News

Institute of Technology Carlow Enterprise Spin-out Wins Innovation Award at National Ploughing Championships

21/09/2016

IT Carlow spin-out company, MicroGen Biotech, won a major award at yesterday’s opening day of the National Ploughing Championships, taking Gold in the Sustainable Agriculture Start-Up category of the 2016 Innovation Arena Awards, which were sponsored by Enterprise Ireland, Irish Farmers Journal and the National Ploughing Association.

The Innovation Arena Awards recognise innovative agri-tech capability and new product development in the agriculture sector. Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD made the presentation to Dr. Xuemei Germaine, CEO of MicroGen Biotech, who is a doctoral graduate of Institute of Technology Carlow.

The award is yet another coup for MicroGen Biotech, which was established four years ago as an Irish High-Potential Start-Up (HPSU) spin-out from the EnviroCORE research group at IT Carlow.  Established in 2012, MicroGen Biotech has successfully developed cost-effective and sustainable biotechnologies and products to remediate contaminated soil and water.

This year’s Innovation Arena Awards saw a record 195 applications received with 68 selected to exhibit during the National Ploughing Championships, all of whom were finalists in the competition. Of the finalists, eight are spinout research projects, 12 are established companies and 48 are new start-up entrepreneurial led exhibits. Entries were sought outside of Ireland for the first time this year and entrants from the UK and New Zealand are also participating at this year’s event.

The total prize fund this year was in excess of €70,000 including a top prize worth over €15,000 to the most innovative start-up.
 
Announcing the winners, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD said: “The agriculture sector is of huge importance to the Irish economy providing employment opportunities for over 250,000 people spread all around the country. It remains the heartbeat of the rural Irish economy, one that is clearly beating strongly as it embraces the future and we see it here in the range and quality of innovations on display at the Innovation Arena. I warmly congratulate the winners of these Awards and all of the companies exhibiting in the Innovation Arena and wish them success for the future.”

Denis Duggan, Enterprise Ireland said: “Enterprise Ireland has added a significant international dimension to the Innovation Arena this year with inward buyer visits from more than 15 countries including the US, Canada, Australia, China, Germany, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Poland, South Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia. The Innovation Arena is a strong reflection of the great possibilities that lie in the agricultural sector and we look forward to working with the Award winners as they start, innovate and scale their businesses, growing exports and creating jobs at home in Ireland”.

James Maloney, The Farmers Journal said: “The Innovation Arena at the National Ploughing Championships is Ireland’s premier agri-technology showcase and the Irish Farmers Journal is delighted with the response to this year’s competition. It is great to see farm inventors, start-ups and existing businesses come together to one location with innovation in mind and gives us a good picture of the future possibilities for agriculture”. 

ENDS
For reference: Alma Feeley, Communications Dept. Institute of Technology Carlow
e: alma.feeley@itcarlow.ie t: 059 9175098

Photo Caption:
Pictured at the presentation of the Gold Award in the Sustainable Agriculture Start-Up category of the 2016 Innovation Arena Awards, at the National Ploughing Championships were, from left: Julie Sinnamon, CEO, Enterprise Ireland; Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O'Connor TD; Dr. Xuemei Germaine, CEO, MicroGen Biotech, Mary Jo Hurley, Laboratory Product Development and Research Assistant, MicroGen Biotech, Anna May McHugh, Managing Director/Secretary of the National Ploughing Association and James Maloney, Machinery Editor, Irish Farmers Journal