The event will take place over two days from Friday 20 to Sunday 22 March on the DCU Innovation Campus and will embrace the Internet of Things (IOT), a proposed development of the Internet in which everyday objects have network connectivity, allowing them to send and receive data.

Graduates from all disciplines are welcome with particular emphasis on agriculture, food technology, innovation and design, engineering and software development.

Paul Finnerty, CEO ABP Food Group said: “With more markets opening up for Irish beef around the world, this is an important and exciting time for the beef industry in Ireland. The emergence of the Internet of Things has the potential to impact positively on how we work and operate as a business and an industry. Through this beef Hackathon we want to explore the connection between the Internet of Things and key themes within our industry including nutrition, grass-fed beef, tenderness and consistency as well as processes and farm efficiency. We are looking for opportunities that could further improve the quality of beef in a sustainable way.”

Speaking at the launch of the event, Intel’s Philip Moynagh said: ‘’Hackathons are fast emerging as an optimal way to bring together makers, entrepreneurs, designers, engineers, creators, innovators and developers from across the country to join together for intense sessions dedicated to developing ideas and solving problems’’.

Participants in the Hackathon have the opportunity to win a first place prize of €10,000. Second place winners will receive €5,000, while those in third will win €2,500. The prizes are all sponsored by ABP Food Group. The additional Intel Galileo Award Prize of €5,000 goes to the best maker solution using an Intel Galileo board in the prototype, and is sponsored by Intel Quark Solutions Group.