Skillnet Innovation Excahnage: Innovation Summit 2026

Building on the success of last year, The Innovation Summit 2026 brings together business leaders, innovators, investors and ecosystem partners to explore how organisations are improving competitiveness, embracing AI, accelerating digital transformation and driving sustainable growth.

Through expert speakers, practical case studies and high-value networking, the summit will showcase how ambitious organisations are turning ideas into action—and action into measurable impact.

Whether you’re leading transformation within your organisation or developing the technologies driving business performance, The Innovation Summit is where Ireland’s innovation ecosystem comes together to connect, collaborate and create opportunity.

Registration opens from 8.30am, with keynote speakers, practical insights, case studies and networking throughout the morning. The event will conclude with lunch for all delegates, providing an opportunity to continue conversations, share ideas and make valuable connections.

Agenda Highlights 

• Beyond the Hype
  How AI is actually reshaping productivity, performance and competitive advantage
• AI in Action
  Real customers. Real solutions. Real impact.
• Funding & Scaling
  What it takes to fund, build and scale ambitious businesses
• Around the Corner
  The technologies, trends & opportunities shaping the future of business
• Winning in 2030
  What will separate tomorrow’s winners from the rest

Agenda 

• Registration, Coffee & Networking
• Welcome
  • The New Rules of Competitiveness: The trends and technologies defining business success todayA look at the forces reshaping the competitive landscape for business. From technology and AI to changing customer expectations, economic pressures and new ways of working, this session will identify the shifts that matter most and what organisations are doing to stay ahead.
  • AI Beyond the Hype – How AI is reshaping productivity, performance and competitive advantageAI has moved to being a strategic business priority. This keynote will cut through the noise to explore where AI is creating real value, how leading organisations are approaching adoption and what business leaders should be doing now to turn the potential of AI into improved productivity, performance and competitive advantage.
  • AI in Action – Real customers. Real solutions. Real impact.Moving from the big picture to practical application, this session will showcase real examples of AI being deployed to solve business challenges. Through customer and solution-provider stories, we’ll explore the potential, implementation and impact.
  • Innovation that Delivers: How businesses are using technology and collaboration to improve performance and scaleInnovation doesn’t have to mean developing everything in-house. This panel will explore how businesses are identifying challenges, embracing digital technologies and collaborating with external innovators to deliver better outcomes — from improving operations and customer experience to unlocking growth and new opportunities.
  • Opportunity Spotlight: The emerging challenges in global sport creating opportunities for innovatorsThe inside track on an emerging global sports sector challenge in the lead-up to LA28 — and an opportunity for ambitious innovators to respond to a global opportunity.
• Coffee & Networking
  • The Human Advantage: Why mindset, adaptability and human potential will matter more than everAs technology transforms how we work and compete, the human qualities that drive performance become even more important. Paralympic champion and business leader, Jason Smyth, brings a fresh perspective on ambition, adaptability and high performance — and why the future of competitive advantage will still be fundamentally human.
  • Investment Round: Backing Ireland’s next generation of ambitious businessesAccess to the right funding at the right stage can determine how quickly an ambitious business can grow. This panel will explore the funding landscape for Irish companies, what investors and funders are looking for and how businesses can position themselves to access the capital and support they need to scale.
  • From Entry to Exit: The challenges and lessons of scaling a successful businessA candid founder conversation about the highs, lows and pivots involved in building a successful business — from winning customers and building teams to raising capital and breaking into new markets.
  • Around the Corner – The technologies, trends and opportunities shaping the future of businessWe take a look beyond today’s priorities at what is coming next. This keynote will explore the emerging technologies and trends likely to reshape industries, business models and customer expectations — and challenge leaders to think about what they should be preparing for.
  • Winning in 2030 – What will separate tomorrow’s winners from the rest?The Summit closes by looking further ahead: what will distinguish the organisations that thrive in 2030? Bringing together different perspectives from business, technology and innovation, the panel will explore the capabilities leaders need to build now to compete successfully in a world of constant change.
• Closing Remarks
• Lunch & Networking

To view the full programme and speaker line-up, visit the Skillnet Innovation Exchange website