This week on the roundup: photos and interviews, conference announcements, Galway, investment landscapes, mobilizing academia, mission statements, interconnected partnerships, alternative investments, stress patterns, family hospitality, innovation, key functional fitness biomarkers, standalone credit profile, shared purpose, award shortlists, Wealth & Migration Summit, team morale, integrating digital risk, AI and Cybersecurity, data centre expansion. 

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

We shared the recording of our latest Master Class – AI & Cybersecurity with IPBN member Jarred White and we introduce our new member whom we are thrilled to welcome back: Amy O’Reilly.

We shared the photos and short interviews of last week’s IPBN event organised at 42 Lisboa in Beato Innovation District at the Unicorn Factory Lisboa, where we brought our Lisbon community together for our first in-person IPBN event after the summer. It was an evening to reconnect, exchange ideas, and look ahead at what’s coming across the network — from business trends and opportunities in Ireland and Portugal to upcoming events, partnerships, and new ways for members to get involved.

We introduced our keynote speakers at the IPBN 5^th annual Tourism conference on October 22 in the Algarve! Hernâni Estêvão, General Manager of Vale do Lobo Golf & Beach Resort, will open the morning with a keynote on Innovation and New Challenges of the Tourism Industry, while André Gomes, President of Turismo do Algarve, will bring the day’s conversations to a close. Between them, we’ll explore the changing tourism landscape through conversations on local experiences, the hotel of the future, AI, sustainability, and the future of sport and leisure.

Here is a look back at the Tech Ireland National AI Meet 2026, held in Galway last week. The network hopes to bring members in Galway in 2027 to interact with the local ecosystem.

And do join us for our new conversation with a leader, taking place in the Algarve on the morning of October 14. Hosted at IPBN member Tribulum Restaurant, Andrea Viegas, IPBN member, lawyer, and Honorary Consul of Ireland in the Algarve. will join Carlos Justino, IPBN member and Founder of WitFlow, for a conversation about the Algarve’s investment landscape and the opportunities emerging across the region. The conversation will also explore Ireland’s current Presidency of the Council of the EU and what it could mean for stronger connections between Irish and Portuguese businesses. Register here.

Finally, Geoffrey and Arnold joined the Irish Ambassador to Lisbon, Alma Ní Choigligh and Alberto Cisterna from Enterprise Ireland for the opening of new Irish IPBN member Glanua Engineering office here in Lisbon —and what already looks like a very innovative Tech Hub. What an achievement to have gone from 1 to 20 staff in less than a year! We've attached a photo below.

But first, a Special Announcement: On the 28-29 of October in Porto, IPBN Academic Partner Universidade Católica Portuguesa are pleased to invite IPBN members to the 6th “INNOVATION, SUSTAINABILITY AND REGENERATION” international Conference. The event will take place at the Porto Campus of Universidade Católica Portuguesa. The conference aims to mobilize academia (students, researchers, and professors) and organizations (professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders) related to businesses of different sizes, industry clusters, and trade associations, municipalities, and others, to discuss how innovation, technology, and circularity can contribute to more sustainable and regenerative approaches, connecting science, knowledge, and practice. 

This is exactly the Mission and Unique Statement of the IPBN: to link together Businesses, Government bodies, and Academic Partners. We therefore encourage you to take this opportunity to leverage these three pillars in one room. You can find the programme and register here. Attendance at the conference sessions is free, but registration is REQUIRED.

And next, a gentle reminder: The Futura Innovation Conference will have activities and speakers around seven industry tracks to spark interconnected partnerships and new ideas. Know more about the conference here and register now to be part of the learning. The IPBN is a proud partner of the conference. This follows our mission to open new business partnerships. Make sure you take adventage of the benefits of the conference— we believe it should interest you. After all, we are here to create and present platforms to expand your business. Make the most of it!

And now...

IPBN Executive partner PwC Portugal shared, "It is already in October that Lisbon will host the international meeting that will bring together investors, managers, regulators and leaders of the Asset & Wealth Management sector to discuss Portugal's positioning as a reference destination for international investment. Throughout the afternoon, the opportunities, trends, and factors that can consolidate our country as one of the main European destinations for private investors, alternative investments, and wealth management will be discussed. October 15 at 15h at Sottomayor Palace, Lisbon. More information coming soon.

IPBN member Elaine Godley posted, "For Coaches, teachers, team leaders, HR professionals, and anyone who supports others’ performance and wellbeing — and who is tired of seeing the same stress patterns repeat. A practical, no-fluff programme with me, Elaine Godley, on using behavioural insights (DISC) to spot stress early, reduce burnout risk, and help the people you support thrive. 14h to 15h UK time Live online every Thursday for 6 sessions.

IPBN member Martinhal Luxury Resort celebrated World Tourism Day: Redefining family hospitality. "Since 2010, Martinhal Luxury Hotels & Resorts has been pioneering a different approach to luxury family hospitality. Getting luxury and families together at the heart of the experience. We believe travelling with children should never mean compromising on design, comfort, service, or quality for parents. Instead, it should inspire us as hosts to evolve around the needs of every generation."

IPBN Partner Andre Gomes, President of the Tourism Algarve also said, "Happy World Tourism Day! Today (September 27) is the day to celebrate Tourism. But, above all, to celebrate the people who bring it to life every day. In Algarve, tourism is made of innovation and new tools, but it continues to be made, above all, of hospitality, dedication, identity and authenticity."

We are very delighted to have Andre Gomes as a keynote speaker at our upcoming Tourism conference in Algarve on October 22. Check out the programme here where you can already register. 

IPBN member Sherry Seeton wrote, "Our team at FITQOR Cascais, Portugal is looking forward to PREIS - Portugal Real Estate Investment Summit on October 15 in Cascais. We will be offering assessments of key functional fitness biomarkers, and all attendees will receive gift cards for complimentary Wellness Age assessments. We hope you will join us!"

IPBN Business Partner Invest Porto shared, "Fitch raises Porto rating to A+ as financial profile remains robust. Porto continues to hold a ‘aaa’ standalone credit profile, reflecting the strength of its underlying financial position and the resilience of its municipal finances. The upgrade reinforces Porto’s position as a financially robust and credible European city, supported by sound financial management and a strong credit profile. Read more about it here.

IPBN Academic Partner KIPt CoLab posted, "A look back at the SPA Innovation Tour 2026 last week in the Algarve. The opening day brought together professionals, specialists, and international perspectives around a shared purpose: exploring how knowledge, innovation, and collaboration can shape the future of wellness and spa management. Across three days, the programme combined conferences, practical workshops, training sessions, technical visits, and networking.

And the IPBN is delighted to count on the KIPt CoLab, which will participate in two of our panels’ conversations at the 5^th edition of our annual Tourism conference taking place this year in the Algarve on October 22. Find the programme here, where you can already register. 

IPBN member Ronan Holohan from Millimetre Design shared, "So delighted and proud to have been shortlisted for an incredible 7 awards for this year's Fit Out Awards. A huge congratulations to our ever hardworking and hugely creative Millimetre Design team, who have designed and delivered a variety of amazing projects. 

IPBN member Patricia Casaburi from Global Citizen Solutions wrote, "On 5 and 6 of November, I'll be speaking at the Wealth & Migration Summit in Lisbon. One of the biggest changes I've seen over the last ten years is that residency and citizenship decisions rarely stand alone anymore. The families we work with are thinking about tax, succession, where their assets sit, where their children will grow up, and what they would do if circumstances changed. Often all at the same time. That's really what this summit is about. Bringing investors, family offices, advisors, government officials and fund managers into one room to talk about how those pieces fit together. Early bird registration is available until 3 October!

IPBN member Croissant said, "A team's morale, tracked daily — so a dip becomes a conversation, not a resignation. When you can see morale slipping, you can step in while it still matters and turn a likely exit into someone who stays. See turnover coming. Get ahead of it."

IPBN Academic Partner Porto Business School posted about the Final application phase. "Apply to the Cybersecurity for Executives program and develop the ability to integrate digital risk into decision-making, strengthen governance, and lead the response to cybersecurity incidents. Start date: October 20^th. Duration: 36 hours. Format: In-person or synchronous online. Registration deadline: October 13th."

This follows nicely on the latest IPBN Master Class about AI and Cybersecurity. You can listen to it again here on the IPBN Spotify channel. 

IPBN member GEOPALM Engineering Consulting shared, "Expanding an operating data center has one condition that changes everything: it cannot stop. It was like that in Sweden. No free access, no unlimited room time, and with all the infrastructure in place, staying exactly where it was while we were measuring. We scanned the point cloud of the space in operation and delivered the digital twin in BIM with a level of detail required of the existing one, so that the extension can be designed with the reality of the building and not on old drawings. We often work in environments with this requirement. If you have a project like this, talk to us."