Their inspiring idea earned them the top prize in a new award created by the Local Enterprise Offices in collaboration with Microsoft.

A new award spotlighting early-stage innovation

The Student Enterprise Innovator of the Year Award was launched to recognise the creativity and problem-solving skills emerging from Ireland’s Student Enterprise Programme, which engages almost 30,000 secondary school students annually.

Gareth Evans, Head of Student Enterprise at the Local Enterprise Offices, reflected on the significance of the new award during the final held in Microsoft Dream Space.

“This award is about catching ambition at the spark stage,” he said. “When a young person has an idea – maybe just a sketch or a prototype – that’s the moment we want to support. Being able to collaborate with Microsoft brings world-class skills and tools into that journey, and that has been transformative for students.”

The event brought together five finalist teams from across Ireland to Dream Space, where they took part in mentor-led workshops on AI in business, intellectual property and live pitching, before presenting to a panel of judges.

Empowering students to turn ideas into action

For Microsoft Ireland, supporting the award is part of the company’s commitment to helping young people to develop the confidence and STEM skills they need to thrive in the workplaces of the future.

Speaking at the event, Joanne Morrissey, Senior HR Director at Microsoft Ireland, shared her perspective on why this is so important: “At Microsoft, we believe that the earlier we encourage curiosity, creativity and confidence around STEM skills and technology, the better prepared young people will be for the future,” she said. “Watching these students experiment, iterate and bring their ideas to life – that’s exactly the kind of learning-by-doing that stays with you for life.”

She continued, “By bringing the Student Enterprise Programme and Microsoft Dream Space together, we have created a space where ideas can flourish and where young people have an engaging opportunity to develop the skills they need for the future. It was incredibly inspiring to see the work of each of the finalists in bringing their projects to life.”

The finalists shaping Ireland’s innovation future

Alongside Access4All, four other inspiring student enterprises reached the national final:

  • GradeMate (St. Muredach’s College, Mayo) — an AI-powered platform offering exam-standard feedback for English students.
  • Crius AI (Patrician Academy, North Cork) — an operational intelligence tool delivering real-time insights for hospitality and construction businesses.
  • PlantRight Ireland (St. Andrew’s College, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown) — an environmental app helping users identify optimal tree-planting locations.
  • Adhessia (Adamstown Community College, South Dublin) — a pioneering surgical adhesive designed for wet, dynamic internal environments.

Each finalist received a certificate of participation, while the winners took home a specially commissioned trophy and a €500 investment voucher to help develop their idea.

Supporting Ireland’s future entrepreneurs

The Student Enterprise Programme – funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland and delivered by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices – continues to be the country’s largest student start-up initiative. More than 500,000 students have taken part since its inception, with participants competing across Junior, Intermediate and Senior categories before progressing to county, regional and national finals.

This year’s National Finals will take place on 7 May, where the Student Enterprise of the Year 2026 will be announced.

Local Enterprise Week, which hosted the Innovator of the Year final, featured more than 300 events nationwide from 2–6 March, supporting entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey.

The future is bright

It’s clear from the discussions and presentations at the event that Ireland’s young innovators are already thinking boldly about the future. Their ideas, which solve real-world challenges, from accessibility to sustainability, reflect a bright and inspiring future for the next generation.

By supporting the Student Enterprise Innovator of the Year Award, Microsoft Ireland is contributing to its broader ambition to ‘Skill Up Ireland’, empowering people across the country to develop the essential AI and digital skills for the future.

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