Do you have an innovative idea with commercial potential but you’re not quite sure what to do next?
29 January 2018
You need to be part of INVENT 2018.
The search is on for NI’s greatest innovations! Now open for applications, Invent 2018, the Connect at Catalyst Inc Programme sponsored by Bank of Ireland UK, is an exceptional opportunity for enthusiastic and passionate innovators and entrepreneurs across Northern Ireland to be part of a unique competition.
For over 10 years the Invent competition has identified, supported, rewarded and celebrated the most successful local innovations and 2018 will be no exception.
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. Previous finalists are now successfully growing their companies and exporting innovative products and services across the globe. There is also a prize pot of £33,000 and the overall winner will be rewarded with a space on the NI Tech mission to California.
Helen McCarthy of Phion Therapeutics, Overall winner of Invent 2017 said:
“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 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.”
Gavin Kennedy, Head of Business Banking, Northern Ireland at Bank of Ireland UK commented: “It is the individuals, companies and sectors that create and commercialise new ideas, technologies, processes and products who will be a vital component of the engine for growth in our Knowledge Economy and we need more of them. We are delighted and excited be part of such an energetic, supportive and practical competition bringing a new generation of innovative concepts to commercial realisation.”
Invent is open to anyone in Northern Ireland and offers an opportunity for enthusiastic and passionate innovators and entrepreneurs to be part of a unique competition. It’s time to put your innovation in the spotlight! Applications close on Friday 23rd March.
Steve Orr, Director at Connect said:
“We are on a mission to support our innovators and entrepreneurs to unlock the full potential of their ideas, but having a breakthrough idea counts for nothing if it never sees the light of day. That’s why we would encourage everyone with novel product ideas to enter Invent 2018. This could be the start of your success story.”
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.
For more information on Invent 2018 visit www.invent2018.co
Kerry McGarvey from Catalyst Inc and Gavin Kennedy from Bank of Ireland UK are joined by Invent Winner Phion Therapeutics and Category Winners Hug and Evy to officially launch the 2018 Invent Competition.
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).
Notes to editors:
Invent is an annual competition that showcases and rewards local innovations that promise the greatest potential. It’s an opportunity to gain high-profile exposure; to market-validate ideas; to unlock a quality network of influencers and to win a place on the NI Tech Mission to California. There’s also a prize fund of £33,000, shared by the winners.
For more information on Invent 2018 visit www.invent2018.co or contact Invent Programme Manager Kerry McGarvey Kerry.mcgarvey@catalyst-inc.org.
ABOUT CONNECT
Connect at Catalyst Inc is a not-for-profit network of experienced entrepreneurs, business professionals and top research talent. We’re dedicated to the creation and scaling of innovation companies in Northern Ireland. Every year we help over 600 local entrepreneurs to aim higher and succeed faster.
Based on the proven University of California Connect model, we run intensive development programmes, track NI’s knowledge economy and nurture the entrepreneurial spirit of young people. We introduce our programme participants to a network of potential investors and help plug gaps in their business knowledge.
We’re supported by corporate partners, underwritten by Catalyst Inc and don’t take equity in the organisations we help. That’s because our vision is for Northern Ireland to become one of the most entrepreneurial knowledge economies in Europe by 2030.
Press Contact
Kerry McGarvey, Invent Programme Manager
Kerry.mcgarvey@catalyst-inc.org
Telephone: 02890737792