Programme

• 10:00 Plenary Opening

Dr Liam Brown, Vice President, Research, Development & Innovation, Technological University of the Shannon (TUS)

• 10:10 Political Outline – National

TBC

• 10:20 Political Outline- EU

Video Message from Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation– TBC

• 10:35 Fireside Chat & Introduction to the new ERA Act

Potential:

Jean-David Malo, Acting Director for ERA and Innovation & Irish Representative

Joe Healy, Divisional Manager of Research, Innovation and Infrastructure at Enterprise Ireland.

• 10:45 Panel Discussion 1.1 – Regional Innovation in Practise

Moderator: Eva-Maria Szavuj, Head of Unit RTD.A1, European Commission

Owen McColgan, Senior Brussels Office, Technopolis Group

David Kelly, Southern Regional Assembly

Pirita Lindholm, Secretary General, European Regions Research and Innovation Network (ERRIN)

& More to be announced
Potential Topics: Regional Innovation Scoreboard; innovation valleys; R&I ecosystems

• 11:30 Grab & Go Refreshments

• 11:50 Breakout Session 1.0 – Practitioner Focused

Potential Topics:
1. Technology Infrastructures & Connected Regional Innovation Ecosystems
2.The Role of Cities & Regions in the Next MFF
3. Addressing Regional Innovation Disparities

• 14:05 Speaker 2 – Breakout Highlights

Role: Rapporteur / synthesis speaker

Potential Topics:
Draw out practical lessons and connect breakout outcomes back to the wider competitiveness and cohesion theme.

• 14:15 Panel Discussion 1.2 – Future of Regional Funding: FP10 & MFF

Kevin Burke, National Director for Horizon Europe at Enterprise Ireland

John Edwards, Secretary General, European Association of Institutions in Higher Education, EURASHE

Eva Nussmüller, Acting Head of Unit, Smart and Sustainable Growth, DG REGIO, European Commission

Potential Topics:
FP10; interregional cooperation; co-funding challenges; lessons learned from Horizon Europe; regional access to future funding.

• 15:00 Afternoon Refreshments

• 15:45 Scene Setter

Eva-Maria Szavuj, Head of Unit in the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD) – TBC

Potential Topics:
Choose Europe, research without borders, talent circulation and European research attractiveness.

• 15:50 Fireside chat on Innovation-Ready Workforce

A journalist interviewing a politician/ an entrepreneur/ a researcher to give a comprehensive view of the ideas needs and practical implications.

Potential Topics:
Innovation literacy, future skills, creativity, science communication, inclusion and building an innovation-ready workforce beyond technical skills

• 16:25 Parallel Session

Potential Topics:
Future Skills for an AI-Driven Europe Inclusive Regions: Talent, Opportunity & the Right to Stay

• 09:00 Welcome & Short Recap of day 1

• 09:10 Opening Keynote – Just Transitions & Prosperity

Deborah Power, European Research & Innovation Projects Specialist

Potential Topics:
Fair transition and prosperity in fossil-dependent and rural regions; ensuring fairness does not get lost in the drive for competitiveness but does not hamper socio-economic development.

• 09:25 Panel Discussion 3 – Clean Energy, Competitive Regions

James Hanrahan, Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Resilient Ireland & Resilient Islands
Programme- Moderator

Barry O’Sullivan, Programme Manager, Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce | Industry / Regional Economic Development

Montse Guerrero, Deputy Director General, Sustainability & Circular Economy, SODENA (Government of Navarra)

& More to be announced

Potential Topics:
Energy transition, affordability and resilience in vulnerable regions; climate action alongside
economic growth; peer-to-peer energy; positive
energy districts; citizen energy systems

• 10:10 Technological Sovereignty: From Green to Tech

Potential Topics: EU resources, resilience and security; technological sovereignty; Chips Act; Cloud and AI Development Act; open source strategy; cybersecurity and procurement resilience

• 10:20 Panel Discussion 4 – European sovereignty means regional technology and cybersecurity

Potential Topics:
EU resources, resilience and security; technological sovereignty; Chips Act; Cloud and AI Development Act; open source strategy; cybersecurity and procurement resilience.

• 11:00 Morning Refreshments

• 11:30 Climate Neutral & Smart Cities

Potential Topics:
Net Zero Acceleration Valleys, smart cities, regional implementation and innovation ecosystems – Dynamic testimonials & best practices

• 13:30 Closing Session

• 13:30 Visionary / Unconventional Keynote Speaker

Potential Topics:
Future Europe, inspiration, innovation imagination, optimism and societal transformation.

• 13:45 Closing Reflection

Professor Vincent Cunnane, President, Technological University of the Shannon (TUS)

• 14:00 Key Takeaways

Closing Remarks / EU Representative
TBC – Joanna Drake, Deputy Director-General, Department Directorate-General for Research and Innovation

• 14:15 Outcome & Closing Ceremony

TBC – Michael McGrath, European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection

Potential Topics:
Official close, policy reflection and forward-looking message.