A major event hosted by NORIBIC in Derry~Londonderry in May has added two more big names as well as important new sponsors to its already stellar line-up.
Sir Tim Smit KBE, famous for his work with the world-renowned Eden Project, will join a list of speakers for The European Business Network (EBN) Congress that already includes Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.
Dr Richard Florida, Professor at University of Toronto and NYU; Senior Editor the Atlantic; and best-selling US author on the economic importance of the creative industries, will also speak at the three-day event, it is announced today.
Hosted by The Northern Ireland Business and Innovation Centre (NORIBIC), the international congress will take place between 29th and 31st May and is also open to a local business audience, who can benefit from a reduced registration fee until midnight 8th of April.
The Department of Culture Arts and Leisure (DCAL) will join Invest NI as Principal Partners of the event it is also announced today. Gold Sponsors include SEUPB’s INTERREG IVa Programme, The Irish BICs. This event is also sponsored by Derry Visitor & Convention Bureau (DVCB), Seagate, and the Department for Employment & Learning (DEL) among others.
The congress will take place in Derry~Londonderry’s Millennium Forum and a number of other venues in the city around the themes ‘Digital’, ‘Cultural’ and ‘Social Innovation’.
The event was attracted to Northern Ireland this year in part because of Derry~Londonderry’s status as UK City of Culture as well as NORIBIC’s long-standing involvement in the European Business Innovation Centre Network.
The Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, Carál Ní Chuilín said:
“The Noribic Congress is a hugely significant event which takes in elements of the Creative Industries but also includes social and cultural strands. To have such a distinguished line-up of delegates in Derry underlines the city’s growing international status as a nurturing ground for ideas.
“This conference is for innovators and entrepreneurs here and across Europe. But there is much here for everyone as the world comes to Derry to talk about how we can develop ideas which improve communities. It is another landmark event during Derry’s year as City of Culture and I hope it will prove to be an inspirational event with a lasting legacy.”
Dr Bernard Toal, Chief Executive of NORIBIC, says that it will be a unique opportunity for local business people to engage with the world-class group of speakers and collaborate with potential EU business partners.
“The momentum really is building towards what promises to be an event with a very big wow factor. The speakers are a huge part of that, but so is the rest of the programme which will include a large element of culture and four villages with great networking opportunities,” he says.
Further information about the event and registration is available at: http://www.noribic.com/ebncongress