Cork has a thriving knowledge technology ecosystem and its rapidly growing investor base is making full use of the world-class research, development and innovation (RDI), top-level educational, business collaboration and sector support for which the city and region has become famous. It has an excellent track record in attracting global foreign direct investment and providing the perfect platform to both large, established multinationals and high-growth scaling companies.

The panel will discuss:

• maintaining investment and growth in infrastructure to enable economic activity to flourish
• delivering the regional projects outlined in the National Development Plan (NDP)
• how industry and academia collaborate to transform research into products in core market areas of electronics, communications, energy, health, manufacturing, agri-food and the environment
• the opportunities and challenges of constructing a manufacturing plant and investing in R&D in the region

It is acknowledged that there is a far greater housing need than targeted within the Housing for All and the National Planning Framework. A sustained increase in the completion of new homes is required to deliver adequate supply that meets the needs of Cork and beyond.

This panel will discuss:

• key issues around planning policy and the planning system that are hindering the viability and delivery of affordable, high quality and sustainable housing
• the Government’s decision to waive development levies and how these reductions are helping housebuilders deliver more homes
• how the use of innovative construction techniques can keep costs down and ensure the delivery of good high quality, low-carbon developments

Threats, uncertainties, and market opportunities.

The Port of Cork plays a central role for local communities and businesses keeping Ireland connected as part of global supply chains. The Port Masterplan 2050 is adapting to a shifting landscape in port operations and planning its development as a key global port of the future. The port is on a journey towards consolidating its activities to the lower harbour area away from Cork City, due to ever-increasing ship vessel sizes, and creating a “river to sea port”.

Topics will include:

• balancing the development of construction facilities and logistics infrastructure with environmental concerns
• consideration of the maritime, landside and transport connectivity constraints and opportunities
• projected market growth in the current commodities served by the port
• developing opportunities in future cargoes such as offshore wind and green energy fuels
• how digitalisation of port services and operations will boost efficiency and sustainability in the port

The role of the construction industry in the future development of the Irish economy

Thematic roundtables are interactive discussions in small working groups. Moderated by seasoned industry experts and practitioners, they will address a compelling trend, issue, challenge, demonstration or an inspiring case study. This is your chance to join insightful discussions and workshops to share experiences and get new and actionable ideas from peers and experts.

Cork is a key enabler of the green energy sector in Ireland by taking advantage of its natural harbour, deep-water channels, and deep-water berths, and by reclaiming land to accommodate large project cargoes for the offshore wind and green hydrogen sectors.

Digitalisation is an essential foundation that enables ports to tackle the most pressing challenges they face today, from persisting congestion to the need to reduce their emissions. Smart ports will also be the ones best placed to position themselves in the greener supply chains of tomorrow, and support decarbonisation in shipping and beyond.

Learn how companies bring together best-of-breed solutions to unite office and field teams from design to planning, construction to operations to help make construction more predictable, safe and sustainable.

Investing in training and skills initiatives to ensure a strong pipeline of talent to drive your company’s projects to completion.

Taking advantage of augmented reality in construction requires a solid understanding of the technology’s capabilities and use cases. And this is exactly what we’ll discuss at this table. You’ll learn about the role of AR in construction today and in the future. You’ll also see examples of companies putting AR to good use, so you can get inspired in your own efforts.

How Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) can increase the build speed of new homes, reduce costs and improve energy efficiency.

Exploring the global ESG opportunities for organisations and what it means for the construction industry in the long term.

Sustainability goals and digitalisation have never been closer. In order to reduce carbon emissions, it is vital to introduce smart technology in our buildings and infrastructure, such as IoT sensors. What are the options?