Secondary schools’ students from across Ireland will come together on the 25th March for the ‘Ideas Made Real’ transition year final, a national STEM event.
Taking place at the Explorium Science and Sport Centre in Dublin, the event marks the culmination of the Ideas Made Real programme, an initiative by Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) that introduces secondary school students to modern manufacturing, engineering and innovation.
Launched in September 2023, the programme blends STEM learning with practical application, encouraging students to work collaboratively to design and develop solutions to real-world challenges.
“Events like the ‘Ideas Made Real’ showcase highlight the incredible creativity, curiosity and problem-solving ability of young people across Ireland,” Barry Kennedy, CEO of IMR, said.
He added: “at IMR, we are passionate about nurturing the next generation of innovators by giving students the opportunity to help solve real-world challenges with emerging technologies. It’s inspiring to see the level of ingenuity and teamwork on display, and this programme plays an important role in building the skills, confidence and ambition in our students who will shape the future of the Irish manufacturing industry.”
‘Ideas Made Real’ is designed not only to build technical skills but also to foster confidence, creativity and collaboration.
By connecting students with industry mentors and exposing them to advanced manufacturing technologies, the programme provides valuable insight into potential career pathways and helps bridge the gap between education and industry.
The transition year students, alongside their teachers, judges, IMR staff and programme sponsors, will attend the final, where student teams will present prototypes, posters and 3D-printed components developed through projects such as the 3D Printing Challenge.
Throughout the day, projects will be assessed by a panel of internal and external judges drawn from industry and academia.
The event is structured to give students the experience of a professional exhibition environment, beginning with a welcome and orientation session, followed by a series of judging rotations in which teams present and defend their ideas.
After a period of deliberation, the event will conclude with an awards ceremony celebrating the effort, ingenuity and teamwork demonstrated across the programme.
The event reflects the diversity and reach of the initiative, with schools travelling from across the country to participate.
Alongside the technical achievements on display, the showcase highlights personal stories of perseverance, teamwork and problem-solving, underscoring the broader impact of the programme on student development; having created a wearable claw device to assist individuals with limited hand mobility, particularly people with Parkinson’s disease, dementia, and elderly users.
Six awards will be presented on the day, recognising a range of achievements across the projects. These include awards for Innovation and Creativity, Technical Execution & Feasibility, Real-world impact & Sustainability, Presentation & Communication, and Team Collaboration.
The overall winner, sponsored by Dekotech, will also receive a special prize, with the winning team set for a day out at Emerald Park.
Patryk Goron
Ltd
