Eye on News
The Search Is On For NI’s Greatest Innovations! For over 10 years the Invent competition, run by Connect at Catalyst Inc, has identified, supported, rewarded and celebrated the most successful local innovations and 2018 is set to be no exception.
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tarting out as a small event at the Titanic Dock and Pump House, the event has grown to become one of the most anticipated competitions to showcase and recognise NI’s best product innovations. For the last 10 years, Bank of Ireland UK has been the headline sponsor of Invent. For previous winners and participants, Invent has been a springboard to successfully growing their companies and exporting innovative products and services across the globe. Take Plotbox, who were the overall winner of Invent in 2014. A technology product for Cemetery managers, they were very much a start-up with 7 people when they applied. Co-founder Leona McAllister says of their experience ‘Invent was the catalyst to make us move forward and take that next step.’ Throughout the Invent process they were able to develop their product and brand, demonstrating they could be a global business. 4 years on, Plotbox are a scale-up and have grown to 27 people across 3 offices in Ballymena (Catalyst Inc Innovation Centre), Boston and California. Co-Founder Sean McAllister would recommend people to apply for Invent 2018
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Fiona Bennington (Hug 2017 Engineering Category Winner), Gavin Kennedy (Bank of Ireland UK), Helen McCarthy (Phion Therapeutics Overall 2017 Invent Winner), Kerry McGarvey (Catalyst Inc), Andrew Cunningham and Niamh Tohill (Evy 2017 Electronics Category Winner)
‘Invent was the kick-start of our process to move forward to be a real business. We want to be a truly global company and we aren’t going to stop until we get there.’
“My winning innovation was a drug delivery platform that started as an 11 year research project. The Invent competition helped me to refine my business plan and create
“ Invent offers the opportunity to gain validation for your idea, gain valuable exposure and develop your business objectives with a quality network of business experts and influencers.” Invent offers the opportunity to gain validation for your idea, gain valuable exposure and develop your business objectives with a quality network of business experts and influencers. Last year’s winner Helen McCarthy of Phion Therapeutics, said of her experience:
easily understood messaging for going to market. The competition process helped to validate my idea and gain access to a wide network of business contacts” Applications are now officially open for Invent 2018 which is open to anyone in Northern Ireland offering an opportunity
for enthusiastic and passionate innovators and entrepreneurs to be part of a unique competition. With a prize pot of £33,000 now is the time to apply - applications close on Friday 23rd March. The highlight of the Invent 2018 competition will be the annual awards ceremony, on 11th October 2018, where around 700 business leaders, innovators and investors will gather to discover NI’s best product innovations and be the first to know who will be crowned Winner of Invent 2018. It’s time to put your innovation in the spotlight!
For more information on Invent 2018 visit www.invent2018.co