INVENT 2014- Entries Open for N.I.'s Biggest Tech Showcase

by Startacus Admin

Calling all Northern Ireland based innovators! Time to get your thinking caps on as the INVENT 2014 Awards are now open. This is your chance to get your hands on a shared prize fund of a £33,000!!

INVENT 2014 provides the opportunity to showcase the most exciting prototypes for technologies in Northern Ireland. 24 teams will be taken through a programme of workshops and mentorship to pitch for a share of the £33,000 prize fund. At each stage of the competition, teams will be helped by high profile entrepreneurs and executives. Winners will be announced in Northern Ireland’s biggest night in tech in front of 600 guests at the iconic Titanic Belfast – this would be a great place to rub shoulders with some industry big wigs..

So is this competition for you? Here are some of the requirements needed:

• You may or may not have incorporated a company.

• If you have incorporated a company you must have no more than five employees.

• Intellectual property must be owned by you or your company or you must have appropriate permission from the owner to enter the competition.

• You can submit multiple entries for different ideas and technologies.

• It must be based in Northern Ireland.

• Technologies that have previously qualified for the top ten of the former £25k awards are NOT eligible to apply.

• You must have developed a basic prototype which will be in digital or physical form.

• The prototype must demonstrate the functionality and feasibility of the technology.

This year’s categories are:

• Creative Media and Consumer Internet – this can include things like gaming, mobile apps and social media.

• Agri-Food – this includes nutrition and health, food production and flavour.

• Life and Health – this category will look at things like medical devices, pharmaceuticals and home based care.

• Engineering – this is a chance to work with things like advanced materials, built environment and clean energy.

• Electronics – this category will include things like robotics, telecommunications and chips and processors.

• Enterprise Software – this includes cyber security, analytics and resource management.

The event kicks off on 29th April, with the qualifying pitch, when the top 24 teams will be selected. The second stage - the quick pitch - is on the 29th May. Here the numbers will be cut to 12 teams. Round three is the big pitch and will take place on 11th September. The final awards ceremony will take place on the 2nd October.

The overall winner will receive a fantastic prize of £10,000 – the best category winner will get £2,500 – the best student team will receive £1,000 and the top 12 teams will get £500 each.

INVENT 2014 is a competition to find Northern Ireland’s inventions which have the greatest commercial potential. Successful applicants across six categories will take part in a unique six month programme which will see their ideas challenged, refined and cultivated – ready to launch a successful start up business. This is a great opportunity to make an inventive idea become a commercial reality.

The application process is now open – and will remain open until 4th April – so if you have an idea or would like more information, simply log on to the INVENT 2014 website.

So let’s get our inventing hats on people - and good luck to all those going to enter this year!

Penned by Dermot McBride

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Published on: 27th February 2014