The Algarve Innovation Story: Irish Connections, Shared Ambitions

Connecting Irish and Portuguese innovators, entrepreneurs, and business leaders to explore the ideas, technologies, and partnerships shaping the future.

What happens when Ireland’s and Portugal’s entrepreneurial and technology communities come together to share ideas, experience, and ambition?

On Tuesday, 3 November, the Ireland Portugal Business Network (IPBN) in partnership with Witflow - Demand Orchestration will bring together technology leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators from both countries for a special half-day conference at Quinta do Lago Clubhouse, Algarve, taking place just ahead of Web Summit in Lisbon.

Titled The Algarve Innovation Story: Irish Connections, Shared Ambitions, the event will spotlight the Irish business community’s contribution to the region’s growing innovation ecosystem, while exploring the opportunities for further collaboration between Ireland and Portugal.

Five years after Hugo Barros, Executive Coordinator of CRIA (Division of Entrepreneurship and Technology Transfer) at the University of Algarve, introduced the Algarve TEC Campus project to the IPBN community in 2021, he returns to share developments at TEC Campus and across the region. His opening address will set the scene for a morning of conversations with Irish and Portuguese entrepreneurs and business leaders who have built businesses, developed projects, and found opportunities in the Algarve.

Across a series of short, paired discussions, speakers will share their journeys, sector expertise, and perspectives on what comes next for their businesses and industries. Topics will span artificial intelligence, healthcare, telecommunications and energy, marketing and communications, finance, sport, and entertainment, highlighting how innovation can contribute to economic growth, environmental and social progress, and more sustainable business models.

More than a showcase of success stories, the conference is an opportunity to exchange knowledge, explore shared challenges, and identify new opportunities for partnership and cooperation between Ireland and Portugal.

Whether you are an entrepreneur, technology professional, investor, or business leader interested in the region’s evolving innovation landscape, join us to meet key players, share ideas, and build connections across borders.

Event details

• Date: Tuesday, 3 November 2026
• Time: 09:30–12:30, followed by a light lunch
• Location: Quinta do Lago Clubhouse, Algarve 

Special thank you to Quinta do Lago, WitFlow – Demand Orchestration, IPBN Executive Partners, and IPBN Media Partners. for their support and for making this event possible. 

REGISTER TODAY.
The event is open to members and non members

Programme (Subject to changes)

0930      Registration and Welcome Networking coffee

1000      Welcome – Arnold Delville. GM Ireland Portugal Business Network

1005      Opening Statement  - Hugo Barros - Executive Coordinator of CRIA UAlg - To be confirmed

1015      AI
Tom Murphy - Founder at Machine Learning Programs and Consultant at TomMurphyAI
Philippe Brodeur - CEO & Founder at Overcast HQ | AI and data-driven video cloud workflows

Healthcare
Elaine Godley - Executive Health Mentor | Founder of the DISCPlus Academy
Vânia (Palma) Roberto - Entrepreneur, Expert in Precision Health & Strategic Longevity.

Telecom/Energy
Des Wynne - Chief Executive Officer at Lazer Telecom
Christopher Garner - Founder, Memorable Green

1100      Coffee Break              

1130      Marketing & Communication & influence of AI
Carlos Justino - Founder, WitFlow - Demand Orchestration
Jessica Costa - Executive Direction & Operations | Ecosystem & Business Development | Incubation & Acceleration Architecture

Finance
Sharon (McGuinness) Farrell - Partner at Blevins Franks & Chair Ireland Portugal Business Network Algarve
Apo Zadeh - Founder, Monetisation, Pentatonic

Sport & Entertainment
To be confirmed
To be confirmed

1215      Closing Statement - Andrea Viegas - Honorary Consul General of Ireland in the Algarve

1230      Light Lunch