Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2027 opens for applications

The 2026 winner Aoibheann Daly from Mercy Mounthawk Secondary School with the trophy for her brain cancer diagnosis tool at the Stripe Young Scientist Exhibition in the RDS. Picture: Leah Farrell/ RollingNews.ie

Students are invited to follow their curiosity and take on the problems they think matter most as the Stripe Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (YSTE) opens for applications. 

Be it AI, the world around them, advances in medicine, or human behaviour, students are encouraged to bring forward their most innovative ideas, that often stem from simple school experiments, for this year's competition. 

With more prize money, and travel bursaries, up for grabs for 2027, title sponsor Stripe also intends to launch a new 'YSTE Catalyst' programme for students behind the exhibition's top four awarded projects. 

These students will be paired with mentors from academia, industry and Stripe's engineering and science teams and travel to San Francisco to visit some of the world's leading technology companies. They will also present their projects at Stipe's annual conference. 

Applications are now open for the 2027 exhibition, which includes a top prize of €10,000 for the student, or students, who take home the Young Scientist & Technologist of the Year award. The winner of the competition will also go on to represent Ireland at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists. 

There is also an increased travel bursary this year, to support schools exhibiting at the RDS. The YSTE is a "wonderful celebration of the creativity, curiosity and talent" of young people across Ireland, according to education minister Hildegarde Naughton. 

"Each year, students demonstrate remarkable originality as they explore issues ranging from challenges in their local communities to some of the biggest global questions we face." 

Dr Tony Scott, co-founder of the Stripe Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, said the exhibition demonstrated "what can happen when young people are encouraged to explore the questions that matter to them". 

"Each year, students bring forward work of remarkable creativity and rigour, testing ideas, gathering evidence and applying method to problems that matter." 

The introduction of Stripe YSTE Catalyst is a very welcome development, he said, adding it extended their "journey beyond the exhibition and giving students the opportunity to deepen their research, learn from experts and discover what serious scientific thinking can achieve".

Eileen O'Mara, vice-chair at Stripe, said: "Many of the world's most impactful ideas started as simple school experiments. We encourage every student in Ireland to apply, follow their curiosity, and take on the problems they think matter most."

The 2027 Stripe YSTE will award prizes across five categories: Biological and ecological science; chemical, physical and mathematical science; health and wellbeing; social and behavioural science; and technology. 

To enter, students must complete an online application and submit a one-page project proposal by September 25, 2026. Finalists will be announced on October 23, 2026, with selected projects showcased at the RDS from January 6 to 9, 2027.