UCC and Matheson Host Hackathon to Foster Innovation

24 Oct 2023

The inaugural UCC and Matheson Hackathon took place at UCC on Wednesday 18th October, as part of the UCC and Matheson Innovation Partnership. Combining legal, technology and business expertise, participants came together to generate innovative ideas and explore emerging technologies. 

Over 40 students from a range of academic backgrounds including law, commerce, data analytics and finance, attended the event, which was focussed on the theme 'Munster is, and can continue to be, internationally recognised as a destination of choice for organisations and talent to thrive'. The hackathon provided both undergraduate and postgraduate students the opportunity to showcase their creativity, technical skills and innovative thinking. 

Representatives from leading Munster-based organisations including PepsiCo, Qualcomm, Enterprise Ireland, Alter Domus, Stryker, Cork Chamber, Deutsche Börse and BNY Mellon participated as mentors for the teams and, together with Eoin Motherway, Independent Chair and INED, joined as speakers in a panel discussion led by Grainne Callanan, partner and Head of Matheson's Cork Office. Featuring an opening address by Ursula Kilkelly, UCC, the hackathon was moderated by Rory O'Keeffe, partner in Matheson's Technology and Innovation Group. Dennis Blanck, Westbourne IT Global Services, Deirdre Crowley, partner in Matheson's Commercial Litigation Group and Sean Ó Conaill, UCC School of Law, formed the judging panel.

Congratulations to the winning team of Bruno Traverso, Luke Kirrane, Shauna Dalton, Jacob O'Brien, Alyson O’Kelly-Lynch and Shyamala V K. Their winning idea centred on the creation of an AI Village as part of a Munster Innovation Hub.