Matheson partnered with University College Cork (UCC) yesterday to host a hackathon where participants combining legal, technology and business expertise came together to generate innovative ideas and explore emerging technologies.
The event, held at the UCC campus, attracted over 40 students from diverse academic backgrounds including law, commerce, data analytics, and finance undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Under 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 a platform for students to showcase their innovative thinking, creativity, and technical skills.
Representatives from leading Munster-based organisations including PepsiCo, Qualcomm, Enterprise Ireland, Alter Domus, Stryker, Cork Chamber of Commerce, 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 Gráinne Callanan, partner and Head of Matheson’s Cork Office. Featuring an opening address by Ursula Kilkelly, Professor of Law and Vice President Global Engagement at UCC, the hackathon was moderated by Rory O’Keeffe, partner in Matheson’s Technology and Innovation Group. Dennis Blanck, Business Development Manager, Westbourne IT Global Services, Deirdre Crowley, partner in Matheson’s Commercial Litigation Group and Sean Ó Conaill, Vice-Dean (External Engagement) at the UCC School of Law, formed the judging panel.
Throughout the day, students worked in teams to generate innovative ideas linked to areas of sustainability, political and economic factors, social and community resources, digital and physical infrastructures, advancements in technology, ways of working and career opportunities. Following pitches to the judging panel, the team made up of Bruno Traverso, Luke Kirrane, Shauna Dalton, Jacob O’Brien, Alyson O’Kelly – Lynch and Shyamala V K were announced as the winners for their idea, which centred on the creation of an AI Village as part of a Munster Innovation Hub.
The hackathon forms part of the UCC and Matheson Innovation Partnership, a five year sponsorship which supports the creation of a new lectureship and scholarship, as well as a series of lectures and collaborative events in the area of law, technology and innovation.