IoT Belfast 34: IoT & Platforms

Join us for an evening of insights, innovation, and networking as IoTBelfast heads to Xirgo Technologies in Newtownabbey for our next meetup in June: IoT Belfast 34: IoT & Platforms.

This month, we’ll explore IoT & Platforms, looking at how flexible, scalable systems are built from the embedded layer up. We’ll be digging into the practical choices behind real IoT products, from operating systems and embedded applications to the challenges of deploying, managing, and scaling connected devices in the real world.

Whether you’re an engineer, developer, systems architect, product lead, founder, researcher, or simply interested in IoT, embedded systems, telematics, and connected platforms, you’ll come away with practical knowledge and insight from local experts working in the field.

About the Speakers & Topics

Paul McGrotty | Xirgo Technologies
Bio: Paul started his career as a hardware engineer before moving into systems engineering. He has worked as a systems engineer for Nortel, Schrader Electronics, Andor Technology, 7 Tech, and now Xirgo. He sees systems engineering as being the translator in the room when the marketing, physics, hardware, and software teams all talk past each other.

Title: An “App” store for embedded devices.
Description: Many IoT proof-of-concept activities start off using embedded Linux - because it is SO cool. In the real world, there are many good reasons to run away screaming when anyone suggests using Linux or Android in a product development.
Paul will discuss and demonstrate existing Xirgo systems that use Zephyr RTOS and Pawn scripts to create low-cost systems that allow useful applications to be deployed and managed

David Caskey | Xirgo Technologies
Bio: David began his career at Fujitsu Telecommunications in Belfast in 1999 as a firmware engineer, working on backbone telecoms devices. He then moved to Schrader Electronics working on automotive TPMS, before transitioning into asset tracking telematics. He is now part of Xirgo Technologies, continuing to develop IoT telematics devices. David spends the majority of his time swearing at cellular modems.

Title: Ditch the Distro: Building Real IoT Products with Zephyr RTOS
Description: The IoT demo landscape is dominated by Linux-based devices: powerful, familiar, and fast to prototype with, but often carrying hidden costs when the time comes to ship a real product.
Managing a Linux OS at scale, including updates, security patches, and configuration drift, introduces complexity that has nothing to do with your actual product problem.
David will explore how Zephyr RTOS offers a compelling alternative: a purpose-built, open-source RTOS with a growing ecosystem, designed from the ground up for constrained, connected devices. Drawing on real-world experience shipping IoT telematics products, he’ll look at what Zephyr gets right and where the interesting challenges still lie.

Speaker 3: TBC
We’ll be announcing one more speaker soon, so stay tuned.

Agenda

6:30 PM – Informal networking & refreshments
7:00 PM – Welcome & introductions from Martin Naughton (Galvia Digital) & John Greer (Xirgo Technologies)
7:15 PM – Talks begin
Paul McGrotty – An “App” store for embedded devices
(15 mins + 5 mins Q&A)
David Caskey – Ditch the Distro: Building Real IoT Products with Zephyr RTOS
(15 mins + 5 mins Q&A)
Speaker 3 – TBC
(15 mins + 5 mins Q&A)
8:15 PM – Networking & chats
9:30 PM – Event close

Event Details
Venue: Xirgo Technologies, 5 Trench Rd, Newtownabbey BT36 4TY
Date: Thursday, 25th June 2026
Time: 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Host: Xirgo Technologies
* Upon arrival, attendees should wait in the reception area and someone will direct you to the event space.

Light bites and beverages will be provided.

This event is facilitated by Martin Naughton & Galvia Digital. If you have any questions about the event, or if you're interested in speaking or hosting a future meetup, please get in touch.

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