Research & Innovation

Entrepreneurship, cybercrime and cyberwar will be amongst the topics under discussion at a series of events at Cork Institute of Technology’s (CIT) Innovation Week, which will take place 10-14 March on its Bishopstown campus.

One feature of Innovation Week is the CIT Prize for Innovation Competition.

This year marks 12 years of the competition, sponsored by the Cork County and City Enterprise Boards.

The competition features an exhibition of innovation and enterprise at third level. Last year’s winners were the college’s multimedia students, Paul Shannon, Mark Fitzsimons and Ronan DeLacy of Mapr, a developer of software to enable stroke patients to perform exercises prescribed by their physiotherapists.

Other highlights will be seen on Tuesday, when there will be a seminar on The Current State of Cybercrime and Cyberwar, with speakers including Robert McArdle of Trend Micro, Darius Whelan, lecturer in law at UCC, and Ralph Riegel, regional correspondent with Independent News and Media.

The talk will focus on the history of cybercrime and cyberwar in the world today and will also look at how issues will continue to evolve over the next two years and beyond.

On the final day, the School of Business at CIT will host an ‘APP-rentice’ competition, looking for some of the best app designs but with the added bonus of being available to all, as no programming or technical experience is required to enter the contest.

According to Carol O’Leary, industry liaison manager at CIT, the week is all about encouraging everyone in the college and outside to think with an entrepreneurial frame of mind.

“The rationale behind the week is to promote innovation and entrepreneurship amongst staff and students and the wider business community,” she said.