INVENT
INVENT is an annual competition that celebrates our most exciting innovators and entrepreneurs, giving them an international platform and support to make the greatest impact.
What is INVENT?
INVENT is an annual competition organised by Catalyst with headline partner Bank of Ireland, that celebrates our most exciting innovators and entrepreneurs, giving them an international platform and support to make the greatest impact.
Applications are now closed. Please check back to register your interest.
Who should apply?
Apply for the programme if:
- You have an innovative solution to a problem.
- You’re a student completing a course project that you know is the next big thing.
- You have been working on cutting edge research and now want to commercialise.
- You have a side project and are ready to take the next step.
Now is the time to put your innovation in the spotlight!
Why apply?
By applying for INVENT, you will:
- Market validate your idea
- Unlock a quality network of like-minded peers and mentors
- Fuel your growth
- Get support with your pitch
- Gain high profile exposure and recognition
- Be in with a chance of winning a share of the £55,000 prize fund
Winning INVENT was a huge deal for Dia Beta Labs in terms of validation and exposure. As a therapeutic development company without the ability to demonstrate with prototypes or divulge commercially sensitive information it can sometimes be difficult to generate buzz around what we are doing. However, INVENT gave us something tangible to show off our success and provided us a platform to increase the profile and visibility of the company which has helped in our engagement with investors and potential customers since the win. Indeed, "Oh, you guys won INVENT!" has become a common icebreaker for many of the people we speak with!
Ryan Lafferty, Dia Beta Labs: Overall INVENT 2024 Winner
Headline Partner
2025 Sponsors
Innovation Founders / Impact Award Winners
Martina Tierney
Impact Award 2022
Brendan Monaghan
Innovation Founder 2021
Bloc Blinds ~ SureCert ~ Axial 3D ~ Dr Tara Moore
Innovators Awardees 2020
Denis Murphy
Innovation Founder 2019
John Rainey MBE
Innovation Founder 2018
James Leckey
Innovation Founder 2017
Martin Naughton KBE
Innovation Founder 2016
Brian Conlon
Innovation Founder 2015
Dr William Wright CBE
Innovation Founder 2014
Dr Peter FitzGerald CBE
Innovation Founder 2013
Tom Eakin
Innovation Founder 2012
Dr Hugh Cormican
Innovation Founder 2011
Prof John Anderson
Innovation Founder 2010
Steering Team
Claire Kelly
Catalyst
Clare Passmore
Chair
Colin Crangle
Bank of Ireland
David Brownlee
HSCNI
Jason Wiggins
Queen's University Belfast
Neil Buchanan
ECIT
Lewis Loane
Torann
Bridgeen Callan
Klas PDT Technology
Michael Shaw
RPS
Kat Maguire
Queen's University Belfast
Emma Donnelly
Ulster University
Treena Clarke
Harbinson Mulholland
Jonathan Wallace
Ulster University
Tina O'Donnell
Seagate
Stephen Beck
EY
Judith Maguire
Queen's University Belfast
Carson McDowell
