Engineering students secure SEED funding

Engineering students secure SEED funding

3 April 2024

TWO local students have secured funding to develop an anti-spike device to keep young people safe when out socialising.

South Eastern Regional College students Matthew Brennan, from Annacloy, and Preston Galbraith Kelly, from Downpatrick, study Level 3 Mechatronic Engineering at the college’s Downpatrick campus.

Both aged 17, they have secured £1,000 from the SEED 2030 Mircro Grants Programme, developed by One Young World and Unloc, which provides funding and support for up to 10 enterprising ideas by young people across Northern Ireland each year.

Aware of the growth of incidences of drink spiking, Matthew and Preston have developed a block attachment device.

The device can be put into straws and has built-in testing strips to detect if a drink has been spiked.

The duo are finalists in SERC’s annual Enterprise Challenge for their idea and have also reached the College NI Finals with their enterprise through their commitment to keeping young people safe when out socialising.

Matthew and Preston have been supported at SERC by their innovation advisor, Megan Rollins, and their student company mentor, Kim Godsman, who helped them secure the additional funding that could take their product to market.