The winners were yesterday announced of the 2016 Innovation Arena Awards which are sponsored by Enterprise Ireland, Irish Farmers Journal and the National Ploughing Association.
The awards recognise innovative agri-tech capability and new product development in the agriculture sector.
The total prize fund this year is in excess of €70,000 including a top prize worth over €15,000 to the most innovative start-up.
A record 195 applications to exhibit were received with 68 exhibitors selected, all of whom are finalists in the Awards competition. Of these, eight are spinout research projects, 12 are established companies and 48 are new start-up entrepreneurial led exhibits.
Entries were sought outside of Ireland for the first time this year and entrants from the UK and New Zealand are also participating at this year’s event.
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor said, "The agriculture sector is of huge importance to the Irish economy providing employment opportunities for over 250,000 people spread all around the country. It remains the heartbeat of the rural Irish economy, one that is clearly beating strongly as it embraces the future and we see it here in the range and quality of innovations on display at the Innovation Arena. I warmly congratulate the winners of these Awards and all of the companies exhibiting in the Innovation Arena and wish them success for the future."
Source: www.businessworld.ie