Big Idea - Big Success!
More than 180 applications from every corner of Northern Ireland and from primary school to PhD were received for this year's Big Idea competition - the flagship event of Global Entrepreneurship Week. The Advantage programme supported by Invest NI, DEL and DENI culminated in a gala final that saw Minister for Enterprise, Arlene Foster joined by senior departmental representatives and TV host Myleene Klass to present the winners with their awards. Representatives of international judging panels in Invest NI global offices addressed the 250 strong audience and announced the winners via video links from Mumbai, Dubai, Shanghai, Brussels and Boston. The winners received the funding to put the idea into practice and a business development or business education visit to an international market.
Gerry Ford, Director of Advantage said: "The Big Idea was designed to challenge young people right across Northern Ireland to come forward with creative and innovative ideas that were not just commercially viable but that could also have a positive impact on their place of learning, business or wider community. The Big Idea proves that entrepreneurship and innovative thinking is alive and well in Northern Ireland's young people, and with the winners receiving awards such as a VIP trip to the New York Stock Exchange on the invite of the CEO - who knows what future Big Ideas will come from such an experience?"
Host Myleene Klass
The Big Idea Final Winners and Runners Up 2008 are as follows.....
Primary Schools:
Winners - Portstewart
To Organise a 'Portstewart Film Festival' that will showcase a number of short films produced entirely by the talents and expertise of pupils. The event will create a stimulating and creative environment in which the pupils' work will find a meaningful purpose and an appreciative yet critical audience.
Runners Up - Forthriver
To design and sell cards for all occasions, from birthdays to special occasions and holidays. Each card will carry information on the back from the Forum for Action against Substance Abuse (FASA), their work and their contact details in order to help tackle the growing problem of substance abuse in their area.
Secondary Schools:
Winners - Abbey Christian Brothers
A handheld device (The Little Linker) that plays music, which children hold onto while walking to and from school or when on school trips etc. It will alert the teacher by stopping the music should a child let go of the device.
Runners Up - Friends
To develop a re-useable bag to encourage people to stop using plastic bags. Bags can be customisable with profits going towards the maintenance of the school ecosystem.
Colleges:
Winners - South West College ( John Moore)
To collect waste paper and compress it into briquette form that can be used in open fires and stoves etc, as an alternative to traditional fuel sources.
Runners Up - Southern Regional College
To set up a Plaque Art business, producing unique, handmade Award Plaques for the Southern Regional College.
Universities:
Winners - Tactility Factory
To develop the mass market interest in girli concrete, in order to attract potential partners to whom Tactility Factory can licence the technology and process.
Runners Up - Sophia
To develop the Sophia Search product to increase its usage in the Life Science Sector.
Social Entrepreneurs:
Winners - Music Theatre 4 Youth
To make the first step in making MT4Uth and All- Ireland Company by exporting the business model into the Republic of Ireland.
Runners Up - SOS Bus NI
To provide a Mobile ICT Training Unit in areas of social deprivation. An innovative way to deliver ICT to communities across all age groups and to inspire those most vulnerable in society in a comfortable, interactive learning environment.
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The Big Idea Finalists 2008 are as follows....
Primary Schools:
Forthriver P.S.
Carrickfergus Model P.S.
Portstewart P.S.
St Colmcille's, Omagh
Killard House
Secondary Schools:
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Friends School
The Ballynahinch Group
Abbey Christian Brothers Grammar School
Thornhill College Derry
Colleges:
Belfast Metropolitan College- Jeanette Sproule
NWRC- Rita Brady
SERC- Neil Spiers
SRC- Louise Mulholland
SWC- John Moore
SWC- Rory O'Loughlin
Universities:
Causeway Data Communications Ltd.
Event Map Ltd.
Amphora
Sengenia Ltd.
SOPHIA Search
Tactility Factory
Social Entrepreneurs:
Music Theatre 4 Youth
Netherlea
Positive Percussions
Blick Shared Studio
The Creativity Hub
SOS Bus NI
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The Big Idea Regional Runners Up 2008 are as follows.....
Primary Schools:
Blackmountain P.S
Kings Park P.S
St Annes P.S Strabane
St Francis P.S
Secondary Schools:
Fleming Fulton
Dunclug
Bangor Grammar
St. Patrick's Academy
Foyle & LDerry Senior
Colleges:
SRC- Stephen Rogan
SRC- Gerard O'Donnell
NWRC- Niall Maxwell
SERC- Natalie Bailie
SERC- Kelly Robinson
NRC- Andrew Mitchell
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Contact:Advantage-NI
Tel: 028 9093 0047
E-mail: info@thebigidea-ni.com
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