FUTURA EVENT SCHEDULE

Welcome to the Futura Innovation Conference! We are thrilled to gather our community together and kick off the event with an inspiring opening celebration featuring entertainment from an Irish band and dancers. Hosted by Emcee Michelle Gallagher, this opening session features warm welcome addresses from event creator Chris Valentine, Mayor of Limerick John Moran, and Príomh Chomhairleoir Tom Ruddle. These remarks lead directly into our opening keynote speaker, Lauren Ready, setting the stage for an extraordinary conference ahead.

Mon 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM

4:00 PM

The Paradox of Expertise: A New Way to Think Across What You Know

The expert who stops asking questions is the most dangerous person in any innovation conversation. Expertise is the most trusted currency in any industry, yet it's the thing most likely to narrow your thinking right when the stakes are highest.

Emmy Award-winning storyteller and bestselling author Lauren Ready opens Futura by naming what gets in the way of real progress. It’s rarely a lack of knowledge but more often an excess of certainty.

Using her proprietary Question Lens™ Method—the same framework she has used to uncover deeper truth and surface breakthroughs—you will leave with tools for thinking past what they already know, across sectors, disciplines, and the assumptions nobody in the room is questioning.

The people who change what’s possible are the ones willing to question what they know.

Speaker:

Lauren Ready

Mon 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

5:30 PM

The Human Part (Presented by Civitas)

The Human Part is hosted by Civitas at the Old Quarter Townhouse Pub — a drop-in evening where the only agenda is a good conversation. Drawn from Peter Block’s Six Conversations methodology, the format moves through six simple questions designed to take you somewhere real. No panels, no pitches. Just the kind of exchange that tends to happen in Ireland anyway, given half a chance and a decent room.

Mon 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Opening Reception

6:00 PM

Irish Coffee Lesson with Dr Mike McMahon

Mother Macs

Join Dr Mike McMahon for an Irish Coffee Lesson in the surroundings of Mother Macs, one of Limerick’s oldest and most beloved bars.

Discover the story of Joe Sheridan, the man who invented the Irish Coffee, and how his creation became a legend from Limerick that has travelled all over the world. Then learn how to make the perfect Irish Coffee yourself. Sláinte!

Mon 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Experiential

20th October 2026

8:00 AM

Registration & Badge Pick Up

The Strand Lobby

Please bring your confirmation email with the QR code or a valid photo ID to collect your conference badge.

Tue 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Registration

Run/Walk the Three Bridges

The Strand

Meet at The Strand, outside the gym door

Start the day with a paced run across Limerick’s three bridges, led by RUN061.

RUN061 is a social run club based in Limerick city, founded by Aimee and Pravesh Dana, who wanted to build a sense of everyday community in the city they call home. What began as an Instagram invitation to join them for a run has grown into one of Limerick’s best-known run clubs, known for its themed runs and post-run meet-ups with local cafés and businesses.

Runners of all levels are welcome. It’s about the people and the city, not race times or personal bests, so come along, meet some locals and see Limerick from the river.

Tue 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Experiential

Mindfulness for Modern Well‑Being

The Strand- Shannon Suite Foyer

Workshop exploring neuroscience‑backed mindfulness for everyday life. A session designed to bring together seasoned practitioners and curious beginners alike, guided by the founder of Oxford’s Mindfulness in Business program. Participants explore the neuroscience behind habits that support human flourishing while experiencing practical techniques that strengthen presence, clarity, and emotional resilience.

Speaker:

Sophie Maclaren

Tue 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Experiential

9:00 AM

Immersive Technology Demos

Explore how virtual reality, augmented reality, artificial intelligence and architectural projection are transforming education, industry, retail, storytelling and public spaces. Visit the Shannon Suite foyer during the Futura Innovation Conference to meet the creators and discover a range of innovative experiences.

Janet Beck, Glasseye: Relax in a recliner and explore Intelligence Garden on Apple Vision Pro, discover the Luman Grove retail experience on Meta Quest, and view Glasseye’s showreel.

Guillaume Auvray, XR Ireland: Discover how EU sovereign AI and voice-controlled augmented reality can support regulated manufacturing, helping reduce errors and costs, improve productivity, and strengthen traceability and Good Manufacturing Practice compliance.

Daniel Staines, Monster Theory: Experience shared augmented reality on Meta Quest 3. Groups of two to six people see digital content alongside the real room and one another, with interactive chapters that transform the surrounding space.

Aaron Jay, Emagine: Discover heritage through short films that bring stories of the past to life.

Gary Pearson, Fourth Reality: Explore virtual reality training applications that support science learning in third-level education.

Peter Canning, High Res: Discover IntensCity, a new approach to architectural lighting that uses precisely controlled video projection to illuminate and animate heritage buildings with minimal lighting hardware. Designed for city councils and municipal teams, its cloud-based system remotely manages and schedules everything from static lighting to complex 3D animations across multiple sites, while considering energy use, maintenance and the protection of historic surfaces.

Stop by to connect with the demonstrators and explore new possibilities for immersive and creative technology.

Tue 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Experiential

9:30 AM

The Business of Immersive: Where Immersive Technologies Adds Value Across Industry

Immersive technologies are increasingly moving beyond research and experimentation to deliver measurable value across a growing range of sectors. This session brings together leaders deploying the technology across defence, industry and culture to examine how organisations adopt XR, prove return on investment, and build the case for wider rollout. Drawing on business cases, panellists will discuss what drives adoption, which sectors are moving fastest, and how AI, virtual worlds, spatial computing and mixed reality are opening new uses across industries while examining where Ireland sits in the European market, and what it takes to move from strong R&D to companies that scale to reach global markets.

Speakers:

Camille Donegan, Ilona Vanaga, Niall Campion, Guillaume Auvray, Daniel Staines

Tue 9:30 AM - 10:15 AM

Media and Entertainment

MedTech & Life Sciences Meetup

Brian Marrinan, Patrick Van Pelt

Connect with innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, healthcare leaders, and industry professionals exploring the future of MedTech, biotech, pharmaceuticals, and life sciences. This informal Meetup brings together like-minded attendees to exchange ideas around personalised medicine, synthetic biology, artificial intelligence, molecular diagnostics, advanced clinical trials, wearable technology, and data-driven healthcare.

Speakers:

Tue 9:30 AM - 10:15 AM

MedTech and Life Sciences, Meetup

Emotional Intelligence + AI

Gert O’Rourke, Dr Briga Hynes, Dr Gillian Barry

Workshop for improving self-awareness and tech fluency preparing people for modern collaboration and leadership. The understanding of emotional intelligence strengthens self awareness, communication and trust. This workshop helps us to understand how human judgment and emerging technologies can work together to improve decision-making, reduce bias, and support more responsive, community-centered governance.

Speaker:

Kathleen Yang- Clayton

Tue 9:30 AM - 10:15 AM

What If Our Innovation Ecosystem Was Truly Connected?

Chamber of Commerce

Innovation thrives when researchers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers and communities work together. Yet too often, valuable knowledge, research outcomes and commercial opportunities remain disconnected.This interactive workshop will explore how stronger collaboration across these stakeholders can accelerate research commercialisation, drive entrepreneurship, support spin-out creation and deliver greater societal and economic impact. Participants will identify barriers that hinder knowledge transfer, share practical experiences, and examine opportunities for building more effective partnerships. Through discussion and collective insight, the session will highlight actionable strategies for strengthening innovation ecosystems, improving pathways from research to real-world application, and creating lasting value through cross-sector collaboration.

Speakers:

Tue 9:30 AM - 10:15 AM

Innovative Technologies

H&VM Engineering Student Meeting

The Ingenium Building- Meeting Room

Join H&MV Engineering for an interactive look at how engineers are shaping the future of power. Explore the latest advances in high-voltage systems, renewable energy, battery storage, digital commissioning, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity — and discover how these technologies are creating exciting career opportunities across the industry. This session is capped at 30 attendees.

Host:

Tue 9:30 AM - 10:15 AM

Workshop

ADOPT

Crossing the Atlantic: Is Your Innovation Ready for the U.S. Market?

Moderator:

Maryland Innovation and Film House, LPYMA

Speakers:

Robin Wiener, Matthew Pugh, M. Jason Brooke, MSE, JD, CSQE

Tue 9:30 AM - 10:15 AM

Innovative Technologies

Bridging the Atlantic: Public Affairs and European Market Expansion

The Savoy- Savoy Suite

Entering the European market requires balancing EU-wide frameworks with distinct member state priorities. Designed for an audience navigating or engaging with the European business landscape, this session explores how transatlantic and cross-border initiatives can drive strategic growth. Drawing on real-world regional trade partnerships, biosecurity governance, and public affairs, Chris Frech outlines practical strategies for engaging European institutions, managing complex regulatory environments, and building sustainable alliances across borders.

Speaker:

Chris Frech

Tue 9:30 AM - 10:15 AM

Enterprise

10:00 AM

Maryland Film Festival Showcase

The Maryland Innovation and Film House at the Futura Innovation Conference features the Maryland Film Festival Showcase, a high-voltage lineup of 14 fresh films from some of the state’s most exciting filmmakers. Dive into two narrative features, two documentaries, and a thrilling mix of animated, documentary, experimental, and narrative shorts.

This is a cinematic road trip across the state known as “America in miniature,” from the mountains of Western Maryland to the broad streets of Baltimore, through the DC suburbs, and out to the sunlit banks of the Eastern Shore. Every style, every genre, every corner of Maryland are featured as Maryland Film Festival brings a full day (8.5 hours!) of our favorite recent moving images to the Futura Conference.

Presented by the SNF Parkway Theatre, home of the Maryland Film Festival, and curated by KJ Mohr, the Festival’s Director.

Check out the line-up!

Tue 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Experiential

Pop-Up Gallery

Maryland Innovation and Film House, LPYMA

Local Limerick artists take over the walls of the LPYMA (Limerick Protestant Young Men’s Association), one of the city’s oldest meeting houses, for a one-day Pop-Up Gallery, featuring work by Orla Hickey, Jelena Stamenković and Moya Ní Cheallaigh. Come and see the work, meet some of the artists and enjoy the atmosphere of this historic building. Then stay for the Maryland Innovation and Film House talks in the same building, on investing in or expanding to the US state of Maryland, or working with a US company here in Ireland.

Tue 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Experiential

10:15 AM

Break

Break - Sessions will resume in 30 minutes.

Tue 10:15 AM - 10:45 AM

Futura Photo Walk Competition: See Limerick. Capture the Moment. Win Great Prizes.

Limerick City Centre- Corner of Bedford Row and Henry Street

Get out of the conference room and into the heart of Limerick City! The Futura Photo Walk Competition invites Futura delegates, visitors and photography enthusiasts to explore the city, discover its hidden gems, capture its character and share your favourite moments.

Whether you’re using a professional camera, a compact camera or simply your smartphone, everyone can take part. No photography experience is required.

How it works

Explore: Take a walk through Limerick and photograph the places, people, architecture, culture, creativity and unexpected moments that catch your eye.

Share: Post your favourite Futura Photo Walk photograph to Instagram or X.

Hashtag it: Use the official competition hashtags #FuturaInnovationLIMK and #FILimerick so your entry can be found.

Be in with a chance to win: Your photograph will put you in the draw to win great prizes, including a fantastic hamper, with many more prizes to be announced.

What are we looking for? Photographs that capture the spirit of Limerick and the Futura experience: a stunning city view, a hidden corner of Limerick, architecture or street art, a great Futura moment, people enjoying the city, something unexpected, or simply a photograph that makes us stop and look twice! Be creative. Be curious. Show us Limerick through your eyes.

Tue 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM

Experiential

10:45 AM

Enterprise Meetup

Connect with business leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, and technology professionals exploring how organisations are adapting to a rapidly changing financial and digital landscape.This informal Meetup brings together like-minded attendees to exchange ideas around organisational resilience, financial technology, AI-powered fraud prevention, secure cloud architecture, automated compliance (RegTech), and the move beyond legacy systems.

Host:

Julea Ferrara

Tue 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM

Enterprise, Meetup

What Does 10 Billion People Actually Eat? (Presented by Boyne Valley Food Innovation District)

Hunt Museum-The Captains Room

A global conversation on how we feed ten billion people while balancing food security, climate resilience, commercial viability, sustainability and technological change.

Speakers:

Sophie Cooney, Philip Michael Weiner, Adam Woods, David Bailey

Tue 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM

AgTech and Sustainability

R&D Without an R&D Department: Fractional R&D in Canada

Small companies often have ideas worth commercializing but lack an in-house R&D team, specialized equipment, or a clear path from prototype to market. Canada’s Technology Access Centres fill that gap: a national network of publicly supported applied R&D and commercialization centres that offer affordable, on-demand access to researchers, equipment, testing, and objective advice, while firms retain the IP. Discover how this “fractional R&D” model de-risks technology adoption, accelerates commercialization and gives other regions a practical blueprint for turning more ideas into market-ready products.

Speaker:

Ken Doyle

Tue 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM

Startups

Human by Design: Creativity and Technology

Gwen Stevenson, Brendan Lowry, Eion McFadden, Matthew Malcolm

How is technology changing what artists and creative organisations can make, and what does this mean for human creativity and artistic control? Bringing perspectives from Northern Ireland’s creative and technology sectors, this panel will explore how interactive and emerging technologies are expanding creative practice, while also considering the choices and challenges they introduce. The discussion will consider audience participation, future skills, ownership and recognition, wider applications, and opportunities to build on creative and technological strengths across the island of Ireland.

Speakers:

Tue 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM

Culture, Media and Entertainment

Reclaiming Privacy: Challenges, Demands, and the Digital Horizon

Shannon Rowing Club

Every click leaves a trail, yet the privacy conversation often oscillates between helplessness and indifference. This interactive session confronts where we stand with our personal data. We’ll examine modern privacy challenges, audit where control was surrendered for convenience, and explore realistic ways to reel things back. With the EU actively attempting to tackle data rights through frameworks like GDPR and the AI Act, where does the individual truly stand? Moving beyond personal actions, attendees will debate what users should demand from companies and discuss how we can collectively reshape the future of digital privacy.

Speaker:

Dane Stangler

Tue 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM

Innovative Technologies

Energy, Compute, Capital: The AI Build-Out

Jerry Flannery's Bar & 1314 (Funded House)

AI's next bottleneck is not models, it is the layer beneath them: power, chips, and the capital to build both. David Yakobovitch, General Partner and Managing Director at DataPower Capital, draws on a portfolio spanning SpaceX, Cerebras, and Crusoe to map how the AI build-out is being funded in 2026: energy-first data centers, post-GPU compute, and the shift from venture cheques to infrastructure-scale capital. Expect a working investor's view of what gets funded, what gets built, and how ecosystems outside Silicon Valley, Ireland included, can plug in.

Speaker:

David Yakobovitch

Tue 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM

Innovative Technologies

Founders and Angels: Making the First Investment Connection

Explore early-stage investment from both sides of the table. Sean Branagan of Syracuse University shares practical tips for founders in the creative industries seeking their first angel investors. Jillian Friot of Venture Builders discusses how aspiring angels can get started in investing and how education can prepare the next generation to support emerging businesses.
Talk Schedule:

10:45-11:05, Sean Branagan, Syracuse University, "Finding Your First Angels: Tips for Creative Industry Founders"

11:10-11:30, Jillian Friot, Venture Builders, "The Next Generation of Angels: Getting Started in Angel Investing"

Tue 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM

Startups

H&VM Engineering Student Meeting

The Ingenium Building- Meeting Room

Connect with innovators, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and technology professionals exploring the future of transport, logistics, aviation, and aerospace. This informal Meetup brings together like-minded attendees to exchange ideas around autonomous transportation, smart ports, global logistics, sustainable aviation fuels, hybrid propulsion, satellite technology, and the infrastructure supporting increasingly connected supply chains.

Host:

Tue 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM

Workshop

TRUST

Breaking Into the U.S. Market: Regulation, Risk & Institutional Trust

Moderator:

Hunt Museum - The Captains Room

Speakers:

Bob Zhang, Fehmida Kapadia, M. Jason Brooke, MSE, JD, CSQE

Tue 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM

Innovative Technologies

11:30 AM

Break

Break - Sessions will resume in 30 minutes.

Tue 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM

12:00 PM

Reimagining Heritage: How Immersive Technologies are Transforming Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Place

Heritage organisations are increasingly adopting XR, digital twins, projection mapping and immersive storytelling to bring places, collections and stories to life. This session explores how emerging technologies can create deeper visitor engagement, unlock new revenue opportunities and support the preservation and interpretation of cultural assets. The discussion will combine practical case studies from Ireland and beyond, exploring how digital experiences are being used to attract new audiences, enrich tourism offerings and create entirely new ways of engaging with heritage.

Moderator:

Dora Jean Gillespie

Speakers:

Aaron Jay, Peter Canning, Janet Beck

Tue 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

Culture, Media and Entertainment

The Farm Was Just the Beginning (Presented by Boyne Valley Food Innovation District)

Peter Creticos, John Cunningham, Brendan Guinan

From precision agriculture and novel proteins to robotics, processing, traceability and AI, this session explores how innovation across the
entire food value chain connects into one ecosystem.

Speaker:

Tue 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

AgTech and Sustainability

Transport & Aerospace Meetup

Host:

Paul Ryan

Tue 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

Meetup, Transport and Aerospace

In Your Face: Can AI and Smart Glasses Take Spatial Computing Mainstream?

After decades of business use, extended reality (XR) adoption remains uneven. Could convergence with AI and the familiar form of smart glasses change that? Drawing on global enterprise experience, Jeremy Dalton explores business applications, practical barriers and current consumer backlash against smart glasses, distinguishing established uses from emerging possibilities. The session includes a live demonstration of XRHQ, a continuously updated feed of real-world XR and AI applications accessible during and after the conference, giving attendees a resource to explore where these technologies are being put to work.

Speaker:

Jeremy Dalton

Tue 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

Culture, Media and Entertainment

Building Your Personal Startup Brand and Network (Presented by TechTides)

Alastair Cameron, Jillian Friot, James McCann

As a founder, your story, reputation and relationships can be just as powerful as your product. Discover how to build a personal brand that creates credibility, attracts opportunity and connects you with the people who can help take your startup further.

Speakers:

Tue 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

Startups

Why Being Old-fashioned in Business is a Superpower

Shannon Rowing Club

This will be an interactive session where we'll cover what "being old-fashioned" in business means and why it works (especially in, and delightfully contrary to, today's world). We'll tackle real-world examples of the concept in action (how to get tangible results like stickier customers, increased revenue, etc. - as well as make your business more sustainable and adaptable). And we'll also have time to workshop your own business's "old-fashioned" superpower together.

Speaker:

Faith Harron

Tue 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

Enterprise

Accelerating Innovative Air Mobility in Europe

Julie Garland, Wassim Derguech

Innovative Air Mobility is moving from trials towards real-world operations, but what will it take to accelerate this transition across Europe? This panel will explore three key challenges: how regulation and operational maturity can enable IAM to safely access and integrate into airspace; how we can address the skills gap and prepare the workforce for the new jobs and capabilities that IAM will create; and how we can build societal acceptance and readiness for new forms of air mobility.

The discussion will bring different perspectives on what needs to happen now to turn IAM into practical, scalable and sustainable services.

Speakers:

Tue 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

Transport and Aerospace

Expanding Workforce Opportunity – A Focus on Barriers to Employment – World Café

Michael MacCurtian, Donald Tracy

This interactive World Café session will explore the barriers that can prevent people in regeneration communities from accessing, entering and sustaining employment, while also looking at the opportunities for employers to connect with wider and often underrepresented talent pools.

Speakers:

Tue 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

Innovative Technologies

Beyond the Pitch: Finding Your First Angels and Telling Your Story

Jerry Flannery's Bar & 1314 (Funded House)

Raising investment takes more than a strong business idea. In two complementary talks, Margaret Rae of Konree Innovation explores how to find your first angel investors and the guidance, connections and support they can provide beyond funding. Sally Murphy of Welltold examines the role of storytelling in preparing to raise investment, helping founders communicate their vision and build investor confidence.
Talk Schedule:

12:00-12:20, Margaret Rae, Konree Innovation, "Beyond Money: Finding Your First Angel Investors"

12:25-12:45, Sally Murphy, Welltold, "Telling Your Story: Preparing to Raise Investment"

Tue 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

Startups

Beyond the Label: Art, Expression & Second Chances

The Ingenium Building- Meeting Room

What do we see when we look past a label? Presented with PALS, this lunchtime session showcases art made by people who have been incarcerated, and explores how creative expression can open doors, change perceptions and offer a genuine second chance.

Every piece carries a story of reflection, resilience and the will to start again. The work invites us to look beyond a conviction or a category and see the person, the talent and the potential behind it.

Come along, see the art, hear the stories and join a conversation about creativity, second chances and the communities that make fresh starts possible.

Tue 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Experiential

H&VM Engineering Student Meeting

Host:

Tue 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

Workshop

COMMERCIALIZE

From Innovation to Revenue: Winning Your First U.S. Customer

Moderator:

Speakers:

Genie Saleh, Fehmida Kapadia, Chris Ewing

Tue 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

Innovative Technologies

12:45 PM

Lunch Break

Grab some food and drink at local restaurants.

Tue 12:45 PM - 1:30 PM

1:30 PM

You Don't Need a Rocket to Build in Space

Stephan Reckie, Robert Hill

The next generation of Space companies won't all build rockets or satellites. Entrepreneurs in AI, robotics, data, health, manufacturing, cybersecurity and countless other industries are finding opportunities in the rapidly expanding Space economy. This fireside chat explores where those opportunities are emerging, what Space investors are looking for, and how entrepreneurs in Ireland and around the world can become part of this new growing economy.

Speakers:

Tue 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM

Transport and Aerospace

What Counts as Attention?

Digital communication is no longer simply a contest for reach. Audiences are fragmented across platforms, privacy expectations are changing, measurement signals are disappearing and creators and organizations are trying to build relationships they can sustain. But what actually counts as attention? How do we know when it leads to understanding, trust, engagement or action? In this conversational session, Beth Egan and Sean Branagan explore what effective communication looks like now—and what it may require next—from evidence, trust, and audience data to entrepreneurship, community, and the creator economy.

Speakers:

Sean Branagan, Beth Egan

Tue 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM

Culture, Media and Entertainment

Why Do Some Places Become “the Place”? (Presented by Boyne Valley Food Innovation District)

Danny O'Brien, Michael Mahon, Chrystele Sanon

A practical discussion on why some innovation clusters become global references and the roles of capital, universities, industry, living laboratories and international collaboration in getting there.

Speakers:

Tue 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM

AgTech and Sustainability

Born Global; Market Ready! (Presented by: Innovate Limerick, Hartnett Centre and Nexus Centre)

Dr Gillian Barry, Gert O'Rourke, Damien Lee

“Born Global, Market Ready!” explores how entrepreneurs can build a business with international ambition embedded from day one — whether developing software, technology, or a physical product. Rather than viewing internationalisation as something that happens after establishing a successful domestic business, the discussion will explore what it means to design for global customers, markets and scale from the outset. The panel will examine the supports available to ambitious start-ups and how those supports can work together to give founders a first-year edge. By better connecting the entrepreneurial ecosystem, we can help founders access the expertise, networks, funding, talent and market opportunities they need to move faster — while also developing the next generation of globally minded entrepreneurs.

Moderator:

Dennis Barry

Speakers:

Tue 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM

Startups

Innovative Technologies Meetup

Hunt Museum-The Captains Room

Connect with fellow innovators, technologists, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders who are interested in the technologies shaping our future. This informal Meetup brings together like-minded attendees to exchange ideas and explore the next frontier of AI, data, autonomous systems, cybersecurity, predictive technologies, and digital ethics.Join the conversation about how these rapidly evolving technologies are moving beyond individual tools to become part of the foundational architecture of business, government, and society—and how we can build a future that is more transparent, resilient, secure, and human-centered.

Host:

Dominic Blakely

Tue 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM

Innovative Technologies, Meetup

Beyond the Classroom: Taking Immersive Education Across Sectors

What if 50% of a university degree happened inside industry?

At the University of Limerick, that is already happening. Immersive Software Engineering (ISE) and Immersive Bioscience & Biotherapeutics (iBio) are built around a fundamentally different model of university education, with students spending 50% of their programmes in paid residencies within partner organisations.

The story is a strong one. ISE pioneered the model and iBio is now taking it into bioscience and biotherapeutics. Rather than waiting until graduation to access talent, industry partners engage with students much earlier in their education. They help shape the curriculum, expose students to real industry challenges and provide environments where students learn on the job, solve real problems and develop alongside experienced professionals. For employers, it creates an opportunity not simply to recruit future talent, but to play an active role in developing it.

This fireside chat brings together Professor Stephen Kinsella, Co-Founder of ISE and iBio; Roisin Lyons, bringing the innovation and Enterprise Ireland commercialisation perspective; and Michelle Gallagher, representing industry partnerships within iBio, alongside ISE student who have experienced the model first-hand and are now based in Industry.

Speakers:

Michelle Gallagher, Roisin Lyons, Stephen Kinsella, Tóla Bowen MacCurtáin

Tue 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM

Innovative Technologies, MedTech and Life Sciences

Choose Your Own Entrepreneurial Adventure

Shannon Rowing Club

Many people think entrepreneurship means launching a venture-backed startup. In reality, entrepreneurship is a skillset for navigating uncertainty, spotting opportunities and creating value. In this highly interactive session, you'll use AI-powered customer interviews, rapid experimentation and real entrepreneurial decision-making to explore how the same opportunity can lead to very different outcomes, from side hustles and consultancies to social enterprises, small businesses and high-growth startups. Discover which entrepreneurial path fits your goals, values and ambitions.

Speaker:

Joanna Hamer

Tue 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM

Enterprise

Second Chances: Creating Pathways to Employment

This panel discussion explores how employers can access an often-overlooked talent pool by creating meaningful pathways into work for people with experience of the justice system. The discussion will look at the opportunities for employers, the barriers that still exist, and the practical changes needed across recruitment, workplace culture, supports and employer confidence to make these pathways work.

Speakers:

James Leonard, Alison Curtin

Tue 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM

Innovative Technologies

The Director’s Cut: Limerick Museum

Limerick Museum

Guided tour Tuesday and Wednesday, 1:30–2:15pm · Museum open 10:00am–5:00pm daily · Henry St

Dr Matthew Potter, Director of Limerick Museums, will offer a special guided tour of the museum on Tuesday and Wednesday, 1:30–2:15pm.

Limerick Museum is a vibrant cultural and heritage museum in the heart of Limerick City, telling the story of the city and its people through a fascinating collection of artefacts, photographs, documents and objects.

From Limerick’s medieval past and military history to its social, sporting and cultural heritage, the museum brings the city’s rich history to life. It offers visitors an engaging insight into how Limerick has evolved over the centuries and celebrates the people, places and events that have shaped the city.

Located on Henry Street, Limerick Museum is an important resource for residents and visitors alike, connecting the city’s past with its present. It is free to visit, 10:00am–5:00pm, Monday to Saturday.

Tue 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM

Experiential

ACTIVATE

Beyond the Deal: Turning Innovation Into Real-World Adoption

Moderator:

Speakers:

Jeffery Morgan, Sarah Iranpour, Sheri Parks, PH.D.

Tue 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM

Innovative Technologies

2:15 PM

Break

Break - Sessions will resume in 30 minutes.

Tue 2:15 PM - 2:45 PM

Pop-Up Gaeltacht: A Taste of Ireland’s Native Language, Culture & Craic!

Ever wondered what the Irish are saying when they switch into Gaelic?

Come along to our Pop-Up Gaeltacht, a lively, informal Irish-language experience where you can learn a few words, phrases and expressions in Gaeilge (Irish), Ireland’s native language.

You don’t need to speak Irish, or even know how to pronounce it! Our friendly Pop-Up Gaeltacht is designed for everyone, including visitors from the United States who want to experience a little more of authentic Irish culture.

You’ll learn useful Irish phrases such as:

Dia dhuit (Dee-ah gwitch): Hello

Sláinte! (Slawn-cha): Cheers!

Go raibh maith agat (Guh rev mah agut): Thank you

Céad míle fáilte (Kayd mee-leh fall-cheh): A hundred thousand welcomes

Craic (Crack): Fun / good times / what’s happening

And, of course, you’ll discover that Irish is about much more than words: it’s about storytelling, music, community, humour and connection.

A Little Ireland, Wherever You Are. Think of the Pop-Up Gaeltacht as an Irish-language social gathering with a distinctly Irish sense of humour. Grab a drink, meet some people, try out a few Irish words and discover the language that has been spoken on the island of Ireland for centuries.

No homework. No exams. No pressure. Just Gaeilge, good company and plenty of craic!

Fáilte romhat! You are very welcome!

Tue 2:15 PM - 3:00 PM

Experiential

2:45 PM

Culture, Media & Entertainment Meetup

Connect with creators, innovators, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals who are shaping the future of culture, media, and entertainment. This informal Meetup brings together like-minded attendees to exchange ideas around the changing ways we create, consume, distribute, and monetise content. Conversations may explore the creator economy, digital-first platforms, gaming, sport, emerging technologies, and new approaches to engaging audiences around the world. Join the conversation about how technology is transforming entertainment and creating new opportunities for creators, brands, platforms, and audiences. Come ready to share ideas, discover new perspectives, meet new people, and connect with others helping to shape the next generation of global culture and entertainment.

Host:

Eric Mathews

Tue 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM

Culture, Media and Entertainment, Meetup

The Future of Innovation: Creativity, Technology, and the Journey to Scale (Presented by Crew/Platform 94)

Marie Donnellan, Guillaume Auvray, Caroline Dunlea

What does it take to turn innovation into an internationally competitive business? This panel will bring together founders and ecosystem leaders to explore the journey from innovation and commercialisation through to growth and international scale.

The discussion will explore how creativity and technology are increasingly converging, with capabilities from gaming, immersive technologies, digital design and AI driving new products, services, and business models across a growing range of industries. Drawing on the experience of founders at different stages of growth, the panel will also explore what it takes to take these innovations to international markets and successfully scale.

Moderator:

Niamh Costello, CEO, CREW

Speakers:

Tue 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM

Innovative Technologies, Startups

The Future of Food - Built Here (Presented by Boyne Valley Food Innovation District)

A peer roundtable connecting the day’s global themes to real infrastructure, companies and partnerships in the Boyne Valley, while exploring opportunities for collaboration, investment and knowledge exchange.

Speakers:

Gary O'Meara, Conor O'Keefe, John Cassidy

Tue 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM

AgTech and Sustainability

How International Collaboration Sparks Innovation

Robin Young, Debbie McKee Demczyk, Alistair Rodgers, Stuart Miller

What happens when two colleges in Canada and Scotland come together to solve a real workforce challenge? This session explores how Durham College and Ayrshire College turned an international partnership into an immersive learning solution for aerospace turbine engine training. The project brought together business development, applied research and academia to create a digital twin that gives learners a practical way to explore engine components in an immersive environment. The session will share what made the partnership work and what others can take from the experience to create impactful, international and innovative solutions.

Speakers:

Tue 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM

Transport and Aerospace

Transforming Training: Leveraging XR and AI in Workforce Development

Gary Pearson, Zeta Dooly, Mary Walsh O’Shea

XR and AI are redefining workforce development, enabling organisations to deliver more immersive, engaging and impactful training experiences. From onboarding and safety training to technical skills development and continuous professional learning, these technologies are helping businesses build more capable, adaptable and future-ready workforces.

Drawing on expertise spanning corporate learning, immersive training development, workforce skills programmes and applied research, this panel will examine how XR and AI are reshaping professional development. From creating more effective learning experiences and accelerating skills acquisition to building new talent pipelines through apprenticeships and industry partnerships, panellists will share real-world perspectives on preparing today's workforce for tomorrow's challenges.

Moderator:

Dr Celine Mullins

Speakers:

Tue 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM

Innovative Technologies

Innovation Without Borders: Building the Ecosystems That Will Define the Next Economy

Hunt Museum-The Captains Room

From medtech and computational health to cybersecurity and quantum, Secretary Coker explores how the convergence of technologies, industries and international partnerships is reshaping the global innovation economy and how stronger connections between ecosystems like Maryland and Ireland can accelerate discovery, commercialization and economic growth.

Speaker:

Sec. Harry Coker

Tue 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM

Enterprise

BUILD & SCALE

From First Customer to U.S. Growth: Building a Business That Scales

Moderator:

Dr. Rohan K Jain, Christopher Frech, Michael Spector

Speakers:

Tue 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM

Innovative Technologies

3:30 PM

Break

Break - Sessions will resume in 30 minutes.

Tue 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM

4:00 PM

KEYNOTE: The New Operating Model: Balancing AI Agents and Human Agency

As AI agents transition from digital assistants to autonomous executors of real work, the true competitive advantage shifts from deploying tools to expanding human agency. In this keynote, Head of Future of Work & AI Matthew Duncan, shares data-backed insights on how organizations can rethink the future of work. Grounded in Microsoft’s research on human-AI collaboration, Matthew dissects the "Transformation Paradox" facing enterprise leaders: the friction between sticking to legacy workflows and redesigning operations around AI teammates. You'll leave with a clear view of how leading organisations are moving past pilots to redesign core business processes, elevate human judgment, and build human-first learning systems that keep people ahead of their own tools.

Keynote:

Matthew Duncan

Tue 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM

Keynote

5:00 PM

An Irish Pub Crawl

Limerick City Centre

Get involved and take pictures of yourself and whoever you meet on our unique self-guided tour through Limerick’s most iconic bars, including The White House, The Commercial, Jerry Flannery’s, Mickey Martin’s, Timmy Martin’s, Mother Macs and The Locke. Try the local favorites in some of the most historic bars in Ireland, with live music along the way.

Share your photos with #FILimerick #FIPubcrawl #LimerickGiftCard and you could be entered into a competition for a Limerick Gift Card. Winners announced on Wednesday.

Live music on the crawl

5:00pm, Timmy Martin’s: Trad session with Garryowen Comhaltas

8:20pm, The Commercial: Trad session

9:00pm, The White House / The Commercial: Trad session, then acoustic from 9:30pm

Play or listen to traditional Irish music live in the place it all happens.

Tue 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Experiential

6:00 PM

Irish Coffee Lesson with Dr Mike McMahon

Mother Macs

Join Dr Mike McMahon for an Irish Coffee Lesson in the surroundings of Mother Macs, one of Limerick’s oldest and most beloved bars.

Tue 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Experiential

21st October 2026

8:00 AM

Registration & Badge Pick Up

The Strand Lobby

Please bring your confirmation email with the QR code or a valid photo ID to collect your conference badge.

Wed 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Registration

Run/Walk the Three Bridges

The Strand

Meet at The Strand, outside the gym door

Start the day with a paced run across Limerick’s three bridges, led by RUN061.

Runners of all levels are welcome. It’s about the people and the city, not race times or personal bests, so come along, meet some locals and see Limerick from the river.

Wed 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Experiential

Entrepreneurship Educators Alliance Breakfast (hosted by the London School of Economics and Political Science)

The Buttery

Join London School of Economics (LSE) Generate for a breakfast bringing together women founders, aspiring entrepreneurs, investors and members of the entrepreneurship ecosystem attending Futura. Over coffee, breakfast and conversation, we'll create space for meaningful connections, shared experiences and honest discussions about the realities of building ventures. Whether you're just starting out, growing a business, supporting founders, or exploring entrepreneurship for the first time, this is an opportunity to meet like-minded people, expand your network and exchange ideas in a welcoming environment. Join LSE Generate, the centre for entrepreneurship at the London School of Economics, for a breakfast bringing together women founders, aspiring entrepreneurs, investors and members of the entrepreneurship ecosystem attending Futura. Over coffee, breakfast and conversation, we'll create space for meaningful connections, shared experiences and honest discussions about the realities of building ventures. Whether you're just starting out, growing a business, supporting founders, or exploring entrepreneurship for the first time, this is an opportunity to meet like-minded people, expand your network and exchange ideas in a welcoming environment. This session is capped at 30 attendees.

Wed 8:00 AM - 8:45 AM

Breakfast

9:30 AM

From Talent to Founders: Creating the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs (Presented by AxisBIC & the Irish BICs)

Larry O'Donoghue, Tony Foote, Liam O'Brien

How can we create the right culture, environment and supports to encourage more people to think entrepreneurially, whether that means starting a business, innovating from within an existing organisation, spinning out of a University or taking the leap from a large multinational to build something of their own?

Speakers:

Wed 9:30 AM - 10:15 AM

Startups

AI + Governance (Presented by CivitasAI)

Michael Hanley, Robert Caldwell, Oran O'Flynn

A practical, non-technical session on how AI is shaping decisions and what responsible adoption means including value, risk, accountability, trust and when choosing not to use AI may be the right decision.

Speakers:

Wed 9:30 AM - 10:15 AM

Innovative Technologies

Design Philosophy: The OS Beneath the Tools

The Savoy Hotel-Savoy Suite

Big Motive has spent 15 years designing complex services inside health systems and government, from Northern Ireland's Covid response to national maternity services and private hospital groups. Damian Cranney, founder and CEO, on why the teams that get good outcomes share a clear design philosophy rather than a better toolkit; what that philosophy is; and why it matters more, not less, now that the repeatable parts of design can be automated.

Speaker:

Damian Cranney

Wed 9:30 AM - 10:15 AM

MedTech and Life Sciences

10:15 AM

Break

Break - Sessions will resume in 30 minutes.

Wed 10:15 AM - 10:45 AM

Futura Photo Walk Competition: See Limerick. Capture the Moment. Win Great Prizes.

Limerick City Centre- Corner of Bedford Row and Henry Street

Whether you’re using a professional camera, a compact camera or simply your smartphone, everyone can take part. No photography experience is required.

How it works

Explore: Take a walk through Limerick and photograph the places, people, architecture, culture, creativity and unexpected moments that catch your eye.

Share: Post your favourite Futura Photo Walk photograph to Instagram or X.

Hashtag it: Use the official competition hashtags #FuturaInnovationLIMK and #FILimerick so your entry can be found.

Be in with a chance to win: Your photograph will put you in the draw to win great prizes, including a fantastic hamper, with many more prizes to be announced.

Wed 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM

Experiential

10:45 AM

Blue-Green Economy – Transition through Innovation

Ports around the world are transforming from traditional freight nodes into vibrant launchpads for clean energy, sustainable supply chains, and marine technology. Drawing on real-world experiences from pioneering Blue Tech incubators to large-scale floating offshore wind and green energy alliances, this session explores how port authorities leverage strategic partnerships, academia, and critical government funding to accelerate early-stage technology. Attendees will gain a forward-looking perspective on how ports are testing, scaling, and deploying next-generation maritime, nature-based, and renewable energy solutions to build resilient, sustainable economies for tomorrow.

Speakers:

Paula Sylvia, Jerry Hallissey, Peader Casey, Gerard Dooly

Wed 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM

Infrastructure and Logistics

Rethinking the Routes from Science to Impact

Great science is often the starting point for transformative innovation, but the journey from science to impact is full of difficult choices, stuck systems, funding gaps, and other bottlenecks. Drawing on a decade at the intersection of science, entrepreneurship, investment and societal impact, this talk explores the major blockers and opportunities for science-based innovation, including highlighting the more underexplored routes to impact from science, beyond venture-scale startups.

Speaker:

Rachel Carey

Wed 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM

Enterprise

Leadership, Guidance and Integration in an AI World (Presented by CivitasAI)

Sophie Maclaren, Kathleen Yang-Clayton, Cecilla Wessigner

As AI becomes embedded in organisations, leadership becomes less about having every answer and more about exercising judgment under conditions of accelerating complexity. The discussion focuses on judgment, trust, organisational culture, governance and keeping human decision-making at the centre. It is designed to equip leaders with the mindset and practices required to integrate AI responsibly while maintaining accountability, resilience and trust.

Speakers:

Wed 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM

Innovative Technologies

Futura Start-Up Pitch - Orange Division (Presented by Adeo Interactive)

Meet our top Finalist companies competing across the Futura Pitch Event tracks: AgTech & Sustainability; Culture, Media & Entertainment; Enterprise; Infrastructure & Logistics; Innovative Technologies; MedTech & Life Sciences; and Transport & Aerospace.
Hear from start-up founders who are working on the latest and greatest innovations that will shape these sectors in the years to come, get the inside scoop on the latest tech trends and innovations, and find hot investment opportunities with start-ups that are poised to scale.
The pitch competition is taking place at Engine Collaboration Centre in the heart of Limerick City. Be sure to join us shortly after 16:00 for the Futura Awards Ceremony, where we will announce the winners!

FINALISTS-ORANGE DIVISION
Astracite
Home Chocolat
Intraverse Africa
Substrato Medical
Wisepath

Wed 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM

Startups

11:30 AM

Break

Break - Sessions will resume in 30 minutes.

Wed 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM

12:00 PM

From Insight to Action (Presented by CivitasAI)

An interactive CivitasAI working session showing how decision intelligence can structure complex information, identify gaps and dependencies, align priorities and turn insight into coordinated action.

Speakers:

Dane Stangler, Gary O'Meara, Barry Fitzpatrick, Gerard Coffey

Wed 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

Innovative Technologies

AI Meets Analogue: Finding the Human in Creative Technology

Nigel McAlpine, Scott Ashby

The debate around AI and the creative industries is often framed as a conflict: human creativity versus machines, old craft versus new technology. But what happens when the two work together?

In this session, we explore an unusual example from the music industry, where AI agents and automation sit alongside traditional vinyl presses to help produce and distribute one of music’s most enduring physical formats.
We’ll look at how new and old technologies can coexist, where AI genuinely adds value, and where human judgement, creativity and craft still matter most.

Rather than asking whether AI will replace creativity, this conversation asks a more useful question: how can we use it to protect and enhance the things worth keeping?

Speakers:

Wed 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

Culture, Media and Entertainment

Trajectory, Not Status

What do we miss when we measure where people are, but not where they are going? Patrick Van Pelt explores four identical health readings with four different histories to ask when trajectory changes a responsible decision. The session examines what useful instruments owe the people they measure, when they should say "unknown," and how much uncertainty a commercial tool can expose before it becomes unusable. Participants will leave with questions for testing these ideas in their own fields.

Speaker:

Patrick Van Pelt

Wed 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

Enterprise

Futura Start-Up Pitch - Green Division (Presented by Adeo Interactive)

FINALIST -GREEN DIVISION
AeroBeam
Anri Sports Tech Ltd
ArrayPatch ltd
LayerLogic
MuseCool

Wed 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

Startups

12:45 PM

Lunch Break

Grab some food and drink at local restaurants.

Wed 12:45 PM - 1:30 PM

1:30 PM

Futura Start-Up Pitch - Purple Division (Presented by Adeo Interactive)

FINALISTS PURPLE DIVISION
Blackpin IOT
Future Proof Knowledge
Revide.xyz
Tuarity

Wed 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM

Startups

Still Human: How People Stay Relevant as AI Reshapes Aerospace (Presented by CivitasAI)

A high-stakes examination of human judgment, oversight and accountability as AI takes on more technical work using aerospace to explore questions relevant to every complex AI-enabled system.

Speakers:

Stephan Reckie, Sean Mitchell, Mark O'Brian

Wed 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM

Innovative Technologies

Earth, Sky, and Orbit: The reliance of Spatial Digital Twins on the Frontier of Space

Modern technology forces us to look beyond terrestrial boundaries, requiring system architectures that span from local ground infrastructure to Earth's outer orbit. This session bridges the physical and spatial domains, exploring how digital twins and persistent sensor networks are used to monitor and track national infrastructure, power grids, and critical systems. We examine how satellite networks, space-based telemetry, and orbital data capture provides the essential macro-backbone powering these ground-level models.

Speaker:

Ian Kiely

Wed 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM

Transport and Aerospace

The Director’s Cut: Limerick Museum

Limerick Museum

Guided tour Tuesday and Wednesday, 1:30–2:15pm · Museum open 10:00am–5:00pm daily · Henry St

Dr Matthew Potter, Director of Limerick Museums, will offer a special guided tour of the museum on Tuesday and Wednesday, 1:30–2:15pm.

Wed 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM

Experiential

Engineering the Future:- Innovation, Resilience and Growth

The energy transition is reshaping the power industry at an unprecedented pace. This presentation explores how power systems are evolving from traditional, centralised networks into intelligent, flexible, and resilient grids capable of meeting future demand while enabling greater renewable energy penetration.

Through an examination of industry challenges, including grid connection bottlenecks, technical barriers, supply chain pressures, and project delivery constraints, the session will provide a practical view of what is required to power the future. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of the opportunities, challenges, and innovations driving the next generation of energy infrastructure.

Speaker:

Wed 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM

AgTech and Sustainability

2:15 PM

Break

Break - Sessions will resume in 30 minutes.

Wed 2:15 PM - 2:45 PM

Pop-Up Gaeltacht: A Taste of Ireland’s Native Language, Culture & Craic!

Ever wondered what the Irish are saying when they switch into Gaelic?

Come along to our Pop-Up Gaeltacht, a lively, informal Irish-language experience where you can learn a few words, phrases and expressions in Gaeilge (Irish), Ireland’s native language.

You’ll learn useful Irish phrases such as:

Dia dhuit (Dee-ah gwitch): Hello

Sláinte! (Slawn-cha): Cheers!

Go raibh maith agat (Guh rev mah agut): Thank you

Céad míle fáilte (Kayd mee-leh fall-cheh): A hundred thousand welcomes

Craic (Crack): Fun / good times / what’s happening

And, of course, you’ll discover that Irish is about much more than words: it’s about storytelling, music, community, humour and connection.

No homework. No exams. No pressure. Just Gaeilge, good company and plenty of craic!

Fáilte romhat! You are very welcome!

Wed 2:15 PM - 3:00 PM

Experiential

2:45 PM

AI Transformation Journey: From Governance to Agentic-Scale Delivery

Hugh O'Donnell, Shane O'Donnell

Most organisations don't struggle to start their AI journey, they struggle to scale it safely. Drawing on hands-on delivery experience, this session sets out a practical, repeatable framework for AI transformation, from assessing organisational readiness and building governance that enables rather than restricts, through funding innovation and mapping high-value use cases, to deploying agentic AI at scale. Attendees will leave with a clear roadmap for turning AI ambition into measurable organisational productivity.

Speaker:

Wed 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM

Enterprise

Space Is Becoming Everyone’s Business

Space is no longer a standalone industry defined by rockets and satellites. It is rapidly converging with AI, energy, finance, robotics, cybersecurity, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, climate technology and many other sectors of the global economy. Join GEN Space Executive Director and venture investor Stephan Reckie and former World Economic Forum space leader Nikolai Khlystov for a dynamic conversation about where the next commercial opportunities will emerge, how investors and entrepreneurs should think about this changing landscape, and why you don’t have to be in the Space industry to have an opportunity in the Space economy.

Speakers:

Stephan Reckie, Niamh Shaw, David Bushman, Peader Casey

Wed 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM

Transport and Aerospace

Futura Start-Up Pitch - Blue Division (Presented by Adeo Interactive)