200 students from Secondary schools from across Ireland will come together on March 25th for the third annual ‘Ideas Made Real’ Transition Year final, a national STEM event that highlights the creativity, innovation and problem-solving skills of transition year students as they present projects developed over the course of the academic year.
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.
‘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, including IMR representatives Tamara Wierks (Director of Learning & Development at IMR), Barry Kennedy CEO of IMR, Gustavo Cainelli (Precision Engineering Learning & Business Development Specialist) and John Enright Director of Manufacturing Technology, alongside external judges Luana Raggi (Senior Instructional Designer at Novartis Ireland, Audrey Madden of Keogh’s and Michelle Lambert of Fastrack into Information Technology (FIT) before an awards ceremony recognises the most innovative and impactful work.
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.
Speaking about the event, Barry Kennedy, CEO of IMR, says, “Events like the Ideas Made Real Showcase highlight the incredible creativity, curiosity and problem-solving ability of young people across Ireland. 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.”
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.
Speaking ahead of the event, IMR Programme Coordinator Emma Treacy said that the showcase represents an important milestone for students. “Ideas Made Real offers students the opportunity to bring an idea from concept to prototype and present it to industry experts, which gives participants a real sense of achievement and a clearer understanding of how their skills can translate into future careers and a real badge of honour for the CVs for the competition winners.”
Notable 2026 project highlights include innovative products designed by the students at St. Mary’s in Mallow, which are very conscious of having accessibility as their main focus, having studied empathy mapping in regard to design thinking. Stay Sharp from Summerhill College in Sligo also stands out for technical feasibility and execution.
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.
The overall sponsors of the programme are: Glennon Brothers Co., Decotek, Mergon, Keogh’s Brennan’s, EPS Water, and FactoryXChange are the funding partners. Ideas Made Real forms a key part of IMR’s outreach work and reflects its wider mission to empower the makers of tomorrow by equipping young people with the tools, knowledge and confidence to engage with the technologies shaping the future. To check out some of the ideas, see https://imr.ie/
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