More than 200 prizes will be on offer at the event in January, with the overall winner set to represent Ireland at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists next year.
Student innovators from across Ireland are being encouraged to get their applications in for the first Stripe-sponsored Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition (YSTE) before the deadline of 5pm on Friday 26 September.
With roughly three weeks to go before the applications close, students aged 12 to 19 years old are invited to submit their STEM projects for a chance of winning one of more than 200 prizes on offer.
The total prize fund for the event is €50,000, which includes a top award of €7,500 for the winners of the Stripe Young Scientist & Technologist of the Year Award. As well as the prize money, the overall winners will represent Ireland at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists next year.
Prizes will be awarded across five categories: technology; social and behavioural science; biological and ecological science; chemical, physical, and mathematical science; and health and wellbeing.
The annual sci-tech competition, which secured Stripe as the title sponsor in May, will take place at the RDS in Dublin from 7-10 January 2026.
Stripe co-founders Patrick and John Collison have a personal connection to YSTE, as both brothers previously competed before they went on to establish the highly successful fintech. Patrick won the overall prize in 2005, and John is a past category winner.
"We can't wait to see what the next generation of inventors and researchers are cooking up," said Eileen O'Mara, chief revenue officer at Stripe.
"The Stripe Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition is a launchpad for young people with big ideas, and we know from Stripe's own history that it can be an incredible catalyst for your future studies and career."
Having taken over as title sponsor and organiser of the event after BT - which held the role for 25 years - announced its withdrawal in February, Stripe said it plans to "enhance" the exhibition by providing additional guidance for students preparing their projects, additional resources for teachers and new ways for alumni to connect and collaborate.
"As we begin this exciting new chapter with Stripe as title sponsor, we remain inspired by the ingenuity that students in Ireland bring to their projects every year," said Prof Pat Guiry, chair of the YSTE board.
"With just weeks to go until the deadline, I would encourage all young people with a passion for STEM to seize this opportunity. We look forward to welcoming the next generation of bright minds to the RDS in January."
To enter, students need to complete an online application and submit a one-page proposal outlining their idea, with finalists set to be announced at the end of October.
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