Bryan Davis with his Solar Pump Solutions technology, which saw him being named overall winner and Young Innovator at Enterprise Ireland’s Innovation Arena Awards 2017. Image: Karl Hussey/Fennell Photography
There were 11 winners at Enterprise Ireland’s Innovation Arena Awards at the National Ploughing Championships, including a solar water pump.
The National Ploughing Championships has been a fixture in the Irish agricultural market for decades but, in the past few years, it has risen to become an international showcase for some of Ireland’s leading agritech start-ups and inventors, too.
At this year’s edition of Enterprise Ireland’s Innovation Arena Awards, 11 awards were handed out for individuals and companies that are considered leaders in the field.
Among the winners was Bryan Davis, inventor and founder of Tipperary-based Solar Pump Solutions, who was named as this year’s Young Innovator for his start-up that offers farmers a renewable energy solution to pumping water off the main grid.
Davis was also named as the event’s overall winner and recipient of the Alfred Cox Founder’s Cup Perpetual Trophy for his contribution to agritech.
Cork-based Remote Signals, which connects devices to the internet of things, was named as this year’s Agri-Engineering Start-Up winner, with Equilume – a familiar name to Siliconrepublic.com readers – named as the Agritech Established Company winner.
Strong reflection of agritech innovation
The total prize fund this year is in excess of €70,000, including a top prize worth more than €15,000 for the most innovative start-up.
Julie Sinnamon, CEO of Enterprise Ireland, said: “The Enterprise Ireland Innovation Arena Awards are a strong reflection of the high level of agritech innovation, and provide an important platform for established companies and start-ups to showcase their innovations to international buyers attending the event from across the world.
“Recognising the value and potential of the agri-sector to drive economic growth and export sales, Enterprise Ireland is supporting the sector to innovate and create new business opportunities across the world.”
This year, more than 100 buyers from global regions – including the US, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Africa and Europe – are expected to visit the Enterprise Ireland arena to see what Ireland has to offer.
The full list of award winners can be seen below.
Overall Winner
Solar Pump Solutions
Young Innovator
Bryan Davis of Solar Pump Solutions
Agri-Engineering Start-Up
Remote Signals Ltd
Agri-Engineering Large Established Company
Keenan (an Alltech company)
Agri-Engineering SME
Samco Agricultural Manufacturing Ltd
Agri-Technology Start-Up
OneClick Accounts
Agri-Technology Established Company
Equilume
Agri-Environmental
Ozone Industries
Research Emerging from Third Level
DIT Hothouse
Safety Award
Safe Shaft Systems
International Award
Agrispeed Ltd
Updated, 12.23pm, 2o September 2017: This article was amended to confirm that there were 11 winners overall, not 12.
