The International Manufacturing Conference will return to Cork this week after an 11-year absence.

The conference, which is being jointly organised by the Cork Institute of Technology and University College Cork, will highlight innovation and entrepreneurship amongst engineers across all sectors.

Manufacturing competitiveness has been identified as one of the key research priorities for future policy in Ireland.

As part of the event, CIT will host a seminar on “engineering entrepreneurship” designed to highlight industry collaborations with academia in the product and process manufacturing spaces.

The one-day seminar this Thursday brings together industry leaders, including keynote speaker Glen Dimplex chief executive Seán O'Driscoll.

“We believe this is a unique opportunity to showcase what is best in engineering innovation locally, nationally and internationally, and hope that our fellow professionals will join us in realising that opportunity,” conference chairman Dr Ger Kelly said. The Conference takes place on CIT’s Bishopstown campus on Thursday and Friday.

Mediation conference

Elsewhere, NUI Maynooth is hosting the 21st International Mediation Conference on Thursday.

The three-day conference will be formally opened by former president of Ireland and UN high commissioner for human rights, Mary Robinson.

Former Wisconsin Supreme Court judge Janine Geske and US mediation expert Michael Lang will be among the international speakers at the event.

Mr Lang will examine the role of mediators, by analysing the competencies and qualities necessary for mediation practice.

“The role of mediation continues to take on greater importance in navigating the robust world of business and furthermore as an invaluable tool in problem solving in wider society,” said Peter Cassells, executive director of the Kennedy Institute for Conflict Intervention.