Biomedical Engineering Students and Staff Shine at Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneur Awards

The University of Limerick has scooped three student awards and an academic award at the 42^nd Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneur Awards held recently at University College Cork.

Sponsored by Enterprise Ireland as well as Cruickshank, Grant Thornton and the Local Enterprise Office, the Student Entrepreneur Awards offer third-level students from all academic disciplines and courses of study the opportunity to realise their entrepreneurial ambitions.

The Cruickshank High Achieving Merit Award and €5,000 went to Ablatepure, a project team created by UL students Robbie Walsh, Sean Morrissey and Jack Redfern as part of their ME in Biomedical Engineering at UL. Ablatepure has developed a medical device which can be used as part of a new breast cancer treatment method, enabling greater cosmetic outcomes for patients while maintaining industry-standard tumour regression rates.

Two other project teams created by UL Biomedical Engineering students also received merit awards on the evening, CuraBal which has developed a device to prevent lung collapse due to pleural disorder tube thoracostomy and CervaGlove a tenaculum cover designed to prevent pain, bleeding and lacerations to the cervix.

These projects were developed as part of the Medical Device Design modules taken by 4^th year UL Biomedical Engineering students. The modules are delivered by Prof Michael Walsh, Dr John Mulvihill and Dr Tara Dalton. The Enterprise Ireland Academic Award, recognising the contribution of third-level project supervisors, was awarded to University of Limerick Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Engineering, Dr John Mulvihill representing the module team.

Along with the prize money, the winners will also benefit from comprehensive business advice and mentoring from Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Office, Intellectual Property consultancy and protection from Cruickshank and business plan development from Grant Thornton.

Speaking at the awards ceremony at University College, Cork, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney, TD, said:

“The innovation and scope of projects in this year’s Student Entrepreneur Awards is remarkable.  We’ve seen 10 shortlisted projects bringing new thinking and innovation to areas such as sustainability, healthcare, infant gifts, sportswear and SME marketing.  The quality of entries is a credit to the student entrepreneurs, their academic supervisors and their institutions.  Today’s awards celebrate the thriving entrepreneurial spirit in the third-level sector in Ireland and I want to acknowledge the role that the sponsors play in showcasing this ambition and talent of our young entrepreneurs and I look forward to following the success of this year’s entrepreneurs in the coming months and years.”

Richard Murphy, Manager LEO Support, Policy & Co-ordination Unit, Enterprise Ireland said:

“Fostering the next generation of Irish entrepreneurs is a priority for us at Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices and it is great to be here on what is the 42nd year of these awards.  We’ve seen a remarkable slate of shortlisted projects from very ambitious and innovative teams, supported by their academic institutions.  These Awards are an important milestone in these young entrepreneurs’ business journey providing them with a platform and resources to explore the potential of their ideas and the opportunity to turn these into thriving businesses.”

The winner of the Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneur of the Year award was FinalBend, a sustainable affordable sportswear company, based in Cork. The company was founded by University College, Cork student and Quercus Scholar, Emma Coffey.

A full list of the University of Limerick Award Winners can be found below:

The Enterprise Ireland & Cruickshank High Achieving Merit Award and €5,000 went to AblatePure 

• Finalist Team Name:  AblatePure 
• Student Name: Robbie Walsh, Sean Morrissey, Jack Redfern

Academic Prize:

• The Enterprise Ireland Academic Award, recognising the contribution of third-level project supervisor, was awarded to University of Limerick lecturer in Biomedical Engineering, Dr John Mulvihill.

Merit awards from the University of Limerick

• Finalist Team Name:  CuraBal 
• Student Name: John Quirke, Brian Bolger, Mobeen Abdulha, Jake O'Malley

• Finalist Team Name:  CervaGlove
• Student Name: Róisín Clancy, Jane Casey, Sarah O’Rourke, Aoife McGowan