Panel Discussions
Panel One
Enhancing competitiveness: Talent and cost competitiveness to drive growth in the Southern region
Cost competitiveness and the availability of highly skilled talent are among the key factors that US multinationals must consider when deciding where to invest and expand their business.
In recent AmCham FDI Insights surveys, Ireland’s highly educated and skilled talent pool was ranked as they country’s main competitive advantage. However, some 64 percent of respondents said they are currently experiencing a skills gap in Ireland, with the largest skills gaps being seen in digital and data, engineering and machine learning and AI.
Additionally, 11 percent of members said that addressing Ireland’s skills shortage is the number one challenge for Ireland to overcome for their company to invest and expand here, while 26 percent ranked Ireland’s cost competitiveness as the number one challenge.
In this context, this panel will examine the cost competitiveness of Ireland’s Southern region, and discuss the necessary building blocks for supporting the future talent needs of industry.
Keynote Address
John O’Halloran President of University College Cork
John O’Halloran, President of University College Cork (UCC) will give the keynote address at AmCham’s 2025 Southern Conference.
With over 38,000 students enrolled in UCC, and some of the biggest US MNCs globally located across the Southern region, there is significant opportunity to enhance collaboration between industry and academia, to strengthen the region’s talent and skills offering and ensure the Southern region reaches its full potential for both people and business.
UCC is now ranked within the top 250 universities globally, scoring particularly highly in areas including academic and employer reptation. John will share his insights on the education and talent on offer in the Southern region, the partnerships that UCC is already engaged in, and the opportunities to further enhance industry-academia collaboration to future proof Ireland’s talent pipeline.
Panel Two
Controlling the controllables: Infrastructure and innovation to support business in the Southern region
The Southern Region is home to some of the most innovative companies globally in sectors such as technology, cyber security, medical devices and biopharma.
In fact, according to a recent AmCham FDI Insights survey, 86 percent of respondents in the South and South-East region are currently undertaking at least one research project in Ireland, helping to fuel our RD&I eco-system.
Securing key infrastructural investment to ensure capacity exists in the region for future growth and development, is key to enhancing collaboration and innovation, and further attracting the most in-demand international talent to the Southern region.
In AmCham’s most recent FDI Insights survey 31 percent of respondents ranked housing as the greatest risk to continued foreign direct investment (FDI) in Ireland over the next 5 years while 15 percent said public infrastructure constraints posed the greatest risk.
This panel discussion will focus on the key infrastructural and innovation supports that will help to secure the Southern region as a hub for continued growth and investment.
