Workday, the enterprise AI platform for managing people, money, and agents, has announced a three-year €175m investment and 200 specialised roles to establish its AI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Dublin.
The investment, supported by IDA Ireland, expands the role of Workday's EMEA headquarters in the company’s product research and development globally.
Since 2008, Workday’s Dublin-based teams have driven impactful R&D, including AI-driven solutions like Workday Learning and Workday Assistant.
The AI Centre of Excellence will focus on four key areas:
- Product development: More than 200 roles will be added in Dublin, helping to ensure regional AI, cybersecurity, engineering and research expertise is reflected in Workday Illuminate, the company’s AI platform. Workday currently employs 2,200 people here, of which approximately 80% work in product research and development;
- AI upskilling: Workday has partnered with Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet to upskill 300 current employees through its AI Business Academy. In addition, through partnership with TU Dublin, more than 285 employees have already graduated with certifications in AI relevant themes including Machine Learning, Cybersecurity, Entrepreneurial Leadership, Leadership and Team Enablement and Creating Successful Products;
- AI academic fellowships and partnerships: Workday’s Industry Fellowships, in collaboration with universities such as Trinity College Dublin and Dublin City University (DCU) and Research Ireland will directly embed post-doctoral researchers within R&D teams in the company. This allows top-tier academic talent to apply their expertise to real-world AI and machine learning challenges;
- Partnership with Irish tech scale-ups: Through the Workday Innovation Network – created with Enterprise Ireland – the organisation will collaborate with Irish AI start-ups, SMEs and industry leaders such as Wrksense and Workhuman to drive innovation.
Enterprise minister Peter Burke said: “Since Workday acquired Irish tech innovator Cape Clear in 2008, it has evolved into a research and development powerhouse, based on a blend of talented people, technology and innovation which Ireland can uniquely provide.
"Workday’s decision to expand its AI footprint in Dublin is a testament to Ireland’s reputation as a global leader in technology and innovation. We are very pleased to support this investment and partner with Workday to maximise its new AI Centre of Excellence.”
“Dublin has been a cornerstone of Workday’s innovation for close to two decades,” said Graham Abell, vice president, software engineering & Ireland site lead, Workday. “This latest investment will power our next chapter – pioneering the next generation of ERP, built for the AI era.”
“Workday’s decision to expand its AI footprint in Dublin is a testament to Ireland’s reputation as a global leader in technology and innovation. This investment of €175m and 200 jobs over the next three years will further strengthen Ireland’s position at the forefront of AI research and development,’’ said Michael Lohan, CEO, IDA Ireland.
To support its continued growth in Europe, Workday will open a new, state-of-the-art EMEA headquarters at College Square, Dublin 2. The headquarters will include a new Customer Experience Centre (CXC) – an immersive space for European customers to collaborate alongside Workday product experts and senior leaders.
Current career opportunities can be viewed at Workday’s online careers centre here.