Weekend takeaway: Here’s to the women entrepreneurs!

26 May 2017

Image: Dasha Petrenko/Shutterstock

From the launch of Inspirefest 2017 to insights from women entrepreneurs, here is your essential sci-tech reading for the weekend.

1. The countdown is on to Ireland’s sci-tech extravaganza, Inspirefest 2017

One of Ireland’s largest sci-tech events is nearly here, with some big names to descend on Dublin for Inspirefest 2017 this July.

2. Ireland picked to host 2018 EU young scientist event

Ireland has been chosen to host the EU Contest for Young Scientists in 2018, the 30th year of the event.

3. TSSG researchers are working on a next-generation AR comms system

When it comes to future industrial uses of AR and VR, Waterford-based TSSG has the perfect calling card.

4. Breakthrough could ‘drastically’ improve smartphone screen resolution

The latest breakthrough in electronics could make smartphones screen resolution ‘drastically’ better than anything else on the market today.

5. Draper Esprit’s Nicola McClafferty: ‘Nothing can prepare you for start-up life’

Nicola McClafferty started out as a venture capitalist, then she earned her stripes with her own start-up, Covetique. Now she’s back in the investment game.

6. Mary McKenna reveals the mental, physical and spiritual truths of start-up life

Start-ups are hard but there is no age limit on when you choose to begin, says entrepreneur Mary McKenna.

7. Sugru inventor inspired by wisdom of the crowd

Creativity is a growth engine, according to Inspirefest speaker Jane Ní Dhulchaointigh, inventor of the wonder material Sugru. Claire O’Connell reports.

8. Sci-tech goes pop: Ana Matronic on robot storytelling and the shape of AI to come

Popstar Ana Matronic understands how our sci-fi obsessions shape our attitudes to new technology such as robots. In fact, she wrote the book on it.

9. Dublin is the second most preferred location in Europe for US start-ups

US start-ups are setting their sights on a Dublin HQ.

10. RIA strives to shift the gender balance with six new women members

As the Royal Irish Academy welcomes its newest members, the institution inches toward gender parity and supports greater visibility of women in STEM.

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

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