merrion street

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton said today that the victory by a team of Irish students in one of the world’s most prestigious technology competitions is an inspiration to the country.

A team from Sligo IT won first prize in the lead category, Software Design, in the Microsoft Imagine Cup

“I have said repeatedly that if we are going to get out of this crisis, we are going to have to encourage indigenous innovation in any way we can. Today’s news that a group of Irish students have won first place in one of the world’s most prestigious technology competitions is truly inspiring. These young students used modern technology and some new thinking to help solve the long-standing problem of our unacceptably high level of road

deaths. It shows how new technology can help solve old problems potentially in any area of life.

“It also confirms to me that Irish people can compete the very highest level when it comes to creating technologies that can solve complex problems and create viable businesses. I hope to speak to the members of this team later today to congratulate them personally and arrange to meet them to discuss with them how we as a government can learn from their

success”.