BT to end its sponsorship of Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition

BT Ireland told the Irish Examiner it had made the decision to step down as the event's custodian due to 'the re-alignment of the company’s strategy and structure in Ireland'.

Telecommunications giant BT has announced it will no longer be the organiser, title sponsor, and custodian of the annual Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition.

BT Ireland had been the exhibition's main backer for the last 25 years.

On Tuesday, BT Ireland told the Irish Examiner it had made the decision to step down as the event's custodian due to "the re-alignment of the company’s strategy and structure in Ireland, following on from recently announced business unit divestments (subject to competition clearance)."

Last week, BT announced the sale of its Irish wholesale and enterprise business unit to Speed Fibre Group in a deal valued at €22m.

The acquisition, which is subject to customary conditions including competition approval, is expected to close later this year.

Commenting on BT Ireland's decision to end its association with the annual Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition, managing director Shay Walsh said it had been a "privilege and honour" to organise the event for so many years. 

He also thanked the "entire eco-system" of individuals associated with the annual event, who "worked alongside us to inspire a passion for science, technology, engineering and maths in a generation of students across the island of Ireland".

He also said the firm would continue to work closely with the board of the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition Ltd to "transition to a new title sponsor once they have completed a process".

The YSE board said it would be opening the role for a new title sponsor to the open market, in line with proper governance.

Chair of the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition Ltd Board Professor Pat Guiry thanked everyone at BT Ireland "for their commitment to YSTE over the past quarter of a century".

"Their custodianship, organisation and sponsorship have elevated the exhibition to the position of national prominence that it enjoys today," he said.

On behalf of the board, Prof Guiry extended his gratitude to BT Ireland for its "unwavering support, stewardship, integrity, and for being the heartbeat of the exhibition we all care so much about".

He said its commitment had "enabled hundreds of thousands of young people to engage with Stem in such a meaningful way.”