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# Ireland funds EUR 1.8 million AI system to detect vessels hiding at sea
- URL: https://sovereigntymonitor.eu/news/2026-02-25-ireland-sea-scan-funding/
- Published: 2026-02-25T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-01T10:51:05.000Z
- Description: Research Ireland awarded Trinity College Dublin's Sea Scan team over EUR 1.8 million in the Defence Innovation Challenge to build an AI system that detects vessels with transponders switched off, to help protect subsea cables.
- Author: Reidar Balstad
- Tags: Industry, investment and R&D, Defence and space, #news, #verified

Verified [Research Ireland press release, 25 February 2026](https://www.researchireland.ie/news/defence-innovation-challenge-winners/?ref=sovereigntymonitor.eu)

**What it does not test.** This does not establish that Sea Scan is deployed or operational, only that prize phase funding was awarded.

**How this item counts.** No movement: no answer to who owns, who operates, whose law governs or who made the parts changes. Weight 0\. EUR1.8m grant for detection prototype; not built or operating yet. [European Sovereignty Index](https://sovereigntymonitor.eu/sovereignty-index/)