Enterprise Ireland and Toplink set the challenge for Innovators at Ploughing 2014

Enterprise Ireland and the Irish Farmers Journal Toplink.ie website have joined forces with the National Ploughing Association this year to bring a completely new look and feel to the Innovations Arena. Launching the new look innovation arena in the Enterprise Ireland head office recently, a call went out to all innovators to submit their idea before the deadline of 14^th July.

This year the layout of the Arena will change to include consultation booths and a forum centre. Enterprise Ireland will be providing staff to assist with general enquiries, the Patent’s Office will have a stand and Toplink.ie will be offering media campaign advice. The best innovations will be exhibited in the completely new look Innovations Arena that is set to be a centre attraction of this year’s National Ploughing Championships in September.

Innovators are invited to apply online from 12^th June and the finalists selected to participate at the National Ploughing Championships will be catalogued on the Irish Farmers Journal in early August. They will then have the opportunity to showcase their innovation during the National Ploughing Championships week from 23^rd – 25^th September in Ratheniska, Co. Laois.

The top innovator will receive a prize of €1,500 from Toplink.ie towards the costs of attending the British LAMMA Show, with their innovation, in January 2015.  They will also receive valuable business development support mentoringfrom Enterprise Ireland and a free stand at the 2015 National Ploughing Championships.

All finalists will receive Toplink.ie advertising vouchers to promote their innovation on the Irish Farmers Journal’s advertising website www.toplink.ie bringing the overall value of the overall prize fund for the new Ploughing 2014 Innovation Awards to close to €50,000.

To apply please go to www.enterprise-ireland.com/innovationarena  where you will see the conditions for Entry and process details.  Applications close on 14^th July 2014 and the list of successful finalists will be published in the IFJ on August 9.