Economic Outlook Forum 2026

⌖ Dublin · UCD Innovation Academy, O'Brien Centre for Science

Hosted by Innovation Academy UCD

UCD students can tackle real campus challenges at this three-hour, in-person hackathon in Dublin on 27 October 2026, working ideas into potential solutions. Make an idea for UCD more tangible The UCD Student Hackathon offers a focused opportunity to explore how campus life could be improved through student-led ideas. Rather than working with an abstract brief, participants will address genuine challenges faced by UCD students and consider practical ways to respond. Taking place from 4pm to 7pm at the UCD Innovation Academy in the O'Brien Centre for Science, this hands-on session is designed around collaboration and active problem-solving. You will have three hours to examine a challenge, exchange perspectives with other students and develop an idea into a potential solution that could make UCD better. What to expect The event uses a compact, in-person hackathon format. Participants can expect to: - Tackle a real challenge affecting students at UCD - Generate and develop ideas within a focused three-hour session - Collaborate with other students and draw on different perspectives - Move beyond discussing a problem towards shaping a possible solution - Meet fellow students interested in improving the university experience You can come on your own or arrive with a team. Everyone is welcome, making the event suitable both for students who already enjoy hackathons and collaborative projects and for those trying this kind of format for the first time. No named speakers or specific technology requirements are listed; the emphasis is on participation, teamwork and making progress on an idea. Venue and practical details The hackathon takes place on Tuesday 27 October 2026, from 4pm to 7pm, in the Shackleton Lounge at UCD Innovation Academy, O'Brien Centre for Science, Belfield, Dublin, D04 N2E5. It is organised by Innovation Academy UCD. Free drinks and snacks will be provided during the event. The combination of a real UCD-focused brief, an open invitation to solo participants and teams, and a short working format makes this a practical way to contribute ideas while connecting with other students. Get tickets for the UCD Student Hackathon

⌖ Dublin · Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

Hosted by Fruition Group Limited

A candid, interactive look at how AI is changing hiring, talent acquisition and HR, taking place in central Dublin on 5 November 2026. Rather than asking attendees to simply watch experts talk about AI, Above the Noise: AI, Hiring and What Actually Matters creates space for the talent community to discuss what the technology means in practice. Hosted by Fruition Ireland as part of Sourcing & Social, the evening combines a drinks reception, an interactive panel and small-group conversations with fellow HR and recruitment professionals. The event runs from 5pm to 8pm GMT on Thursday, 5 November, at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 118 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2. The setting is the college’s rooftop terrace in Dublin city centre. A conversation shaped by the room Fruition Ireland’s Country Director, Stephen Daly, will host the discussion. The format will move between questions for the panel and facilitated conversations at tables of eight to ten people. This gives attendees the opportunity to compare perspectives, raise questions and hear how peers across the industry are thinking and feeling about AI. The focus is deliberately practical and open. Instead of presenting a one-way expert narrative, the session aims to represent a genuine cross-section of the community’s views on the rise of AI and its consequences for hiring. Relevant themes include: - What AI actually means for Talent and HR teams - How people working in sourcing and talent acquisition are responding - The questions and concerns that may be missing from mainstream AI discussions - Which changes matter most to people working across the industry Who should attend? This event is designed for people working in Talent, HR, recruitment, sourcing and talent acquisition, as well as those interested in the relationship between AI and hiring. Its discussion-led format should suit attendees who want an honest peer conversation rather than a technical workshop or a conventional sequence of presentations. No specific technical experience is stated or required. View the event and registration details

⌖ Dublin · Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Dublin

Hosted by AI Ireland

AI Awards 2026 brings Ireland’s AI community to Dublin on 17 November for awards, expert discussions and networking. Hosted by AI Ireland, this eighth annual event celebrates the people, teams and practical applications advancing artificial intelligence across Ireland. The in-person, half-day programme takes place at the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel on Golden Lane, running from 8:30am to 2pm. Registration opens at 8:30am, with the main event beginning at 9:30am. More than an awards ceremony, the event offers a focused setting in which to meet industry leaders, researchers, founders, judges, finalists and fellow AI practitioners. Tickets include access to the ceremony and panel discussions, networking, tea and coffee with light refreshments on arrival, and lunch following the ceremony. Celebrating AI excellence The awards span 15 categories, highlighting both technical innovation and meaningful real-world impact. Areas recognised include: - Responsible AI and ethics - Agentic AI innovation - AI for social good, sustainability and healthcare - Applications in startups, SMEs and large enterprises - Public-sector and cybersecurity projects - Consumer and customer service applications - Student projects and emerging talent - AI Person of the Year, Women in AI Ambassador and Young AI Role Model Attendees can expect conversations about emerging ideas, current AI trends and applications already changing technology, business and society. The event is particularly relevant to data scientists, AI teams, researchers, practitioners, technology CEOs, business leaders, award nominees and finalists. It is also open to professionals and enthusiasts who want a closer view of Ireland’s growing AI ecosystem. Partners and practical details Microsoft Ireland is the principal sponsor, with support from Accenture, Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Dublin City Council, Meta, Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet and Alldus. Guinness Enterprise Centre and Furthr participate as partners. View the event and registration details

Sponsors: Microsoft Ireland · Accenture +8

⌖ Sheffield · The Edge, University of Sheffield, 34 Endcliffe Crescent, Sheffield, S10 3ED

Hosted by APRIL

The APRIL AI Hub Annual Summit 2026 brings together researchers, practitioners, and innovators at the forefront of artificial intelligence and machine learning for a full day of knowledge sharing and collaboration in Sheffield. Taking place at The Edge at the University of Sheffield, this conference serves as the flagship annual gathering for the APRIL (AI for Precision Medicine and Healthcare, Privacy, Reproducibility, Interpretability, and Learning) community. As the second annual summit following the inaugural event in Edinburgh, this conference continues APRIL AI Hub's mission to advance responsible AI research and practice across healthcare, precision medicine, and beyond. The summit provides a vital platform for cross-sector dialogue between academic researchers, industry partners, healthcare professionals, and policy makers working at the intersection of AI, ethics, and real-world applications. What to Expect While the detailed programme is still being finalised, attendees can expect a comprehensive agenda featuring: - Keynote presentations from leading figures in AI research and healthcare innovation - Research showcases highlighting cutting-edge work in precision medicine, privacy-preserving AI, reproducible research methodologies, and interpretable machine learning - Panel discussions exploring the ethical, regulatory, and practical challenges of deploying AI systems in sensitive domains - Networking opportunities to connect with peers across academia, industry, and healthcare sectors - Poster sessions and demonstrations of ongoing research projects Who Should Attend This summit is designed for: - AI and machine learning researchers working on healthcare applications - Data scientists and engineers building trustworthy AI systems - Healthcare professionals interested in AI-driven precision medicine - Policy makers and ethicists concerned with responsible AI deployment - PhD students and early-career researchers in AI and related fields - Industry partners exploring AI applications in regulated environments About APRIL AI Hub The APRIL AI Hub represents a collaborative initiative advancing responsible AI research with particular emphasis on healthcare applications, data privacy, reproducible science, interpretable models, and robust learning systems. Previous APRIL events have established a strong reputation for bringing together diverse perspectives on the challe

⌖ Mexico City

Hosted by Rafael Mendiola

AI Builders Meetup brings React and AI developers to Mexico City on 27 October 2026 during Mexico Tech Week and Día de Muertos. This planned meetup offers developers a timely opportunity to connect with Mexico’s technology community, compare what they are building and spend time discussing the intersection of React and artificial intelligence. Organised by Rafael Mendiola, it is designed to bring local builders together with developers travelling from outside Mexico. What to expect The concept is deliberately community-focused: gather strong developers in one place, invite interesting speakers and create space for conversations about React, AI and current projects. While the detailed programme and speaker line-up have not yet been announced, the meetup is expected to centre on: - React development and the evolving tools and practices around it - AI products, applications and developer-led experimentation - What attendees are currently designing, coding and shipping - Connections between Mexican developers and visiting builders - Exposure to one of the world’s most energetic technology communities The event is being timed to coincide with Mexico Tech Week and Día de Muertos, making it particularly relevant for people who want to combine a developer meetup with several days in Mexico City. That wider context gives international attendees an opportunity to experience the local technology scene while the city hosts other activity and one of Mexico’s most significant cultural occasions. Who should attend? The meetup is aimed specifically at React and AI developers. It should appeal to working engineers, independent builders and technically minded product creators who want to exchange ideas with peers and learn what others are building. The published announcement does not specify a required experience level, so prospective attendees should register their interest and follow future updates as the agenda takes shape. Current event status… Register for this event

⌖ Location TBC · Hyatt Regency Burlingame, CA

Hosted by ODSC

ODSC AI West 2026 returns to the San Francisco Bay Area for three days of cutting-edge AI training and networking at the Hyatt Regency Burlingame from October 27-29, 2026. This flagship event brings together 3,500+ data practitioners, AI engineers, machine learning specialists, and business leaders in the heart of Silicon Valley's AI innovation hub. As the 1 AI builders conference since 2015, ODSC AI West offers an unmatched combination of expert-led sessions, hands-on training, and real-world insights into deploying production AI systems. The conference features comprehensive tracks covering the most in-demand skills in AI today. What You'll Learn The 2026 program includes specialized tracks across seven key areas: Agentic AI & Workflow Automation – Build autonomous AI agents that handle complex workflows and decision-making processes LLMs, GenAI, & RAG – Master large language models, generative AI applications, and retrieval-augmented generation techniques for production deployments AI Engineering & MLOps – Learn best practices for deploying, monitoring, and scaling machine learning systems in production environments Data Science & Machine Learning – Deep dive into advanced ML algorithms, statistical methods, and data analysis techniques Data Engineering – Build robust data pipelines and infrastructure to support AI/ML workloads AI for Robotics – Explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and robotics applications Hands-On Training – Practical workshops where you'll build and deploy real AI solutions AI Accelerator Program The event includes an intensive AI Accelerator bootcamp with specialized tracks designed for practitioners looking to level up their skills rapidly. This immersive program offers deep-dive sessions with industry experts and hands-on labs. Who Should Attend ODSC AI West attracts: - AI engineers and machine learning practitioners - Data scientists transitioning into AI roles - Software developers building AI-powered applications - Technical leaders implementing AI strategies - Professionals reskilling for AI careers - Startup founders leveraging AI technology Networking & Expo Beyond the technical sessions, the conference features an AI Expo showcasing the latest tools and platforms, an AI Startup Showcase highlighting emerging companies, and the AI X Leadership Summit for business leaders. Structured networking events thr