All-island innovation awards now open for entries from enterprises

14 Sep 2012

The Irish Times InterTradeIreland Innovation Awards have today opened for nominations from businesses that are innovating across Ireland.

Companies can enter in one of six categories in which they are innovating. The categories are agri-food, life sciences, green tech, business services, creative industries and social innovation.

Now in their fourth year, the aim of the awards is to recognise and promote the best innovations within organisations of all sectors and all sizes from the island of Ireland, north and south.

Winners in each category will then be chosen from a shortlist of three finalists. Each category winner will receive a €10,000 Irish Times media deal and compete to win the overall ‘Innovation of the Year’ title. Via this award, the ultimate winner will get a communications and advertising package from The Irish Times worth €150,000, a UCD scholarship for an executive education programme that will start in 2014, an iPad and a consultancy package.

Aidan Gough, strategy and policy director at InterTradeIreland, spoke about how the awards aim to identify the pioneering innovations of companies on the island.

“I would encourage organisations from across the island to enter these awards and promote their innovative practices,” he said.

The overall 2012 winner of the innovation awards is Gabriel Scientific. The company has developed a bacteriological filter technology for pillows and cushioning devices.

The closing date for applications for the 2013 awards is 3 December 2012.

Carmel Doyle was a long-time reporter with Silicon Republic

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