A wide-ranging selection of tech companies, from drone software to med-tech have today been announced among the winners of the inaugural North–South Business Cooperation Awards, a €500,000 programme launched by the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation to celebrate cross-border entrepreneurship on the island of Ireland.
The Awards, which culminated in a high-profile ceremony at Castle Leslie Estate, Co. Monaghan, saw a total of nine entrepreneurs and entrepreneur businesses in partnership, recognised for their outstanding achievements in building businesses that bridge communities in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The Awards attracted a large volume of entries from across the island, with businesses demonstrating genuine cross-border collaboration and trade. Eligible companies were required to show a meaningful presence in both jurisdictions while also meeting minimum thresholds for turnover and employment. The result was a highly competitive field that showcased the strength and diversity of entrepreneurship operating across the island of Ireland.
North–South Business Cooperation Awards
A total of €500,000 in cash prizes was awarded: one Gold Award of €150,000, two Silver Awards of €100,000 each, and six Bronze Awards of €25,000 each.
Partnering with Galway-based chocolatier, Grá Chocolates, Northern Irish tech platform needi took home a Silver Award. The female-founded service, created by co-founders Steph Scholes and Louise Doyle to connect businesses with local, independent vendors using AI technology and human curation, was set up in Armagh in 2020. Renewable energy solutions firm Acel Energy also received a Silver Award. The Monaghan-based company designs and implements solar tech, battery-storage and demand-management systems for commercial clients, often under co-ownership or Power Purchase Agreement models.
Among the Bronze Award winners, med-tech companies saw huge success through cross-border partnered entries, with fertility clinics OvaScan Fertility Ultrasound (Dublin) and New Beginnings Scan (Strabane), which each combine advanced ultrasound technology with specialist expertise, taking home prizes through a joint entry. Súil Pharma, a Galway med-tech company developing novel therapies specialising in vision and hearing diseases, and Medinect Ophtho, a Belfast service provider delivering high-quality pre-clinic services, also joined forces to each take home a Bronze Award. Rounding off the joint entries, Subterranean Software, specialising in drone and embedded systems for constrained environments, and Good Friday Robotics, which develops advanced drone robotics for hazardous environments, were each also awarded a Bronze prize.
Other Bronze winners in tech included Cotter Agritech, which develops precision livestock health tools, enabling selective treatment of livestock to reduce chemical usage and improve sustainability, and Arcus Cleaning Systems, an industrial hygiene and automated cleaning solution provider.
Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, creator and owner of the easy family of brands – including easyJet.com, easyHotel.com and many others (see www.easy.com and www.easyHistory.info), and founder and president of the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation (see stelios.foundation and stelios.ie) – personally presented the awards and met the finalists at the ceremony.
Speaking at an event announcing the winners, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, said: “This is a proud day for entrepreneurship on the island of Ireland. The winners we honour today show that when determination, innovation and creativity meet, borders become bridges. These entrepreneurs are not only building successful businesses – they are proving that collaboration across communities leads to prosperity for all. They are creating jobs, delivering services and setting an example for the next generation of entrepreneurs. I hope that their success today will encourage even more entrepreneurs to think ambitiously, work collaboratively, and see the entire island as a place of opportunity.”
The following businesses were recognised this morning:
Gold Award (€150,000):
Juice Jar – a fast-growing juice and healthy food brand born in Belfast, known for its vibrant energy, acai bowls, smoothies, matcha, and coffee.
Silver Awards (€100,000):
Grá Chocolates/Needi – A partnership between Grá Chocolates, an artisan chocolatier crafting hand-painted, small-batch luxury chocolates, and Needi, a technology platform that specialises in corporate gifting.
Acel Energy – A renewable energy solutions company that designs and implements solar PV, battery storage, and demand management systems for commercial and industrial clients seeking to reduce carbon emissions and energy costs.
Bronze Award (€25,000 each):
OvaScan Fertility Ultrasound & New Beginnings Scan – Fertility scan clinics combining advanced ultrasound technology with specialist medical expertise. The clinics operate across Dublin and Strabane, providing tailored support to individuals and couples on their fertility journeys.
Arcus Cleaning Systems – An industrial hygiene company providing automated cleaning and sanitation solutions designed to improve safety, efficiency, and environmental performance across various sectors.
Cotter Agritech – An ag-tech company developing precision livestock management and health tools that help farmers reduce costs, improve animal welfare, and lower environmental impact through data-driven innovation.
Subterranean Software & Good Friday Robotics – A partnership between two innovative technology companies developing advanced drone and robotic systems for hazardous and constrained environments.
Park Life – A premium pet-brand business that designs and produces high-quality, natural pet treats and wellness products, blending scientific research with playful branding to enhance pet health and happiness.
Súil Pharma & Medinect Ophtho – A cross-border med-tech partnership between Súil Pharma, a Galway-based biotechnology company developing novel therapies for vision diseases, and MediNect Ophtho, a Belfast-based retinal disease-focused research provider.
Ian Jeffers, Chief Executive of Co-operation Ireland, which partnered on the initiative, added: “Cross-border businesses can play a vital role in building confidence and shared prosperity. Today’s winners reflect a spirit of resilience and innovation that transcends old boundaries. They are showing us what the future of the island can look like, one where partnership and enterprise go hand in hand. These awards are about more than a financial prize – they are about recognising and amplifying the success stories that can inspire others to follow.”
The winners were selected by Sir Stelios from a competitive field of applicants who met strict criteria, including demonstrating significant cross-border trade, achieving a minimum turnover of €200,000/£160,000, and employing at least three staff members.
To learn more about the awards, visit www.stelios.ie and www.stelios.foundation.
About the North–South Business Cooperation Awards
The North–South Business Cooperation Awards Ireland celebrate outstanding cross-border entrepreneurship on the island of Ireland. Backed by the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation and inspired by similar award initiatives in Cyprus, Greece and the UK, the Awards recognise entrepreneurs whose ventures bridge the communities of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. With a total prize fund of €500,000, the Awards offer both recognition and tangible support to foster innovation, job creation and lasting cooperation. The initiative is part of the Foundation’s broader mission to give back to society in places where Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou and his family have lived and worked.
About Stelios Foundation
The Stelios Philanthropic Foundation was established by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou to support a diverse range of charitable activities, primarily in places where he has lived and worked including the UK and Ireland, Greece and Cyprus, France and Monaco. In 2017, Sir Stelios joined the Giving Pledge, the global philanthropic campaign launched by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, committing to donate at least half his fortune to charitable causes. To date, Sir Stelios and his for-profit company easyGroup have donated €122 million to the Foundation, ensuring its work can continue in perpetuity.
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