STEM Entrepreneurship camp

June 9-13th saw 33 TY and 5th year students from Waterford, Wexford, Tipperary, Kilkenny, Carlow, Limerick and Kildare take part in the 5th annual STEM Entrepreneurship camp which was funded by the HEA. Led by Calmast, SETU’s STEM Engagement Centre, and working with Rikon Business Development Unit, SETU, The Growth Hub and Arc Labs, the students explored the world of innovation, and entrepreneurship coupled with Science and Engineering, introducing students to the innovative process of design thinking.

Throughout the week, the students heard from Entrepreneurs form the region –Padraig O’Scanaill from fundrecs.com, John Barron from GoChallenge, and Michael O Keeffe from Fijowave who spoke to the students about their companies, their entrepreneurial journey, and offered guidance and advice to the students. The students learnt problem-solving skills, and were introduced to new areas of Science, Technology, Business, Enterprise, Engineering and Maths through the lens of sustainability and climate action. The students were also tasked with developing a product or campaign to develop sustainability in a number of specified communities culminating in a “Dragons Den” type of event, where the students pitched their ideas to leading local Entrepreneurs.