FEXCO have today launched CONNECT@FEXCO, a third level innovation challenge specifically focused on the digital payments sector. 
 
The programme invites students from the Business School in University College Cork (UCC) and Institute of Technology Tralee (ITT) to develop solutions specifically addressing issues or leveraging opportunities within the digital payments industry.

The challenge, this year themed Next Generation Financial Services Digital Platforms, welcomes submissions in 2 streams; theoretical and prototype.

As organiser and sponsor FEXCO will make awards of up to €2,000 for the best submissions available up to a maximum of €5,000. Prototype submissions must demonstrate the idea in practice, while proposed theoretical solutions must be innovative, feasible and implementable. 
 
In addition to the financial incentives, FEXCO is offering mentor and expert guidance from their own software and IT personnel. Students can contact FEXCO via email or through the dedicated CONNECT@FEXCO LinkedIn Group. 
 
All submissions will be judged based on their commercial viability among other criteria. The closing date for submissions is 31 January 2017.  All ideas and innovations submitted will remain intellectual the property of the original creator(s).
 
Speaking at the launch, FEXCO’s Barry O’Sullivan, Programme Coordinator commented, "We are very excited to launch this initiative today. Collaboration, both internally and with our partners, plays a key role when developing the next generation of this kind of technology and it is a cornerstone of the innovation model at FEXCO.  Working in the fintech space  particularly, we are acutely aware that the next great ideas can come from anywhere and anyone."

Source: www.businessworld.ie