New technologies on display at the Innovation Arena

Enterprise Ireland’s Innovation Arena awards will return to the 2024 National Ploughing Championships.

The Innovation Arena, which is hosted in partnership with the National Ploughing Association (NPA), is an annual exhibition platform showcasing cutting-edge solutions from Irish agritech companies and innovators to thousands of visitors over the course of the three-day event.

This year’s Innovation Arena awards will be held on the first day of the Ploughing. The awards will feature entrepreneurs from Irish-owned companies, research and academia, with pioneering innovations which have the potential to deliver solutions for the agriculture sector that could help to optimise and futureproof the industry.

Those who are successful in their submission earlier this year will automatically be offered an exhibition spot within the Innovation Arena.

There will be a number of awards in this year’s competition, with a focus on applications from start-up companies under five years old and established companies that are focused on scaling and innovation.

There will be an overall start-up award winner, who will receive a €10,000 prize as well as mentoring supports from specialist Enterprise Ireland advisers.

Future

Enterprise Ireland CEO Leo Clancy said: “Working with the NPA, Enterprise Ireland’s Innovation Arena provides an important platform for Irish companies in this sector, bringing together some of the brightest minds and I would encourage all entrepreneurs who are interested to consider applying.”

Speaking on the awards, NPA managing director Anna May McHugh, said the Ploughing is delighted to continue this partnership with Enterprise Ireland. “Annually it delivers cutting edge ideas and technologies, which shape the future of agriculture globally,” she added.