This research centre will add eXplainable AI in a unique and novel way as an additional dimension to the research already taking place at TU Dublin and nationally, offering opportunities to build research capability in intelligent technology design (recognized challenge) and generating a new mass of scholars. This mass will contribute to the national demonstration of the utility of xAI-based technologies (scientific impact), enabling Irish-based scientists to contribute to relations, thus enhancing Ireland's reputation by acting as a catalyst and promoting the attraction of international talented researchers and funding (national capacity-building and international engagement-impact). This utility will be demonstrated in traditional ICT domains by interacting with existing research centres, like CEADAR, Ireland's National Centre for AI and LERNOVATE, an industry-led centre of excellence for research and innovation in learning technologies. It then will enhance TU Dublin's research capacity & capability by establishing novel research projects in collaboration with other national centres in other sectors, such as the Health and Sustainability. Examples include the FUTURE-NEURO Centre, which aims to develop new technologies and solutions for treating, diagnosing, and monitoring chronic and rare neurological disorders. XAI research can support this aim by employing AI solutions that are transparent, comprehensible to clinicians and explainable to patients. Similarly, novel work can be planned with the CURAM Centre by helping develop AI-based medical solutions that are responsible, trustworthy, and transparent for diagnostics. The Inclusive Design Research Centre and COMAND Technology Gateway Centre (co-funded by the Government of Ireland) are examples of research institutions that can benefit from strict collaboration with the proposed centre of eXplainable Artificial Intelligence because of the shared aim, namely to design interactive AI-based technologies that are truly transparent, aligned with the EU AI Act, retractable and optimized for humans and thus truly supporting and enhancing our potential and performance.
Through the interaction with the aforementioned research entities, the centre of XAI will provide evidence that could be used to inform a long-term economic case for investment in XAI-based technologies, both at individual industry and national levels (economic impact). While XAI is getting to the forefront of research today, it will soon be a key concept for supporting technological designs that are truly transparent, comprehensible for humans, and aligned with the EU AI Act regulations and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Consequently, analytical, scientific and technical skills will be required in industry and academia. Research and application of XAI will enable the production of a highly educated and relevant workforce in TU Dublin and Ireland. This aims to develop sustainable abilities and skills, extending the research capability of individuals at TU Dublin and nationally to perform high-quality research (national capability-building and professional service impact).
To contribute to national research capacity-building, the proposed centre will focus on how research is communicated in Ireland through extensive and tailored engagement with scholars in the centres mentioned above. This will guarantee access to many scientists and their international connections. The centre's members will present findings at events constantly organised by these centres, supporting the dissemination of its ideas and methods and providing evidence of the utility of research on eXplainable Artificial Intelligence. By systematically following this strategy, a new mass of researchers, aware of novel work on XAI, can be formed. This will be a vehicle to attract funding to develop and extend the capacity of specialist and generic laboratories and novel research studies in TU Dublin and across Ireland, supporting the co-location of complementary activities.