Global industry leaders were told of the critical role played by the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) in Ireland’s sustainable manufacturing ambitions as they gathered in Athlone for the first ever Global Polymer Sustainability & Innovation Summit (GPSIS 2025).
Speaking at the Athlone campus, Minister of State Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran welcomed delegates and encouraged international collaboration and investment, saying TUS and its campuses were ready to lead in green innovation.
“You’ve come to a town that knows how to work hard, how to grow, and how to welcome people,” Minister Moran told international delegates.
“This summit is not just a meeting of experts — it’s a message to the world: Athlone is ready to lead in green manufacturing, smart materials, and new ways of working. We are home to the Technological University of the Shannon — a place full of talent, research, and ideas. We have great companies, skilled workers, and a community that believes in progress. As a technological university, TUS drives development in the Midlands and Midwest. To those thin inking about working with us — in research, business, or education — I say: Let’s talk.”
The Global Polymer Sustainability & Innovation Summit (GPSIS 2025) took place from October 29th to 31th. This was the first time that a major summit combined the best minds from academia and industry working in the growing field of polymer – both from Ireland and across the world.
Polymers are the building blocks of many everyday materials, including plastics, and they are driving innovation in sustainability, healthcare, energy, and advanced technologies
The event was created in partnership with TUS, the Irish Polymer Group, the Society of Plastics Engineers, and SCF Processing.
This landmark summit convened senior executives from multinationals, such as Harmac Medical Products, Eli Lilly, and Nolato Medical, and universities from the US, UK, EU, and Asia.
TUS has been involved in the sector for more than 50 years. The Athlone campus is home to the Polymer, Recycling, Industrial, Sustainability and Manufacturing (PRISM) Research Institute which also incorporates the Enterprise Ireland-funded Applied Polymer Technologies Gateway Centre.
Professor Austin Coffey, Programme Director, Polymer Engineering, and the Conference Chair, said: “GPSIS 2025 shone a spotlight on TUS’s world-class capabilities — not just in research, but in educating and training the next generation of polymer and manufacturing experts, from undergraduate through to PhD level. TUS is uniquely positioned to demonstrate Ireland’s leadership in sustainability and innovation. The summit highlighted how we combine cutting-edge research, global collaboration, and comprehensive education programmes to drive economic growth, attract investment, and prepare a skilled workforce for the future.”
Among the speakers were Dr Louis Somlai, Global Engineering Director for Eli Lilly, Dr John Somers, Harmac Medical Products, Monika Kriete, Lubrizol, John Kilmartin, Kilmartin MedTech Partners, as well as Dr Declan Devine, Kenny O’Brien and Dr Yuanyan Chen of TUS.
Over three days, Athlone became a hub of international collaboration, where innovation, sustainability, and business strategy converge.
Themes of GPSIS 2025 included polymer sustainability and the circular economy, advanced manufacturing and digital transformation, medical devices and healthcare innovation, and the latest breakthroughs in material science. In recognition of the current global climate, the programme also included dedicated sessions on business development, market generation, and strategies for resilience.
