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Digital

Ireland’s world-class technology ecosystem provides a powerful foundation for accelerating digital transformation across the IFS sector. With the presence of global technology leaders and deep pools of expertise, Ireland is uniquely positioned to harness this concentration of talent and technological infrastructure to support financial innovation.

Stability, trust and an embedded governance culture will be ever more important as the pace of transformation increases through AI, digital assets, digital identity, cyber-security and quantum computing and as the industry seeks to grow retail investor participation.

To support the digital transformation that presents itself the new ‘Ireland for Finance’ strategy will focus on leveraging technology capabilities to support digital transformation.

Dedicated actions to support the Digital Transformation are outlined within the new strategy including the establishment of a Digital Assets Industry Group.

By strengthening collaboration between financial services firms, technology companies, research institutions, and government agencies, the strategy can position Ireland as a leading hub for innovative financial services products, including tokenisation, and digitally driven business models.

Ireland’s enterprise agencies, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, work closely with Government to assist in fostering growth and innovation and attracting inward investment in the sector.

Enterprise Ireland

Enterprise Ireland is the State agency responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in world markets.

Enterprise Ireland is one of the most active investors in start-ups in the world, with a portfolio of over 200 fintech and financial services companies.

Enterprise Ireland helps these companies expand into new geographical markets worldwide.

IDA Ireland

IDA Ireland supports a range of overseas companies from small high growth businesses to large multinationals using Ireland as their base to service EU and global markets.

IDA Ireland has over 350 client companies within its international financial services portfolio. IDA Ireland offers a range of services and financial incentives for international financial services companies to support their adoption of digital technologies to drive competitiveness, enhance customer engagement and develop new innovative capabilities.

Central Bank of Ireland

Ireland’s financial services sector also benefits from the presence of an internationally respected regulator in the Central Bank of Ireland (Central Bank).

The Central Bank is responsible for the regulation and supervision of the financial institutions in Ireland, maintaining monetary and financial stability while ensuring that the financial system operates in the best interests of consumers and the wider economy.

The Central Bank has displayed its commitment to the development of an innovative and resilient financial sector by setting up an Innovation Hub in 2018, which provides an opportunity for innovators to engage with the regulator.

Innovation Sandbox programme

In December 2024, the Central Bank also established an Innovation Sandbox Programme, which will inform the early-stage development of selected innovative initiatives by providing regulatory advice and support within the programme. The theme of the 2026 Innovation Sandbox Programme is:

"Innovation in Payments."