The National Ploughing Championships held in Ireland is one of Europe’s largest outdoor agricultural trade exhibitions. The National Ploughing Association (NPA), organisers of the Annual Ploughing Championships, have teamed up with The Irish Farmers Journal and Enterprise Ireland to recognise and reward outstanding innovation in the agricultural sector in the NPA Innovation Arena.
Overview National Ploughing Association (NPA) Innovation Arena Awards
Innovation is one of the principles on which the Innovation Arena was founded and the competition for awards is at the heart of our event.
Each year the NPA Innovation Arena receives extensive media coverage as the world looks to Ireland to lead innovation for the agriculture sector; improving farming practices in Ireland and beyond.
The NPA Innovation Arena puts inventions from Ireland on show to the world and helps establish their success by introducing them to the marketplace and facilitating networks that will help them take steps towards achieving commercial success. We’ve seen a number of individuals and companies launch new products and innovations at the NPA Innovation Arena, going on to achieve global success. Approved entrants will showcase their innovations in the NPA Innovation Arena at the heart of the National Ploughing Championship.
The NPA Innovation Arena is the ideal place to demonstrate ground-breaking developments, whether they are back-yard inventions or professional innovations, to thousands of Innovation Arena visitors.
Innovators from the following industry sectors are encouraged to enter: dairy and dry-stock farming, horticulture, information and communication technology, cloud and mobile based software, animal health and genetics, water and waste management, environment and clean-tech, animal and farm management, farm safety and leading research.
With a range of categories in which to enter, and a competition structure that supports Irish ingenuity at all levels, The NPA Innovation Arena is the perfect place to launch your new innovations.
Applications for The NPA Innovation Arena close
Friday, 1st May 2015, at 3 p.m.
The Prize Fund
The 2015 NPA Innovation Arena prize fund now totals over €65,000 in supports. Awards will be presented to the top Innovations in the following categories:
- Animal Health
- Agri-Software
- Agri-Engineering
- Safety
- Young Innovator Bursary to visit Agritechnica in Hannover, Germany in November 2015.
In addition, the Overall Award Winner will receive a top prize worth €15,000 from Enterprise Ireland and The Irish Farmers Journal which includes advertising and PR Support, mentoring and a cash prize of €5,000.
All finalists will receive €500 worth of www.toplink.ie advertising vouchers to promote your innovation through the Irish Farmers Journal.
Am I eligible?
The NPA Innovation Arena provides an ideal opportunity for startup enterprises or small and medium businesses to introduce new products to the Irish and European market.
The NPA Ploughing Championship show is a great place to test the market and to capitalise on the interaction with industry buyers, agri-leaders, and visitors who flock to see new ideas shaping the agricultural landscape.
Criteria for New Innovations
- The innovation must be of strong Agricultural/Horticultural relevance;
- The innovation must have been released for sale after NPA Innovation Arena 2014 (September 2014), or is intended to be launched at NPA Innovation Arena 2015.
Consideration will be given to overseas innovations where distribution has taken place to the Irish market over the same time frame.
How to Apply
Please complete your application form as accurately as possible. The information you provide will determine your acceptance into the Innovations Arena. Uncompleted applications will not be accepted and a photo of your innovation must be attached. Your application will be reviewed by the Innovations Panel and you will be notified by email of your progress. If you are accepted, full payment is required before you are confirmed as a participant. The cost to enter The NPA Innovation Arena is €250 per entry. Completed applications will receive an email confirming your entry.
Closing Date for Applications
Applications must be submitted online before the closing date of 3 p.m. Friday, May 1st 2015.
There is an entry fee of €250 entry fee per innovation, only payable once your innovation has been selected.
For more information, please contact:
 | Innovation Arena |
Tel: +353 90 6487100 (9am - 5pm) Tel: 090 6487100 (9am - 5pm)
