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News 2025
AxisBIC Entrepreneurship Award Celebrates UCC Innovation
On 22 April, AxisBIC presented its annual Entrepreneurship Award to three outstanding undergraduate students from UCC’s School of Computer Science and Information Technology.
Now in its fifth year, the award aims to foster entrepreneurial spirit among final-year Computer Science and Data Science & Analytics students and highlight the commercial potential of their final year research projects. UCC’s School of Computer Science & IT would like to express appreciation to AxisBIC for their continued collaboration.
Nine strong applications were ultimately narrowed down to three finalists. The top prize was awarded to Daniel Cagney for his innovative project, PortSense. Second and third place winners were Amy Craven and Peter Hyland, both final year BSc Computer Science students, who also impressed the judges.
Daniel’s inspiration came from his research into Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) at the National Maritime College of Ireland. Observing how digital navigation standards are disrupting a traditionally analog industry, Daniel identified a gap in real-time route planning for vessels operating in depth-constrained harbours.
PortSense offers a real-time route planning solution that leverages bathymetric and tidal data to improve efficiency and safety in maritime navigation. The system enables just-in-time arrivals and smarter berth allocation by dynamically adapting to navigational constraints such as changing tides and depths.
“This project develops a weighted A* algorithm that optimises vessel routes using bathymetric raster data, dynamically adjusting paths based on depth, tide levels, and navigational constraints,” said Daniel. “Additionally, the algorithm supports autonomous navigation by integrating machine-readable, AI-driven decision-making processes, allowing for safer and more efficient passage planning.”
Declan Fox, AxisBIC, Judge chair commented:
"AxisBIC is proud to sponsor the Annual Entrepreneurship Award and to encourage entrepreneurship among final-year students. The standard of entries this year was exceptionally high, making our decision a challenging one. We firmly believe that each of the three finalists possesses the potential to create something truly remarkable. Daniel's application stood out as a winner as he was able to demonstrate his deep knowledge and the early validation of his system within the maritime industry. The software platform he is building has wider market opportunities for the efficient management and optimal utilisation of unmanned maritime fleets which is a large and fast growing market as well.”
Prof Dirk Pesch, Head of School said:
“The School of Computer Science and Information Technology is grateful to AxisBIC for sponsoring this Entrepreneurship Award. Computer Science is at the core of a wide range of innovations that are completely transforming how we live and work in the modern world. AI is driving innovation, and Daniel’s winning project demonstrates how AI-based algorithms have the potential to transform how industry operates and increase efficiency, safety and enhance sustainability, in this case of maritime operations. By sponsoring the entrepreneurship award, AxisBIC supports UCC’s drive to encourage entrepreneurial thinking in our students and motivate them to use their learning to help innovate and make our world more sustainable.”
About AxisBIC
AxisBIC explores and collaborates to drive innovation, identifying innovative entrepreneurs and provide support and essential business expertise. They collaborate to prepare founders for investment and growth, unlocking opportunities within an extensive network of partners, fellow entrepreneurs and investors. AxisBIC is empowering high growth entrepreneurs and scaling businesses to drive positive impact in Clare, Cork, Kerry and Limerick. At AxisBIC the purpose is to ensure entrepreneurs grow and succeed.