Dr. Orlagh Reynolds and Dr. Seamus O’Reilly ran the second annual Circular Supply Chain Hackathon in the Clayton Hotel on Tuesday, October 21st, 2025. A total of 85 final-year Food Marketing and Entrepreneurship and Commerce undergraduates took part in a fast-paced and highly interactive ideation session, guided throughout the day by industry guest speakers and mentors from leading organisations such as 3SIXTY, Bord Bia, An Rialálaí Agraibhia, and the Irish Food Board.
Over the course of the challenge, students worked collaboratively in teams to identify a pressing supply chain problem, complete a series of creative ideation exercises, and ultimately ‘hack’ a circular solution to address their chosen issue. Each team then developed a simple but impactful visual pitch to communicate both their problem and their proposed solution to the panel of judges.
Industry guest speakers set the tone of the day, offering valuable insights into real-world supply chain challenges and sharing practical guidance on how circular thinking can drive innovation. Meanwhile, mentors circulated among teams, providing early feedback, validation, and encouragement to help refine ideas and strengthen final pitches.
Students competed for an overall team prize for best idea, generously sponsored by 3SIXTY, as well as six spot prizes awarded by mentors to the most engaged and collaborative participants.
The event once again highlighted UCC’s strong commitment to experiential learning, sustainability, and meaningful industry collaboration, giving students a chance to apply their academic knowledge to authentic, impact-driven business challenges while building valuable professional networks.