, but not always systematically included in discussions.
Risk: biased solutions, blind spots in trustworthy AI.

Missed Opportunities for Innovation & Trust
Diversity is not just fairness – i t drives innovation and trustworthy AI.
Companies and regions could benefit from role models, cross-border exchanges, and visibility.

Both initiatives’ representatives stated the need on unifying efforts on the needs for connecting women experts in AI across borders and sectors, amplifying visibility of female experts, initiatives, and role models, strengthening inclusive and trustworthy AI development and showcasing national and regional efforts at a European level.

The initiative has the goal of ensuring recognition by showcasing participant’s role in shaping an inclusive AI future at the European level, ensuring projects and initiatives gain visibility beyond national borders, gaining inspiration by accessing fresh perspectives through female expert impulses and getting new ideas for applying AI responsibly and innovatively in their businesses.Creating new connections across Europe and linking up with initiatives, companies, and networks finding potential collaborators, clients, and role models is another important focus of the initiative.

The kick-off gathered proactive articipants from several countries and put the foundation of a fruitful and proactive cooperation to boost the leading role of women in AI related projects and business.

Interreg Europe
Austria Wirtschaftsservice
Instituto de Desenvolvimento Empresarial
Laboratorij za telekomunikacije Fakultete za elektrotehniko
Business agency association
4PDIH

27/05/2025

Partners and stakeholders from embrAIsme project are taking part in the international event in Tampere IMAGINE the Citiverse, where companies showcase their solutions to urban challenges directly to city leaders and engaged audience.

Interreg Europe
Austria Wirtschaftsservice
Instituto de Desenvolvimento Empresarial
Laboratorij za telekomunikacije Fakultete za elektrotehniko
Business agency association
4PDIH

26/05/2025

During the Site visit in Living Lab Paidia, GPT Lab and AI Hub in Tampere the participants had met with Professor Pekka Abrahamsson, Faculty of Information Technology &
Communication Sciences, Tampere University who presented their services. Next the presentation “Digital economy in SMEs? – National level data ecosystem models” has been held by the Account Executive, Mr. Petri Takala, Public Sector Lead, Capgemini.

26/05/2025

Partners started the 4th EMBRAISME INTERREGIONAL EVENT
Building and Leading AI Ecosystems in Tampere.

In 2 days they will work together with local and international stakeholders from Austria, Bulgaria, Spain, Slovenia, Ireland, Serbia, Madeira Portugal.

Interreg Europe
Austria Wirtschaftsservice
Instituto de Desenvolvimento Empresarial
Laboratorij za telekomunikacije Fakultete za elektrotehniko
Business agency association

19/05/2025

At the third Austrian Stakeholder Meeting, held under the theme "AI-Related Training Skills and Educational Programs," key figures from the nation's political and economic spheres gathered to address one of the most pressing issues of the digital era: preparing the workforce for the age of artificial intelligence.

Among the attendees were representatives from the Federal Ministry for Labor and Economy, the Federal Chancellery, Women in AI, the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, and the Austrian Promotional Bank (aws), which is leading the project. Together, they examined innovative strategies to improve access to AI education and upskilling opportunities, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The meeting highlighted the urgent need to democratize access to AI competencies and shared best practices from other European Union member states, aiming to craft a more inclusive and forward-looking educational framework. As the continent races to keep pace with global AI advancements, Austria is positioning itself at the intersection of policy, innovation, and inclusive economic growth.

Interreg Europe
Austria Wirtschaftsservice
Instituto de Desenvolvimento Empresarial
Laboratorij za telekomunikacije Fakultete za elektrotehniko
Business agency association