Enterprise Ireland’s Annual Innovation Arena Awards 2022 will return to this year’s National Ploughing Championship and applicants are being encouraged to enter the competition before the closing date of June 1st.
The Innovation Arena Awards, which is run in partnership with the National Ploughing Association, invites businesses and innovators in the agri-tech sector to enter their pioneering agri-related products and services for the judges’ consideration.
For the last two years, the awards have been held virtually. However, this year will see the return of the hugely popular ‘Enterprise Ireland Innovation Arena’ to the three-day National Ploughing Championship event, which takes place in Ratheniska, Co Laois, from September 20th to 22nd.
There are a number of prizes across several categories, and those who are short-listed will be invited to showcase their products and innovative agri-tech solutions at the ‘Enterprise Ireland Innovation Arena’ at the National Ploughing Championships, alongside the winners from the virtual competition in 2020 and 2021.
Last year’s competition attracted more than 50 entries with Brandon Bioscience from Kerry emerging as the overall winner for their new Terra range of granular nitrogen fertilisers that use a seaweed-based biostimulant to encourage more sustainable farming.
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar said: “I encourage all agri-innovators to enter and take advantage of this fantastic opportunity. Ireland is synonymous with agriculture, and it is our own entrepreneurs who are helping to shape the future of the sector.”
Leo Clancy, CEO, Enterprise Ireland, said: “We are delighted to launch this year’s competition and to return with our live Arena at the National Ploughing Championships, the flagship event in the Irish agricultural calendar. Agriculture continues to be a key pillar in the Irish economy, and the Innovation Arena Competition showcases the leadership Ireland provides on creating solutions to global challenges and opportunities based on our deep heritage and entrepreneurial culture.”
NPA Managing Director, Anna May McHugh commented, “We are delighted to be partnering with Enterprise Ireland again this year to see the return of the tremendously successful Innovation Arena. The Innovation Arena Awards at the National Ploughing Championships are a wonderful opportunity for anyone who has a good business idea, product or service to showcase at Europe’s largest outdoor event with approximately 300,000 visitors and international buyers from all over the world. Throughout the years the Innovation Arena at the Ploughing has seen some of the most groundbreaking technologies and amazing cutting-edge ideas, with previous winners going on to have serious success in business both in Ireland and on the global stage.”
Categories include the Established Company ‘Innovator of the Year Award’, the Start-up Company ‘Innovator of the Year Award’ 2022, the Sustainable Agriculture Award, Agri-Safety Award and the Young Innovator of the Year.
Interested agri-tech entrepreneurs are invited to apply here.
For further information, contact [email protected].
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