‘Young Innovator of the Year’ Award announced for Enterprise Ireland’s Innovation Arena competition at the 2026 National Ploughing Championships

L--R: James Maloney, Innovation Arena Project Manager, Enterprise Ireland; Anna May McHugh, Managing Director of the NPA; and Mark Christal, Executive Director, Enterprise Ireland.

• Young Innovator of the Year’ award added to this year’s competition, and will include entries from second and third-level students
• Deadline for entries for this year’s competition extended to Thursday 7^th May
• Opportunity for Irish agri innovators to participate in one of Europe’s largest outdoor events
• ‘Helping Irish Agri Business Go Global’ is the focus of this year’s exhibition and competition

A ‘Young Innovator of the Year’ award has been announced for this year’s Enterprise Ireland's Innovation Arena competition at the 2026 National Ploughing Championships, recognising new innovations from the next generation which will help to futureproof the sector and deliver sustainable changes.

Enterprise Ireland’s Innovation Arena, hosted annually in partnership with the National Ploughing Association (NPA), is one of the most visited exhibitions at the National Ploughing Championships, and this year it will focus on ‘Helping Irish Agri Business Go Global’.  

Irish innovators are synonymous with agriculture around the world, and have an established reputation for delivering pioneering and groundbreaking solutions for shared global challenges, such as animal health and nutrition, strengthening food security, and addressing sustainable practises. 

The addition of the ‘Young Innovator of the Year’ award to the 2026 competition will place a renewed focus on how the next generation are harnessing advancements in science and technology to deliver innovations, products and services which will help to deliver efficiencies across the sector. And entries for this award will also be accepted from second and third-level students.

Announcing the return of the ‘Young Innovator of the Year’ award to this year’s competition, James Maloney, Innovation Arena Project Manager at Enterprise Ireland, said: “We are really excited about this category as so many of this talented generation of innovators are harnessing tools and technologies to deliver cutting-edge solutions with the potential to solve complex global challenges, and we look forward to giving some of these exciting innovations a platform at one of Europe’s largest outdoor events.”

Enterprise Ireland is committed to supporting Irish-owned companies to start and scale, and to grow in global markets. The long-term ambition of our strategy, ‘Delivering for Ireland, Leading Globally (2025-2029)’, is that Irish exporters, including agri innovators, will become the primary driver of the Irish economy.

The Innovation Arena at the National Ploughing Championship offers these innovators the opportunity to showcase their pioneering solutions to visitors, and to engage with customers and international buyers at one of Europe’s largest outdoor events.

With four categories in this year’s Innovation Arena competition, applications are now being invited from Irish-owned companies and innovators who are delivering future-focused solutions with the ability to deliver sustainable changes in the sector, by bringing new innovative practises and efficiencies which can address costs and help to secure global agriculture and food supply chains.

The other three awards in this year’s competition includes the ‘Start-Up Innovator of the Year’ award, which has a €10,000 prize as well as mentoring and specialist supports from Enterprise Ireland advisors. The ‘Green Impact Award’ is for a company whose solution is focused on driving sustainable progress in the sector and securing it for future generations, while the Enterprise Ireland ‘Innovation Arena Champion Award’ is for established companies with a focus on scaling and innovation and who are exploring new global opportunities.

The deadline for entries for this year’s competition has been extended to 5pm on Thursday 7^th May, and successful applicants will be offered an exhibition space within the Enterprise Ireland Innovation Arena at the National Ploughing Championships, which is returning to Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly from 15^th to 17^th September.  

The live competition will also return to this year’s Innovation Arena, and 12 finalists- three per category- will be selected to participate in a live pitching competition in front of a panel of judges and audience on the first day of the National Ploughing Championships.

Mark Christal, Executive Director for Sectoral and Client Solutions at Enterprise Ireland, said: “Enterprise Ireland is committed to supporting pioneering Irish businesses to achieve sustainable growth and to create high-quality jobs across all regions, and this includes our agri innovators who have an established reputation as being global leaders in their field. 

“Helping our innovative enterprise base to be more competitive, to increase productivity and to achieve their global ambitions not only contributes to the Irish economy, but it helps to build sustainable communities around the country. Our agri focused entrepreneurs are at the heart of that, by growing jobs in local communities, and delivering solutions which address a range of global challenges, including animal health and nutrition, strengthening food security and supply chains, and addressing sustainable and efficient practises.”

Anna May McHugh, NPA Managing Director, said: “The Innovation Arena remains an important feature of the National Ploughing Championships, highlighting Irish innovators who are making a positive impact both at home and abroad. We are pleased to continue our partnership with Enterprise Ireland for 2026. The Arena provides a valuable platform for Irish agritech businesses to showcase their solutions and connect with industry and international audiences.”

The Enterprise Ireland hosted ‘Agritech Hub’ exhibition space also returns to this year’s Innovation Arena, giving Irish agritech entrepreneurs the important opportunity to exhibit within the National Ploughing Championships, which last year attracted 225,500 visitors, including an Enterprise Ireland hosted delegation of international buyers who met with agri innovators and exhibitors in the Innovation Arena and across the site over the course of the three days.

James Maloney, Innovation Arena Project Manager, Enterprise Ireland, added: “Enterprise Ireland’s Innovation Arena is an institution in the agritech calendar. It is now an established platform which fosters the development of agri focused innovations, and gives our entrepreneurs and innovators the opportunity to meet face to face with potential customers and key stakeholders at this renowned international event.”

To enter this year’s Innovation Arena Awards, please visit:
https://www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/innovation-arena

The closing date for entries has been extended to 5pm on Thursday 7^th May 2026.

For more information:

Innovation Arena Awards – innovationarena@enterprise-ireland.com 

Media queries – press@enterprise-ireland.com