Cork will host many of Silicon Valley’s most successful entrepreneurs, senior technology executives and investors next week when the Irish Technology Leadership Group (ITLG) arrives in Ireland for the Global Technology Leaders Summit.

Technology will be to the forefront of this event, and the Cork team, which includes Cork City Council, Cork Chamber, UCC and CIT, have provided an event schedule that will not disappoint.

The US delegation will visit the Nimbus Centre at CIT to explore opportunities to invest in new and innovative solutions in the areas of biotech, nanotechnology, cloud, gaming and software. 

Approximately 50 companies will pitch their solutions to the global investors, but already it is evident that the calibre of companies going before the US panel is extremely high. These companies have been shortlisted from over 200 applications from all over Ireland to meet the ITLG delegation.

Visits to Tyndall National Institute, EMC, and key tech organisations in the region will form part of the delegates’ itinerary while in Cork, and the delegation will also be hosted by UCC President Michael Murphy at a dinner on campus with An Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore the evening before the summit.

As well as showcasing the innovative culture that thrives in Cork at the Tyndall Institute and the Nimbus Centre, delegates at the Global Technology Leaders Summit will also encounter some innovative event technology solutions during the summit itself.

Cork will showcase that technology is in the Region’s DNA, as this event will use an unprecedented level of innovative solutions to ensure the best possible delegate experience.  All information such as attendee lists, seating plans, speaker bios and the running event agenda will be available to delegates via QR codes. These customised QR codes will route the conference participants to a customised website that will provide all the necessary information on the event. By embracing smartphone technology, the need for excessive printing and paper at the summit has been drastically reduced.

The ‘questions and answers’ component of the event will also be handled by a new technology developed in Ireland by startup Instant Opinion. This solution enables conference goers to post their questions using the web, smartphone or mobile device and allows panellists to view and respond to questions from the floor. It reduces the need for roving mikes and also encourages more questions and engagement from the audience, particularly those who may not wish to ask a question vocally. Founded by Aidan Kenny in 2011, Instant Opinion has already received investment from Enterprise Ireland, and is looking to international markets with its revolutionary product.

AerTV have a dedicated channel for the ITLG event which will livestream throughout the summit, ensuring that those unable to attend will be able to share in the day’s presentations and discussions.

Cork City Hall will have free wifi available for all participants, and of course there will be a twitter wall, which will stream delegates and speakers posts on the summit, using the hashtag #GTLSummit. This will have the added benefit of allowing those that are not in attendance to see the event activities and participant comments. It is anticipated that #GTLSummit will trend in Ireland during the course of the day.

Being a technology conference, it is only fitting that the delegates encounter Cork using an app. The “Top 10 things to do in Cork” app commissioned by Cork City Council will also be promoted to the delegates, international and national, ensuring that the spotlight is on Cork and its many leisure attractions for the event.  

The ITLG delegation to Cork has come about following a mission by City Council and Cork Chamber to Silicon Valley last year. UCC, CIT, Cork City Council and Cork Chamber joined forces to bring this internationally renowned business event to Cork in the year of the Gathering. 

There is an ambitious plan in place to ensure that the visiting delegates return to Silicon Valley with a very positive experience of Cork’s business and technology landscape.  

“Cork has strong connections with Silicon Valley and we are delighted to deepen our relationship with US industry leaders while showcasing all that Cork has to offer in terms of a centre of excellence for innovation and commercialisation of new research as well as a great place to invest as a gateway to Europe. We are delighted to welcome the Irish Technology Leadership Group to Cork for the Global Technology Leaders Summit,” said Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. John Buttimer.