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Minister Coveney Launches €1 million THINKTECH Initiative

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Pictured at the official launch of THINKTECH areDeirdre Mortell, CEO, Social Innovation Fund Ireland, Environment Minister Simon Coveney and Jacquelline Fuller, Director of Google.org.

THINKTECH, a €1 million project to support and grow ideas for a better Ireland, was today officially launched at The Foundry, Google by Environment Minister Simon Coveney. 

The unique THINKTECH challenge will identify innovative ideas that use technology to create positive social impact in Ireland. 

Social Innovation Fund Ireland, and Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google which invests in teams with bold ideas that create lasting global impact, believe that technology has the power to transform our lives for the better. Successful participants will have access to an award fund of up to €750,000, which consists of €600,000 in grants and up to €150,000 worth of support and mentoring.

Social enterprises, charities, and other not-for-profits are eligible for participation. Applicants should be able to demonstrate how they will use both technology to make Ireland better and help solve critical social issues in an innovative way. Proposals should have already demonstrated progress towards measurable social impact; have the ability to scale across Ireland and could use a wide range of technology solutions including hardware, software, an online platform or an app.

Minister Coveney said:

As a newly appointed Minister to this Department, I am delighted to be in a position to support social innovation platforms like THINKTECH. This initiative is a first for Ireland and offers a great opportunity to social enterprises, charities and other non-profit organisations to demonstrate their solutions, which should aim to create a measurable social impact that can be scaled all over Ireland.

THINKTECH is now calling for applications until July 31st, please visit www.socialinnovation.ie