Shannon Airport was transformed into a student think-tank today as more than 700 students from all over Ireland gathered to invent solutions for how we will live, work, play, learn, shop and travel in 2064.
With support and mentoring from Irish Technology Leadership Group (ITLG) investors, including Irish “Dragons” Barry O’Sullivan, Peter Casey, Gavin Duffy and Sean O’Sullivan, secondary school students competed for an array of the latest technology gadgets and cash prizes.
The team from Castletroy College in Limerick took first prize for their entry, “How we will live in 2064 – Dry Hygiene”, which creates a new water-energy hybrid to deal with third world water shortages globally in 2064.
Their success was rewarded by a range of prizes including the latest in technology gadgets, school prizes and flights to California on the new Aer Lingus Shannon – San Francisco route.
“Supporting entrepreneurship in Ireland, especially in our young people, is the focus of the ITLG Young Innovators event at Shannon Airport”, said Rose Hynes, Chairman of Shannon Airport.
“This event represents a huge opportunity for our young people, to share their ideas with successful global entrepreneurs and to understand that they can unlock their own potential to create and succeed on a global scale by being creative and innovative. We are delighted to be partners in the ITLG Young Innovators event, and very proud of all the students here today”.
“It’s been hugely exciting to witness the creativity and progressive ideas generated by the students here today”, said Barry O’Sullivan, ITLG. “Seeing the talent and innovation culture at work at this ITLG Young Innovators event has been inspirational for all those involved”.
While the ITLG Young Innovators event was taking place at Shannon Airport, Limerick Institute of Technology hosted “fast pitches” where 46 indigenous startups and companies pitched to the Silicon Valley investors.
A diverse range of companies from gamified education, to new cancer therapies to sports performance software had the opportunity to ‘pitch’ to investor panels at the Hartnett Enterprise Acceleration Centre, LIT.
“The calibre of entrepreneurs and startups today shows that the innovation culture in Ireland is very much alive and kicking”, said John Hartnett, President and Founder of ITLG. “We look forward to looking more closely at a number of these companies, with a view to potential investment in the future”.
Hosted in venues across the city, the two day ITLG event has been brought to the Region by Limerick City and County Council, LIT, UL, Shannon Airport and Limerick Chamber to drive collaboration, innovation, job creation and investment between the Mid West Region and Silicon Valley in California.
The Global Technology Forum at University of Limerick will be opened tomorrow by President Michael D.Higgins at the University of Limerick.
The event will include keynote presentations and leadership panel debates on mobile technologies, innovation and entertainment innovation, investment and entrepreneurship.
