STEM Entrepreneur of the Year –
The Winners!
ESI Technologies / Indutrade and Cork Institute of Technology teamed up to deliver an initiative aimed at students within the faculty of Engineering and Science:
STEM Entrepreneur of the Year
Entrepreneurship & Innovation are a part of ESI’s & Indutrade’s DNA and hence to mark its 100th year, ESI engaged with CIT to launch a new STEM innovation and entrepreneurship initiative entitled STEM Invent.
The goal of the competition was to increase entrepreneurial awareness and competency within the faculty. Overall there was great engagement from students across numerous disciplines.
Design thinking process, developed in D. School (Stanford University) was used as the main tool to communicate and successfully educate the students. 48 students took part in design thinking workshops run on campus where they learned to ideate and think like an entrepreneur; a sought-after skill which will add much value to their resume leaving college. As a result of the workshops, 21 applicants with business ideas were submitted and 9 finalists were chosen.
After in depth review by CIT and ESI, 2 winners were awarded the prize of ‘STEM Entrepreneur of the Year’ within their respective departments.
Abbas Bracken, 4th year Electronic Engineering, Department of Mechanical, Electrical & Process Engineering.
Abbas developed an idea based on the circadian rhythm (body’s internal clock) and how its implementation in building lighting systems possesses the opportunity for numerous health benefits.
Leon O’Brien, 2nd year Construction Management, Department of Building and Civil Engineering.
Leon used the design thinking process to sympathize with both golf clubs and the environment; a sustainable product concept that reduces course maintenance.
We would like to congratulate Abbas and Leon on their achievement and look forward to seeing their ideas develop further. A special thanks all the participants for taking part in this initiative. We hope the design thinking workshops will stand to them in their future endeavors.
