Monday

Indicators: German producer price index (Oct).

Meetings: EU decision on the relocation of European Medicines Agency and European Banking Agency; Freight Transfer Association half-day seminar on Brexit – future implications for Ireland-UK trade (Croke Park, Dublin 3).

Tuesday

Results: Hewlett Packard, Analogue Devices, EasyJet, Frutarom, Campbell Soup, Guess.

Indicators: UK public sector net borrowing (Oct), industrial trends orders (Nov); US home prices (Nov) and sales (Oct).

Wednesday

Indicators: Euro-zone consumer confidence flash (Nov).

Meetings: ; Ovoca Gold AGM (Buswells Hotel, Dublin 2); European Central Bank non-monetary policy meeting; Data Centres Ireland exhibition and conference (RDS, Dublin 4); InterTradeIreland Seedcorn competition.

Seedcorn competition

Designed to mimic the investment process as it exists in the business world, the 2017 InterTradeIreland Seedcorn competition culminates on Wednesday when the two overall winners will secure €50,000 and €100,000.

The idea is to make winning companies “investment ready” by virtue of the competition process itself. Its canon of previous winners includes companies Valitacell, Gecko Governance, Sirius XT and Ocean Survivor.

One of the 2013 overall winners, Galway-based Westway Health, is today working with a substance which it hopes can help in the fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

The NUI Galway spin-out company was established in 2012 to develop and commercialise new antimicrobial substances and the EU research budget Horizon 2020 has invested €2.5 million to bring the product to market – a valuable example of the type of company the competition is looking for.

A total cash prize fund of €280,000 goes a long way to helping new ventures, which are divided into two categories of “new start” (under five years and seeking to raise new equity of between €50,000 and €299,999) and “early stage” (under five years and seeking to raise in excess of €300,000).

Following initial submissions of business plans, the top three in each of four regions pitch at their respective finals. The eight winning companies then reach the all-island final, which takes place on Wednesday.

Thursday

Indicators: Euro-zone composite manufacturing and service PMI flash (Nov); UK GDP (Q3), business investment (Q3); German GDP (Q3), composite, manufacturing and service PMI flash (Nov).

Meetings: GeoparkLife Tourism for Conservation conference (Falls Hotel, Ennistymon, Co Clare); Future in Food Ireland event (Croke Park, Dublin 3); Insights from Brussels lunchtime seminar with Brian Hayes MEP (EY, Harcourt Street, Dublin).

T he future of food

Brexit looms large at any industry conference. On Thursday, the Future in Food event will examine how it might offer alternative opportunities, rather than reflect solely on its potential to decimate business.

Future in Food is self-explanatory – an industry meet-and-greet and more, designed to “generate collaboration and encourage the sharing of knowledge within the Irish food processing sector,” says Ronan McGlade of host company BoxMedia.

Now in its fifth year, the conference will look at sustainability with a focus on energy efficiency, water and water treatment, and their effects on industry.

“With new challenges now on the horizon, namely Brexit, this year’s event will debate and discuss this unknown as an opportunity, not as a barrier to Irish food and drinks manufacturers,” says McGlade.

More than 400 key delegates will pick apart issues around sustainability, growing exports and financial performance.

Speakers represent all corners of the food and drinks sector. They include Bord Bia chief executive Tara McCarthy; Simon McKeever, head of the Irish Exporters Association; Deirdre Ryan, head of corporate social responsibility at Lidl Ireland; Paul Kelly, director of Food Drink Ireland; and Ian O’Toole, global engineering manager at Mondelez.

A mix of panel discussions and talks will address areas such as Brexit and its opportunities, sustainability and environmental issues, and management in food processing.

Friday

Indicators: UK mortgage approvals (Oct); German business climate, current conditions and expectations (Nov); US composite, manufacturing and services PMI flash (Nov).

Meetings: Origin Enterprises AGM (Westbury Hotel, Dublin 2); Technology Ireland Software Industry Awards 2017 (Mansion House, Dublin 2).