Qualcom invests EUR €500,000 in secure AI services
Qualcom has launched a €500,000 investment programme to establish a new artificial intelligence practice and plans to recruit four AI specialists over the next three years.
The Irish IT and cybersecurity services provider says the unit will support secure AI adoption for organisations in Ireland, with a focus on meeting evolving regulatory requirements and putting appropriate controls in place as companies deploy new AI tools across their operations.
Investment plan
The funding will cover new hires and staff development across the business. The company plans to train and upskill new team members, while also running AI training for existing managed services and information security teams.
Qualcom has also agreed a partnership with AI infrastructure provider NROC. The arrangement will form part of a managed service for customer AI environments.
Under the plan, Qualcom will provide services to secure and manage AI environments using NROC technology, describing it as a "full wraparound service" for customers building and operating AI systems.
Security focus
Qualcom is linking the new practice to its existing data security and managed services work. It says the unit will extend its efforts to protect Microsoft data using AI-based approaches.
The announcement also set out a policy framework for organisations adopting generative AI tools. The framework is designed to guide how staff use tools such as Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT in day-to-day work, while safeguarding sensitive data and meeting compliance requirements.
Customer demand has been a key driver for the launch, with the company pointing to increased interest in AI-related solutions and services across its client base.
Many organisations have moved from small trials of generative AI to wider internal roll-outs. That shift has increased scrutiny on governance and risk controls, particularly where staff use AI tools with business data. Security teams have also raised concerns about data leakage, access control, audit trails, and how models interact with regulated information.
With its emphasis on managed services, Qualcom is positioning the AI practice as an operational function rather than a research group. Its plans suggest it expects customers to need ongoing service delivery, including security oversight, as AI use becomes more routine.
Company context
The investment follows a period of expansion at Qualcom. The company marked 30 years in business in 2025 and has been increasing staffing and facilities in Dublin.
It recently increased headcount in its support centre by 33% and upgraded its Dublin headquarters. The company says these moves are intended to support further growth alongside the new AI practice.
Qualcom operates across the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the wider UK, as well as the Channel Islands. It works with organisations across multiple sectors and is privately owned.
David Kinsella, Qualcom's technical director, linked the investment to customer demand and the pace of AI adoption.
"This investment in our people, platforms, and capabilities reflects our commitment to supporting customers as they navigate both the opportunities and risks of AI. As we look ahead to the next three years, there's no doubt that the use and applications of AI will continue to grow exponentially. The launch of the new practice will enable us to adapt quickly in line with industry demand, delivering right first-time services that are fully compliant and maximise IT uptime for businesses in Ireland. We're looking forward to working closely with customers as we support the secure rollout of AI tools to help them to keep pace with their competitors."
The new practice will roll out over the three-year investment period, with recruitment and training running in parallel with customer delivery work.