When it works, it really works.
Last year, we teamed up with the University of Limerick (UL) to run the first Social Innovation Challenge — and wow, what a success!
Students from across Ireland came together to tackle real social issues, build meaningful ideas, and create real-world impact. It was exactly what collaboration between universities should look like: open, exciting, and accessible to everyone.
This year, we’re doing it all again — and even bigger.
Introducing: Social Innovation Challenge 2.0
This time around, UL is taking the lead, and we at Trinity College Dublin (TCD) are proud to be right beside them, supporting this fantastic initiative.
It’s a true example of how universities can step beyond their own walls, share services, and create programmes that are open to everyone — no matter what university, what course, or what background you're coming from.
And this year, something even more special happened.
Dr Roisin Lyons — the brilliant force behind the challenge at UL — kindly invited me to the University of Limerick to launch the programme together.
And what a launch it was: more than 500 students packed the room!
Imagine the energy, the curiosity, the sheer excitement.
Moments like that remind us why we do what we do — to inspire the next generation to step up and make a real difference.
Social impact is at the heart of it
Whether it’s building solutions for communities, creating inclusive technologies, or developing sustainable initiatives, this challenge is about more than just prizes — it’s about building a better world.
And speaking of prizes:
Submit your ideas by 5th May.
Pitch your project at the Demo Day on 20th May.
€1500 prize pool up for grabs!
We also want to give a huge shout-out once again to Dr Roisin Lyons for the incredible way she has integrated the challenge into her curriculum.
That’s exactly what innovation in education looks like: making real-world impact a core part of learning.
Running the Social Innovation Challenge again is not just a programme for us — it’s a statement.
It says: we believe in open collaboration. We believe in social impact. We believe in students.
And we can’t wait to see what amazing ideas will emerge this year.
If you’ve ever thought about making a difference — this is your moment.
Jump in!
