Futurescope returns to Dublin, 31st May

When and where is it on?

FutureScope, Ireland’s only conference that promotes collaboration between the entrepreneurial community and multinationals, will take place in the Convention Centre Dublin on Thursday, 31st May 2018.

How many years has it been going?

Organised by Dublin BIC, the event is now in its fifth year.

What exciting things can people look forward to?

The one-day event will be action-packed with highlights including the crowning of the One2Watch 2018 award, where one Irish start-up will be recognised for the most scalable early-stage business idea; panels and workshops on emerging business opportunities such as digital transformation, smart cities and fintech; and structured networking sessions on the Future World.

FutureScope 2018 promises to be the biggest and best year yet with founders, CEOs and leaders from high-profile companies, including Vodafone, Enterprise Ireland, Facebook, IBM, Google, Alltech, Blueface, Circle, Newswhip, Jobbio, Science Foundation Ireland and many more, all looking to collaborate, trade and share views on what they see as the major emerging trends affecting their business.

The central premise of the event is to create a platform for global multinationals, large innovative Irish companies and successful entrepreneurs to explore business opportunities. Through panel discussions, tech demonstrations, innovative showcases, and structured networking, FutureScope offers the perfect setting for collaboration.

A special emphasis is placed on purposeful networking and the creation of collaboration opportunities for start-ups, scale-ups, multinational companies, innovative Irish enterprise, SME’s, the research community, investors, academia and state agencies. The event will feature more than 120 speakers and panellists and with 40 exhibitors.

What opportunities are on offer for those attending?

A special emphasis is placed on purposeful networking and the creation of collaboration opportunities for start-ups, scale-ups, multinational companies, innovative Irish enterprise, SME’s, the research community, investors, academia and state agencies.

Who will be speaking?

Martina Larkin, Head of Europe and Eurasia, World Economic Forum, is one of the big name speakers confirmed. Other speakers on the day include: Jaime Cudden, Smart City programme manager at Dublin City Council and Barry O’ Sullivan, director at Insight Centre, with many more to be announced.    

What tips would you give to people attending to get the most out of it?

Key themes to be explored this year include how the Internet of Things (IoT) is increasingly connecting our world, what business applications will arise from VR and AR, and where exactly will data analytics and AI lead us?

This year’s event is designed around four core pillars which represent each stage of the business innovation lifecycle, from idea to reality to global scale:

• Insights stage: Provide attendees with insightful perspectives on emerging technologies and how they will shape our future world
• Collaboration stage: Showcase great examples of collaboration from around Ireland and identify new opportunities for collaboration, for example between multinationals and indigenous start-ups
• Innovation stage: Showcase and promote the innovations driving a smart economy
• Entrepreneurship stage: share knowledge, insights, tools and techniques to empower entrepreneurs to start and scale

How can people book tickets / when does it usually sell out?

Super-early-bird tickets are available for €89 until the end of this month (28th February). Early-bird tickets will available at a cost €125 until 11th May, tickets increase to €145 until 22nd May and €170 in the week leading up to Futurescope. Tickets include access to four stages, ten breakout sessions, innovation showcase, networking, hot lunch and all-day coffee.

Tickets do sell out for the event so take advantage of the super-early-bird price and book today. For more information and to register for the event, visit http://www.futurescope.ie/tickets.

Edited and prepared by Amy Murphy, Journalism student from DCU.

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