Pictured at the THINKTECH awards ceremony were judges Terence O'Rourke Chairman of Enterprise Ireland, Mark Adair from our Commercial team and Deirdre Mortell, CEO Social Innovation Fund Ireland.

THINKTECH, a €1 million challenge project to foster ideas for a better Ireland, announced the overall award recipients at an awards ceremony at Google’s EMEA HQ in Dublin on 7 December 2016. The THINKTECH initiative is a collaboration between Social Innovation Fund Ireland and Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google and is supported by Minister for Housing, Planning, Community & Local Government, Simon Coveney, TD.

Mark Adair, from our Commercial team, joined an independent panel of judges comprising business and social sector leaders in Dublin, that interviewed the THINKTECH finalists. Other members of the judging panel included Rosheen McGuckian, CEO, NTR plc & SIFI Board member, Terence O’Rourke, Chairman of Enterprise Ireland, Bobbie Bergin, Director of Corporate Affairs, AIB, Andrew Dunckelman, Google.org and Deirdre Mortell, CEO, Social Innovation Fund Ireland.

The three winning finalists will each receive over €200,000 in financial and non-financial grants and join a five-month accelerator programme:

The Alone Platform – enhances the quality of life of older people and those who care for them by helping them to self-manage their living conditions and strengthen their support network.

Foodcloud – combats food waste and hunger by using technology to connect retailers with charities.

iScoil - educating early school leavers and socially disadvantaged young people through a personalised online education programme.

An early-stage award of €100,000 and membership of the accelerator programme was granted to Space Engagers, which tackles homelessness through digital mapping.

For more information on the 2016 THINKTECH awards, please click here.

The content of this article is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute legal or other advice.