Twelve finalists involved in Irish research and innovation projects will vie for “Ireland’s Innovator” and “Ireland’s Researcher” at next week’s Globe Forum event in Dublin.
The 12 finalists, which were announced at the Science Gallery in Dublin today, were chosen for their originality and their potential to commercialise their innovations. The judging panel included IRCSET, Accenture and the TCD-UCD Innovation Alliance.
The six shortlisted innovators include Zinc Software plus Mayo company PEL Recycling, which has developed an under-counter glass crusher known as “Baby Jaws” for the bar trade. The nominee Power Save is developing energy conservation systems to help people reduce their energy consumption and lower their carbon footprint. Meanwhile, Veutility is developing real-time energy monitoring tools and energy analytics. The nominee GeoGuides has developed Intrepid Explorer, a mobile channel so enterprises can enable their content for use in location aware applications on mobile devices. GeoGuides also developed the Visit Dublin app for Tourism Dublin earlier this year.
Finally, Creme Global provides web-based software, data, training and consulting services in the area of food, chemical and cosmetic exposure assessment.
Researcher nominee Aimee Byrne who is carrying out PhD in the area of Buildings and the Built Environment at TrinityHaus in TCD
Shortlisted researchers
The six shortlisted researchers include projects by Aiden Doherty at DCU, Aimee Byrne at TCD, Anthony Schoofs at Clarity Centre for Sensor Web Technologies, David Connolly at UCL and Ivana Dusparic and Paul Doherty at UCD.
Innovation showcase
Each of the 12 finalists will showcase their ideas on the main stage at Globe Forum to the judging panel, which will include Dublin Lord Mayor Gerry Breen, Marian Corcoran of Accenture and Dr Aoibheann Gibbons, director of Research Development, UCD. The audience and investors will also judge the finalists.
The winning innovator will obtain an Innovation prize valued at €50,000. This includes a mentoring programme by Accenture, an iQ Content web kick-start package, access to Innovation Alliance incubation space and the entrepreneur programme at NovaUCD, membership of Globe Forum’s facilitator programme and PR consultancy services from Limelight Communications.
The winning researcher will obtain membership of Globe Forum’s facilitator programme, €600 from IRCSET and access to a mentoring programme run by Accenture.
Speaking about the selection of the 12 finalists for the contest, Johan Gorecki, CEO Globe Forum, said: “The 12 finalists have already proven themselves following the interview stages. We look forward to seeing how each innovator will perform at the conference. It will be an exciting week for Irish research and innovation and I am delighted to be part of it.”
Globe Forum Dublin 2010 is the flagship conference of the Innovation Dublin 2010 festival. Taking place at the Convention Centre Dublin on 17 and 18 November, its focus will be on ‘Smarter and Greener – Innovation for a Sustainable Future’.
Representatives from cities across the globe will be present to share their insight on how innovation has helped solve transport, health and other challenges.
Irish and international innovators, investors, researchers and leaders from Government, cities, business, research communities and education will also take part.
The event will offer sessions focusing on developing market-leading innovation, while acting as a marketplace where innovators and investors can connect by actively encouraging investment in emerging enterprises, providing professional support for innovators and encouraging new methods of funding innovation.
Globe Forum is supported by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Accenture, IRCSET, TCD-UCD Innovation Alliance, IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.
