Irish critical infrastructure specialist, Turnua, has announced a new partnership with Future Academy to launch the Turnua Future Academy, a digital skills and innovation hub focused on developing AI and digital skills for enterprises and students alike. Based at Turnua’s Critical Infrastructure Hub in Naas, County Kildare, the partnership is designed to give students and professionals practical experience in digital, AI, and innovation skills within a real-world infrastructure environment. The Turnua Future Academy is Turnua’s innovation and capability hub, connecting students, small businesses, and large enterprises with future skills through real-world building rather than classroom learning.
Delivered within Turnua’s purpose-built Critical Infrastructure Hub, the project will support a range of programmes focused on practical learning and real-world application. These include hands-on innovation camps for Transition Year students as well as digital and AI workshops and readiness diagnostics for enterprises. This blended approach is designed to strengthen links between education, industry, and community, while ensuring learning remains grounded in current and emerging technology needs.
For SMEs and enterprise teams, the Turnua Future Academy will deliver practical AI and digital build workshops designed to help organisations adopt modern technologies with confidence. These sessions focus on developing real outputs, such as digital tools, automations, and AI-powered solutions, created during guided, hands-on workshops. This is complemented by a Digital and AI Readiness Diagnostic, which supports business leaders in understanding digital maturity, identifying capability gaps, and developing a clear, actionable roadmap aligned to organisational goals.
The Transition Year (TY) Innovation Build Camps will place students inside the type of environment where modern digital systems, AI workloads, and infrastructure are designed and operated. Working in teams, students will have the ability to share ideas, identify opportunities, build prototypes, and pitch their final concepts to community partners with the goal of developing confidence and practical capabilities. The TY programme is supported by engagement with businesses, who provide real-world challenges and act as project sponsors.
A recent report from Microsoft and Trinity College Dublin estimates that AI adoption could add €250 billion to Ireland’s GDP by 2035. However, the same report also highlighted a lack of expertise and uncertainty around structured deployment as key barriers to AI adoption in Ireland. Meanwhile, the Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment has set an ambition for 75 percent of all businesses in Ireland to be using AI, cloud, and big data by 2030. The collaboration between Turnua and Future Academy will help address the country’s AI skills shortages and better equip the Irish workforce, from students to seasoned professionals.
Speaking about the partnership, David Cox, Founder and Managing Director of Turnua, said: “We are very excited to launch this programme in partnership with Future Academy. I am personally passionate about equipping younger generations to better navigate the digital landscape aligned with the future of work. The Turnua Future Academy brings us one step closer to bridging the digital skills gap in a modern Irish workforce.”
Jenny Melia, CEO, Enterprise Ireland, added: “Enterprise Ireland is committed to supporting Ireland’s homegrown entrepreneurs to succeed in global markets, and this includes a focus on boosting productivity and embracing the true potential of digital tools like AI. Turnua’s partnership with Future Academy is a fantastic example of how Irish companies are proactively addressing digital skills needs by providing a hands-on environment for AI and digital transformation at their Naas hub. This partnership will support them to future-proof their own operations, while also providing an important resource for students and local enterprises. Collaboration and leadership are critical to our economy’s success, and I want to congratulate all involved in this innovative project”
Jacqui McNabb, Head of Enterprise & Economic Development with Kildare County Council, said: “The launch of the Turnua Future Academy is a perfect example of how enterprise, education, and innovation can come together to address real skills challenges facing Ireland. Turnua’s progression from an early-stage company within the MERITS technology incubation hub to establishing its own Critical Infrastructure Hub in Naas demonstrates the strength of Kildare’s enterprise ecosystem.
“This cutting-edge training academy will play an important role in equipping both young people and enterprise teams with practical AI and digital skills, supporting regional competitiveness and long-term economic growth. Kildare County Council, through its Economic Development Department, is delighted to continue to support Turnua as it builds capability, creates opportunity, and contributes to the future-ready workforce of the Mid-East region.”
Matt Atherford, Founder of Future Academy, said: “The biggest challenge in technology adoption isn’t the tools, it’s how people learn to orchestrate work using them.. That’s why we built Future Academy. The best way to learn is by doing: by building, testing, iterating, and being challenged to think differently. When people learn through creation rather than just instruction, they walk away with both capability and confidence. Turnua is a natural partner for us, because their focus on foundational, end-to-end infrastructure aligns with our belief that meaningful capability is built on strong foundations and practical application, not just theory.”
Also commenting, Peter Mahon, CEO, County Kildare Chamber, added: “The launch of the Turnua Future Academy is a powerful step forward for skills, innovation, and enterprise in Kildare and the Mid-East. By connecting education, industry, and live infrastructure, it will develop future-ready talent, strengthen regional, national, and international competitiveness, and support businesses in building the capabilities needed for long-term growth.”
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