- Prize fund up 25%, with a top prize of €10,000
- Total travel bursary for schools rises 25% to €150,000
- New Stripe YSTE Catalyst sends the top four projects to San Francisco to present at Stripe Sessions
- Entries close 25 September 2026
Dublin, 18 August 2026 – Applications are now open for the 2027 Stripe Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (Stripe YSTE). Secondary school students from every county across Ireland are invited to turn their curiosity and ideas into reality and showcase them at the RDS in Dublin from 6-9 January 2027.
Whether inspired by artificial intelligence, the physics of the world around them, advances in medicine, or what data reveals about human behaviour, students are encouraged to bring forward their most innovative ideas that could help shape the future of Ireland.
The total prize fund will increase by 25% for 2027, with more than 200 prizes to be awarded. The overall winners will receive the Stripe Young Scientist(s) & Technologist(s) of the Year Award and a top prize of €10,000. They will also go on to represent Ireland at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS).
Stripe is expanding its YSTE Travel Bursary to support every school exhibiting at the RDS, increasing total funding by 25% to €150,000. By helping fund transport and accommodation for students and teachers traveling to Dublin for the four-day event, the bursary ensures more schools across Ireland can participate.
Stripe is also introducing Stripe YSTE Catalyst, a programme for the students behind the exhibition’s top four awarded projects. Catalyst participants will be paired with mentors from academia, industry and Stripe’s own engineering and science teams, travel to San Francisco to visit some of the world’s leading technology companies, and present their projects at Stripe Sessions, Stripe’s flagship annual conference.
Teachers and parents can find guidance on scoping and submitting a project on the Stripe YSTE website or in the Stripe YSTE handbook, which is issued to schools each August. The deadline for entries is 25 September 2026.
The inaugural Stripe YSTE in January 2026 drew 3,670 entries, with 550 projects featuring over 1,000 students selected to exhibit.
Eileen O’Mara, Vice Chair at Stripe, said:
“Many of the world’s most impactful ideas started as simple school experiments. The Stripe Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition gives young people the platform to explore big questions, build something new, and share it with the world.
This year, we’re investing more than ever: alongside increased prizes and travel support, our new ‘Stripe YSTE Catalyst’ programme will connect exceptional students with the mentors who can help them imagine what’s possible next. We encourage every student in Ireland to apply, follow their curiosity, and take on the problems they think matter most.”
Hildegarde Naughton, Minister for Education and Youth said:
“The Stripe Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition is a wonderful celebration of the creativity, curiosity and talent of young people across Ireland. 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.
“I am delighted to continue my Department’s strong partnership with the exhibition. It provides students with an invaluable opportunity to develop skills in research, critical thinking, problem solving and communication, while building confidence and sharing their ideas.
“I wish all students every success and look forward to seeing the talent, innovation and enthusiasm on display at the 2027 exhibition.”
Dr Tony Scott, Co-Founder of the Stripe Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, said:
“For more than sixty years, the Stripe Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition has 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, extending that journey beyond the exhibition and giving students the opportunity to deepen their research, learn from experts and discover what serious scientific thinking can achieve.”
The 2027 Stripe Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition will award prizes across five categories:
- Biological and Ecological Science
- Chemical, Physical and Mathematical Science
- Health and Wellbeing
- Social and Behavioural Science
- Technology
To enter, students must complete an online application and submit a one-page project proposal by 25 September 2026. Finalists will be announced on 23 October 2026, with selected projects showcased at the RDS from 6-9 January 2027.
For more information on Stripe YSTE and how to apply, visit https://stripeyste.com/how-to-enter
ENDS
For more information, please contact:
David Higgins / Erica Brown Teneo
087 162 5597 / 083 395 9458
About the Stripe Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition
The Stripe Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition is designed to raise schools’ engagement in STEM subjects. The exhibition invites students aged 12-19 from across Ireland to showcase innovative science and technology projects.
Founded by Dr Tony Scott and Rev Dr Tom Burke in 1965, the exhibition is a staple of the academic, scientific and technological calendar. It attracts an average of more than 40,000 visitors each year, making it one of the largest events of its kind worldwide.
About The Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition Ltd (YSTE Ltd)
YSTE Ltd is a charity with a proud heritage of inspiring generations of young people to engage with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Through our flagship Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition and related programmes, we provide a platform for students to showcase their creativity, innovation, and problem‑solving skills. Our mission is to nurture curiosity, empower youth, and celebrate the role of STEM in shaping a better future.
YSTE Ltd also engages internationally through partnerships with organisations in other countries, supporting the extension, sharing of the Irish Young Scientist model, and enabling international collaboration in STEM education.
YSTE Ltd is a charitable company limited by guarantee and is governed in accordance with the Companies Act 2014 and the Charities Governance Code.
