MTU students win Young Innovators award for mastitis detection system
The MastiTrak team secured the top prize in the Young Innovators Competition at the Enterprise Ireland Innovation Arena during the National Ploughing Championships 2026. Picture: Orla Murray/Coalesce
A team of engineering students has been named Young Innovators of the Year 2026 for a system designed to detect signs of mastitis in dairy cows before visible symptoms appear.
The MastiTrak team from Munster Technological University (MTU) won the Young Innovators Competition at Enterprise Ireland’s Innovation Arena during the National Ploughing Championships.
Developed by biomedical and mechanical engineering students, the system monitors milk temperature from each of a cow’s four udder quarters separately during milking. Changes in temperature may provide an early indication of mastitis, triggering a traffic-light alert for farmers.
MastiTrak is designed to integrate into existing milking parlours and provide real-time information that could help farmers intervene earlier.
The students hope the technology will support animal welfare, milk quality, and day-to-day farm management.
The team was represented at the national final by team leader Nadia Power from Co Waterford; Calum McKenna from Co Wicklow; and Hernan Grisolia-Chavez, Lia Conlon, Eolan Lynch, James Ahern, and Clara McCarthy, all from Co Cork.
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MastiTrak was one of three national finalists selected following a competition involving more than 40 shortlisted projects.
The team was invited to exhibit at the Innovation Arena and presented its technology to the judging panel, Enterprise Ireland board members, international guests, and a live audience on Tuesday, September 15.
Seán O’Leary, the team’s primary supervisor at MTU, said: “This is a tremendous achievement for the team. MastiTrak has grown from the combination of first-hand farming experience, engineering expertise and a determination to solve a very real challenge facing dairy farmers.
"What is particularly impressive is the team’s focus on creating something practical.
“Early identification of mastitis has clear potential benefits for animal welfare, milk quality, and farm management, and the students have worked extremely hard to bring that idea from concept through development and testing to the national stage.
"To be named Young Innovator of the Year is a major recognition of their work and a very proud moment for the students, their families, and everyone involved at MTU.”
The national award follows success for MastiTrak earlier this year. In March, the team won first place in the MTU Prize for Innovation 2026 and was named MTU Student Entrepreneurs of the Year 2026.
The project was supported by MTU’s innovative product development supervisory team, comprising Prof O’Leary, Carol Ou, Hugh O’Donnell, Paul Keane and Jess O’Neill. Karol Murphy provided specialist support with prototype development and testing, while technical officer Donal Shinnick assisted with 3D printing and the physical prototype.
Ger Kelly also provided guidance during the project’s development and progress through the competition.
