East Antrim entries sought for Student Entrepreneur Awards

Enterprise Ireland is inviting students from third-level institutions across East Antrim who have an innovative business idea with real commercial potential to apply to this year’s nationwide 40th Student Entrepreneur Awards.
By Elinor Glynn
Published 6th Jan 2021, 10:26 BST
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Ten finalists will be selected to compete for several awards such as the Cruickshank Intellectual Property High Achieving Merit Award, the Grant Thornton High Achieving Merit Award and the Local Enterprise Office ICT Award.

The overall winner will share in a €35,000 prize fund and receive mentoring from Enterprise Ireland to develop the commercial viability of their concept.

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The award-winners will also receive expert advice and mentoring support from Enterprise Ireland and the programme sponsors to help them turn their ideas into a commercial reality.

Mark O'Sullivan (Photo by Tomas Tyner)Mark O'Sullivan (Photo by Tomas Tyner)
Mark O'Sullivan (Photo by Tomas Tyner)

UCC student Mark O’Sullivan was the 2020 Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneur of the Year for his medical device Neurobell for the early detection and monitoring of brain injuries in newborn babies.

He said: “The Student Entrepreneur Awards were a fantastic opportunity and experience.

“They provided a national and international platform to help achieve my commercialisation goals and Enterprise Ireland has provided continuous support since the awards.”

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Richard Murphy, Manager LEO Support, Policy and Co-ordination Unit, Enterprise Ireland said: “We are delighted to be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Student Entrepreneur Awards which have been showcasing the creativity and innovation of third- level students in Ireland over the last four decades.

“On an annual basis, we receive more than 1000 entries from talented students all over the country.

“It’s always enormously exciting to see the incredible work that’s been done in our third level institutes to find solutions to challenges across a range of sectors.

“Combined with entrepreneurial ambition and a focus on achieving success, the Awards recognise the potential of turning these great ideas into profitable businesses of the future.

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“If you are a third-level student with an idea with commercial focus, then we encourage you to enter the Student Entrepreneur Awards 2021.

“This is the beginning of a journey to becoming an entrepreneur and starting a business.”

Closing date for Student Entrepreneur Award entries is March 12, 2021.

The award winners will be announced at a ceremony on June 11. Entries can be made via www.studententrepreneurawards.com

Related topics:East Antrim