This week on the roundup: reflections, the international community, together days, strategy recognition, sustainability reports, workflow upkeep, delayed decisions, guesswork, fine dining, entrepreneurs, news features, horizontal leadership, active ghosting, submission deadlines, Ireland's Presidency of the EU Council, pharmacies, digital transformation, and more!

But first, here are the IPBN Highlights of the Week:

As we head into the summer months, we thought it would be a great opportunity to reflect on some of what the Ireland Portugal Business Network has achieved so far in 2026. One of the highlights was our 7th Annual Sustainability Conference, Ocean – The Blue Economy and our 3rd IPBN Innovation Conference at The Guinness Enterprise Centre in Dublin.

We introduced our new member Vitor Vicente, Founder of Ring of Culture! This Irish-based cultural organisation connects Ireland, Portugal, and the wider international community through literature, publishing, translation, cultural tours, podcasts, workshops, and international cultural exchanges.

And now...

IPBN Executive Partner Otonomee shared a video: "What happens when you bring great people together in great places? Over the past few weeks, Otonomee colleagues gathered in Lisbon and Porto for our latest Together Days — taking time to connect face-to-face, celebrate our successes, and strengthen the relationships that make our remote-first culture so special. As Otonomee continues to grow, these opportunities to come together remind us that our greatest strength has always been our people. Together we grow."

IPBN Executive Partner KONCEPTNESS posted, "Workspaces must keep up with the evolution of companies. As a business grows, so must its facilities be prepared to respond to new needs. More than responding to current activity, a business building must reflect the organization's strategy and anticipate its evolution in the coming years. At Konceptness, we believe that a good project results from the combination of architecture, engineering, functionality and strategic vision."

IPBN Executive Partner PwC Portugal said, "Regarding the question that many companies ask about which version of the ESRS standards should be applied in sustainability reports for 2026, the simplified ESRS delegated act provides for 3 possibilities. More information on PwC's Viewpoint, here."

IPBN member Overcast HQ shared, "When everyone is creating, editing and adapting video, the problem isn't where the file lives. It's whether the workflow around it can keep up. Our latest blog looks at what modern video DAM workflows should look like. Read it here."

IPBN member Salmon posted, "Your treasury system is only as connected as the data flowing through it. When banks, ERPs and other business systems don't integrate seamlessly, treasury teams end up filling the gaps with manual work, spreadsheets and delayed decisions. Flexible connectivity changes that. Learn more in our latest white paper."

IPBN member Croissant said, "Stop guessing how your people feel. Book a 20-minute demo and see your team's real data, live — we'll show you exactly how Croissant does it."

IPBN member Millimetre Design is delighted to see one of its latest interior & brand design projects, The Barton Grill at The K Club featured in Premier Hospitality News! "Set in one of Ireland's most iconic 5-star resorts, The Barton Grill brings a fresh take to modern Irish fine dining, inspired by the estate's rich heritage, exceptional service and timeless elegance. Read the full feature here."

IPBN member Karl Davidson posted, "Delighted to have featured on the all-ire podcast! You can build a successful business...and still struggle to build wealth. Karl Davidson B Eng, NLPMP, QBE, Founder of Cashflow Club Ireland explains why financial education could be the missing piece for many entrepreneurs. Episode 233 of AIBF Business Talk!"

IPBN member Brendan Ring from Otonomee shared, "Thanks to John Daly and the Irish Examiner for the opportunity to chat last week about a wide range of topics. We covered everything from remote work at Otonomee, to what it's really like to help and scale a growing business."

IPBN member IDEA Spaces asked, "What does leadership look like in a workplace built on trust? In his latest interview with Human Resources Portugal , our CEO Diogo Guerreiro Fabiana shares his perspective on horizontal leadership, organisational culture and why autonomy only works when it's supported by clarity, purpose and trust. Read the full interview here."

IPBN member Pedro Henriques, BRIDGE IN shared, "A bank locked me out of payroll. Another EOR ghosted a customer.  A solo founder is vibe-coding someone's tax filing. Different stories I have been sharing these last weeks, but the same thing sits underneath all of them. Each of these providers stopped building around the customer. You, the one actually paying, are nowhere near the centre of their attention. Find good providers, not big logos. Find a company with a real track record, whose financial incentives are aligned with your success. You deserve better from your providers. All of them."

IPBN member Vitor Vicente is waiting for your writing. "Submissions are now open for Issue #1 of Witty Wicklow Writers Magazine. Whether you write fiction, poetry, memoir or essays, we'd love to read your work. Writers from Ireland and around the world are welcome to submit. Deadline: 31 August 2026. After receiving over 70 submissions for our pilot edition, we're excited to discover the next voices to feature in Witty Wicklow Writers Magazine. Full details and submission guidelines here."

IPBN Board member Mario Gago posted, "The Irish Embassy in Portugal marked the start of Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the EU with a beautiful ceremony, a good moment to look at what the next six months are actually for. The programme runs on three pillars: competitiveness, values, security. Underneath all of it sits the negotiation on the EU's next long-term budget, the framework that funds priorities from 2028 to 2034. For the Ireland Portugal Business Network, this is the backdrop for the next six months of building on both sides. Worth paying attention to."

IPBN member Luis Alves from MiiE asked, "Have you ever thought that a pharmacy can be much more than just a place to buy medicine? MiiE visited the iconic Pague Menos store #1000 in Fortaleza and discovered how it has transformed into a true health hub — offering clinical services, innovation, and an experience fully centred on the customer. Come check out everything we found there!"

IPBN Business Partner Algarve STP posted, "Digital transformation is redefining hospitality. In the latest blog article from Algarve STP - Systems and Technology Partnership, learn about the partnership between Atos, a company based in UALG TEC CAMPUS, and Mitel, which is developing smart solutions to make hotel operations more efficient and improve communication between teams. An example of how innovation can strengthen the competitiveness of one of the most important sectors of the Algarve economy. Read the full article here."