Panel
Discussions
Panel Two
Controlling the Controllables: Infrastructure and Innovation to Support Business in the Mid-West Region
The Mid-West Region has a large multinational presence in sectors such as MedTech, Technology and Advanced Manufacturing.
In previous FDI Insights surveys, respondents in the Mid-West Region said they are undertaking research projects within the areas of AI, Digital Manufacturing, Pharmaceuticals and Software.
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 Mid-West 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 Mid-West region as a hub for continued growth and investment.
Panel One
Enhancing Competitiveness: Talent and Cost Competitiveness to Drive Growth in the Mid-West Region
Ireland’s highly educated and skilled talent pool has been ranked as the country’s main competitive advantage in AmCham FDI Insight surveys.
Cost competitiveness and the availability of highly skilled talent are among the key factors US multinationals must consider when deciding where to invest and expand their business.
In a recent FDI Insights survey, 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.
Further, 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.
This panel will examine the cost competitiveness of Ireland’s Mid-West region, and discuss the necessary building blocks for supporting the future talent needs of industry.
Keynote Address
Enhancing Competitiveness: Talent and Cost Competitiveness to Drive Growth in the Mid-West Region
Shane Kilcommins Acting President of University of Limerick (UL) will give the keynote address at AmCham’s 2025 Mid-West Conference.
UL has over 18,000 students, including more than 3,300 internationally mobile students each year. UL jumped 20 places to 401 in the latest World University Rankings 2026 by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), placing it in the top 3% of universities worldwide.
Contributing to the Mid-West Region’s talent pool, UL is home to Ireland’s first master’s degree in AI in response to demand by industry for AI skills.
