Programme

Day 1: Wednesday, October 29, 2025 – Training Day

Location: First Polymer Training Ltd., Athlone

9:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Registration and Welcome Coffee

9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Morning Training Sessions

  • AI in Injection Moulding: Led by international experts in AI applications, focusing on process optimisation and defect prediction.

  • Polymer Processing Principles – General: A foundation-level session introducing key principles and techniques.

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Lunch Break

1:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Afternoon Training Sessions

  • Polymer Processing Principles – Advanced: Specialised insights for optimising high-precision and high-value manufacturing processes.

  • Plastics Materials and Design: Expert-led session on selecting and designing polymer materials for advanced applications.

7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Formal Opening Reception

Location: Sheraton Hotel, Athlone

  • 7:00 PM – 7:15 PM: Welcome Address by Professor Austin Coffey and Dr. Sean Lyons

  • 7:15 PM – 7:30 PM: Opening Remarks on the Importance of Global Collaboration in Polymer Science

  • 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM: Cheese and Wine Reception with live Irish music and cultural performances

Day 2: Thursday, October 30, 2025 – Conference Day 1

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Registration and Morning Coffee

Morning Plenary Sessions

9:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Welcome Address
Speaker: Professor Austin Coffey

9:30 AM – 10:15 AM
Keynote Address 1
Advances in Composites and Technology Convergence
Speaker: Professor Conchúr Ó Brádaigh (University of Sheffield, UK)
Focus on offshore wind and marine applications.

10:15 AM – 10:45 AM
Coffee Break

10:45 AM – 11:30 AM
Keynote Address 2
Smart Material Technologies and Global Collaboration
Speaker: Professor Nguyen Dinh Duc (Vietnam National University)
Exploring smart materials for infrastructure and healthcare.

Thematic Parallel Sessions (11:30 AM – 1:00 PM)

Stream 1: Advanced Polymer Engineering and Processing
Location: Auditorium 1

  • 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM: AI-Driven Injection Moulding Processes

  • 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM: Supercritical Fluid CO2-Assisted Polymer Processing

  • 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM: High-Precision Extrusion Techniques

Stream 2: Medical Plastics (Sponsored by EMPD)
Location: Auditorium 2

  • 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Advances in Medical Polymers

  • 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM: Biocompatible Polymers for Medical Devices

  • 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM: Polymers in Drug Delivery Systems

PhD Presentations
Location: Room 101

  • 11:30 AM – 11:50 AM: Advanced Polymer Engineering

  • 11:50 AM – 12:10 PM: Nanocomposites in Industry

  • 12:10 PM – 12:30 PM: Processing Innovations

  • 12:30 PM – 12:50 PM: Medical Polymers and Drug Delivery

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Lunch Break

Afternoon Plenary and Keynotes

2:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Institutional Presentation
Overview of TUS APT and PRISM Research Institute
Speaker: Dr. Sean Lyons (Dean of Engineering & Informatics, TUS Athlone)

2:30 PM – 3:15 PM
Keynote Address 3
Advances in Nanocomposites and Material Processing
Speaker: Professor Tony McNally (University of Warwick, UK)

3:15 PM – 3:45 PM
Coffee Break

Afternoon Thematic Sessions (3:45 PM – 5:00 PM)

Stream 1: Material Modification and Nanocomposites
Location: Auditorium 1

  • 3:45 PM – 4:15 PM: Material Modification Techniques in Polymer Nanocomposites

  • 4:15 PM – 4:45 PM: Nanocomposite Applications in Medical and Industrial Sectors

Stream 2: Advances in Polymer Processing and Engineering
Location: Auditorium 2

  • 3:45 PM – 4:15 PM: Polymer Recycling and Sustainability

  • 4:15 PM – 4:45 PM: Smart Polymers and Responsive Materials

PhD Presentations
Location: Room 101

  • 3:45 PM – 4:05 PM: AI in Polymer Processing

  • 4:05 PM – 4:25 PM: Biodegradable Medical Polymers

  • 4:25 PM – 4:45 PM: Polymer Sensors

7:00 PM
Gala Dinner
Location: Sheraton Hotel, Athlone

  • Guest Speaker: [TBD Industry Leader]

Day 3: Friday, October 31, 2025 – Conference Day 2

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Registration and Coffee

Morning Plenary Sessions

9:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Plenary Panel
Funding Opportunities for Collaborative Research in Polymer Engineering

9:30 AM – 10:15 AM
Keynote Address 4
AI-Driven Innovations in Injection Moulding
Speaker: Dave Raine (Sumitomo Demag UK)

10:15 AM – 10:45 AM
Coffee Break

Thematic Parallel Sessions (10:45 AM – 12:15 PM)

Stream 1: Convergent Technologies and Polymer Engineering
Location: Auditorium 1

  • 10:45 AM – 11:15 AM: AI and Digital Technologies in Polymer Processing

  • 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM: Advances in Extrusion and Injection Moulding

  • 11:45 AM – 12:15 PM: Future Directions in Polymer Composites

Stream 2: Medical Plastics (Sponsored by EMPD)
Location: Auditorium 2

  • 10:45 AM – 11:15 AM: Biodegradable Polymers in Medical Implants

  • 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM: Polymer-Based Sensors for Medical Devices

  • 11:45 AM – 12:15 PM: Future Trends in Medical Plastics

PhD Presentations
Location: Room 101

  • 10:45 AM – 11:05 AM: Polymer Recycling Innovations

  • 11:05 AM – 11:25 AM: Smart Polymers

  • 11:25 AM – 11:45 AM: Medical Polymer Devices

12:15 PM – 1:15 PM
Lunch Break

Afternoon Thematic Sessions (1:15 PM – 3:00 PM)

Stream 1: Sustainable Polymer Technologies
Location: Auditorium 1

  • 1:15 PM – 1:45 PM: AI-Driven Circular Polymer Economy

  • 1:45 PM – 2:15 PM: Advances in Biodegradable Polymers

  • 2:15 PM – 2:45 PM: Polymer Degradation Innovations

Stream 2: Medical Plastics
Location: Auditorium 2

  • 1:15 PM – 1:45 PM: AI in Medical Plastics

  • 1:45 PM – 2:15 PM: Smart Implants and Responsive Materials

  • 2:15 PM – 2:45 PM: AI-Driven Drug Delivery Systems

3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Closing Plenary
Future Directions in Polymer Science and Collaborative Research