Weekend takeaway: 10 tech stories you need to read right now

11 Dec 2015

Ireland's sci-tech 100; the top 20 newsmakers of 2015; and TransUnion buys Cork's Trustev.

Ten nuggets of knowledge to take away for the weekend, including: Ireland’s sci-tech 100; the top 20 newsmakers of 2015; and TransUnion buys Cork’s Trustev.

1. Ireland’s Sci-Tech 100: A galaxy of science and technology stars

Behold, in all its glory, the complete list of Ireland’s Sci-Tech 100, celebrating science and technology leaders in and from Ireland.

2. The 20 top tech newsmakers who made the headlines in 2015

From kid coders to politicians, activists, entrepreneurs and tech CEOs, our 2015 list of the top 20 tech newsmakers has it all. Including the thrills, the spills and the occasional viral tweet.

 3. Irishman William Campbell receives his Nobel Prize for Medicine

Irishman William Campbell has received the Nobel Prize for Medicine that he won back in October – Campbell’s role in discoveries concerning therapies to fight roundworm parasitic infections helped him win the accolade.

4. TransUnion buys Cork anti-fraud start-up Trustev for $44m

Cork-headquartered digital fraud protection company Trustev has been acquired by TransUnion for $44m.

 5. 13 Dublin mums graduate from first Digital Hub Techmums programme

There was cause for celebration in Dublin 8 today as the first 13 graduates from The Digital Hub’s Techmums programme were awarded certificates for over-coming their fear of tech and changing their life for the better.

6. Just over half of Irish connections meet global definition of broadband

Only 54pc of broadband subscriptions in Ireland measure up to what can now be internationally defined as broadband, according to new figures released by Ireland’s telecoms watchdog ComReg.

7. Full steam ahead for STEM jobs in 2016

As 2015 winds down, you’d have thought that most companies would sit back and take stock of another year in existence. Well, the tech industry, in particular, isn’t that way inclined.

8. The Airbnb economy in Ireland is worth €202m and employs over 2,000 people

The Airbnb economy employs 2,020 people in Ireland and has generated €202m in activity in just one year, according to figures from the community hospitality platform.

9. Belfast to host teenage-led Future2016 STEM conference

Next February, Belfast is to host a science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) event called Future 2016, which will be organised and run almost entirely by teenagers, to help their peers connect with the world around them.

10. TCD and UL awarded Athena Swan awards for gender equality

Both Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and the University of Limerick (UL) have become the first Irish third-level institutions to be awarded Athena Swan awards for their efforts to improve gender equality for women in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM).

Christmas image via Shutterstock

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com