25 May, 2020

Cork Institute of Technology is recognised as the leading higher education institution in Ireland in the area of student entrepreneurship and innovation. From the commencement of their studies through to graduation and beyond, students have the opportunity to identify and develop business ideas with their class mates in a highly supportive environment. This opportunity is available to students from all disciplinary areas.

 

 

 

During their time in CIT, students have the opportunity to:

1. Avail of business coaching and mentoring
2. Participate in multidisciplinary teams
3. Design and build product prototypes
4. Compete in local, national and international innovation and entrepreneurship competitions
5. Work with start-up companies in the Rubicon Centre, CIT’s business incubation centre
6. Apply to participate in Student Inc, a CIT-led initiative which funds students while they develop their business ideas (see video below)
7. Participate in work placement with a wide range of established companies from all industry sectors

 

 

 

 

As a consequence of CIT’s strong focus on student development in this context, students from disciplinary areas as diverse as Architecture, Art, Business, Computer Science, Engineering, Humanities, Maritime, Music, and Science all have the opportunity to develop their innovation and entrepreneurship skills.

 

In addition, a very significant proportion of CIT courses include innovation and product design as part of the curriculum. A significant number of courses feature modules in third and fourth years, many of which are offered to multidisciplinary groups, reflecting the real work environment.  

 

CIT students have achieved incredible levels of success in national and international innovation and entrepreneurship competitions. Most recently, two CIT projects have made it through to the Final Stage (Top 10 Nationally from over 1,000 entries) of the Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneur National Awards 2020.

 

The two short-listed projects from CIT are:

• Enabl-aid (Multidisciplinary Innovative Product Development Laboratories)
• TraumAlert (Final Year Biomedical Engineering Degree Capstone Project)

 

In addition, the details provided below clearly show what has been achieved in this context over a period of many years in international competitions in Australia, Denmark, Dubai, Luxembourg, England, France, and Germany, as well as in a wide range of national eventsin Ireland.

 

A Selection of Recent Major International Achievements

• One Global Student Innovation Challenge, i-CREATe, Canberra, Australia - Global First Place Technology - Gold Award (2019)
• One University Startup World Cup Finals - USWC19 Contribution Award - Copenhagen Denmark (2019)
• One University Startup World Cup Finals - Health Category – Top 2 Global Award - Copenhagen Denmark (2018)
• One Dubai Design Week -Global Grad Show - Invited Exhibitor (2018)
• One University Startup World Cup Finals - Global HealthTech Leadership Award - Copenhagen Denmark (2017)
• One Dubai Design Week -Global Grad Show - Invited Exhibitor (2017)
• Three Enterprise Ireland / Invest Northern Ireland Think Outside the Box Academic Innovation Awards (2016, 2012, 2009)
• One European Commission Award - European Enterprise Promotion Awards - “Delivering Innovative Product Development, Multi-disciplinary Engineering and Ground-breaking Education” Luxembourg (2015)
• One University Startup World Cup Finals Sole Irish Finalist Category Finalist Award Winner Copenhagen Denmark (2015)
• Nine First Places and Seven Runner Up Finalists in the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Best Medical Engineering and Design and Development of a Biomedical Device Competitions, London (2015, 2014, 2011, 2010, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005)
• Two European Laureate of Innovation First Place Award - European Student Innovator of the Year 2014 and 2012 - European Student Innovation Finals - Innovact Reims France (2014, 2012)
• European Science Engineering and Technology Best European Mechanical Engineering Student One First Place and One Runner Up Babcock Award - SET Finals London UK (2013, 2011)
• One European Laureate of Innovation Third Place Award – European Student Innovation Finals - Innovact Reims (2010)
• One First and One Second Place in the ISEA International Sports Engineering Competition, London
• Two Queen’s Silver Jubilee awards for Best Mechanical Engineering Degree Project in Ireland and Britain
• One Genius 2000 Award for Best New Invention at the Nuremburg Inventors’ Fair
• Two Society of Manufacturing Engineering Outstanding Young Engineer Worldwide Awards
• Three First Places for Best Published and Presented Paper at the International Manufacturing Conference.

 

A Selection of Recent National Student Successes

• Seven Enterprise Ireland/Invest Northern Ireland Cruickshank Most Technologically Innovative Project First Place National Awards (2019, 2017, 2016, 2013, 2009, 2008, 2007)
• One National Startup Awards Dublin City Hall 3rd Level Spinout Category Gold Award (2019)
• Two National Disability Authority Centre for Excellence in Universal Design Grand Challenge Enterprise Ireland Commercialisation National Award (2019, 2016)
• Ten MEETA Asset Management and Maintenance National Awards (2019, 2016(x2), 2015(x2), 2014, 2013(x2), 2011, 2006)
• Twelve Enterprise Ireland/Invest Northern Ireland National Awards of Merit (2019, 2018, 2017, 2015, 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007)
• Twelve Engineers Ireland Innovative Student Engineer of the Year First Place Awards sponsored by Siemens (2018 L9/L8/L7, 2014 L8, 2013 L8, 2012 L8, 2011 L7, 2009 L7, 2008 L8, 2007 L7, 2006 L8, 2005 L8, 2004 L8, 2003 L8)
• Four Enterprise Ireland/Invest Northern Ireland Young Entrepreneur of the Year First Place National Awards (2018, 2016, 2013, 2007)
• Eight Engineers Ireland Innovative Student National Finalist Awards - Combined L9/L8/L7 Competition - (2018(x2), 2017(x2), 2016(x2), 2015(x2))
• One Institute of Designers in Ireland (IDI) Graduate National Award - First Place - Product Design - Medical Devices Category (2018)
• One National Disability Authority Centre for Excellence in Universal Design Grand Challenge Judges’ Choice ICT Award (2018)
• One National Disability Authority Centre for Excellence in Universal Design Grand Challenge People’s Choice National Award (2018)
• Two Enterprise Ireland/Invest Northern Ireland Intel ICT First Place National Awards (2017, 2016)
• Three Enterprise Ireland/Invest Northern Ireland Academic Innovation National Awards (2016, 2012, 2009)
• One James Dyson Design National Award Ireland First Place (2016)
• One Accenture Leaders of Tomorrow First Place National Award Accenture HQ Grand Canal Square Dublin (2016)
• One Enterprise Ireland Grant Thornton First Place National Awards (2016)
• One National Disability Authority Centre for Excellence in Universal Design Grand Challenge Judges’ Choice Award Technology Trophy National Award (2016)
• One Early Career Awards Special Recognition National Award (2016)
• Two Engineers Ireland Excellence Awards - “Best in Class” Engineering Education Award (2015, 2011)
• One Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management - AECOM Student Environmental Award Winner-Sligo (2015)
• Five Enterprise Ireland I.Mech.E Speak Out for Engineering Awards (2014, 2013, 2007, 2006, 2004)
• One CADFEM Ireland and Ansys Users Conference EI HQ Dublin Best Presentation Paper (2014)
• One GradIreland Graduate Employee of the Year First Place Award Mansion House Dublin (2012)
• One NCBI Inclusive Technology Showcase Grand Prize Wood Quay Dublin (2012)
• Three Abbott Ireland Intern of the Year Awards ( 2012, 2011, 2009)
• One Engineers Ireland Excellence Awards - ESB Award for Outstanding Contribution to Engineering (2011)
• One Engineers Ireland Excellence Awards - Chartered Engineer of the Year (2011)
• One Inaugural Enterprise Ireland/Invest Northern Ireland Young Entrepreneur Solving Problems for Industry €7,500 Award ( 2009 )
• Two HP Invent Awards for Best Science/Engineering/IT project in Ireland
• Three William Eccles Institution of Production Engineers National Awards

 

CIT’s goal is to produce entrepreneurial graduates who make a difference, either as employees or entrepreneurs. We have achieved incredible levels of success in this context to date and we plan to achieve even more in the future.