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18 Oct 2025
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18 Oct 2025
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Director of Services, John McKeon; STEM Engagement Officer Siobhan Grealy; Cathaoirleach Garry Murtagh and Broadband Officer Christine Collins,
Longford County Council was proud to be part of the Midland Region STEM project which was the sole Irish initiative to be shortlisted for the Innovation in Politics Awards in Vienna.
As the 2025 European Capital of Democracy, Vienna hosted this year’s Innovation in Politics Awards, celebrating bold political leadership and outstanding democratic innovation from across Europe.
At a festive gala in Vienna City Hall, eight winning projects were announced, selected by over 1,000 European citizens from more than 300 submissions spanning 34 countries.
'Driving STEM in the Midlands' was recognised in the Education category. Remarkably, this is the third shortlisting for Longford County Council amongst Council of Europe member states at the Innovation in Politics Awards in recent years and an accolade which sets Longford County Council apart from other local authorities in Ireland.
Longford County Council was shortlisted in 2019 for the Longford Nua App; in 2021 for the Rural Working Hub Strategy and now once again in 2025 for ‘Driving STEM in the Midlands’ project.
The same staff members from Longford County Council have also been involved with all three of these pioneering projects.
The Midlands Region (Laois, Longford, Offaly, and Westmeath) is proud to be Ireland’s first region to establish a dedicated STEM ecosystem. T
This pioneering initiative unites key stakeholders to foster skills that meet the changing demands of the labour market, underpinned by a shared belief that regional resilience and innovation are deeply interconnected.
As an EU-designated Just Transition Region, the Midlands is addressing structural challenges through a “triple helix” model of collaboration—linking enterprise, education, and public sector partners via the Midlands Regional Enterprise Plan and the Midlands ICT Network.
Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Cllr Garry Murtagh said, “Being selected as a finalist in the EU Innovation in Politics Awards 2025 is a prestigious recognition, highlighting the honour of being shortlisted among Europe’s most forward-thinking initiatives.
"It also reflects the strength of our region’s commitment to inclusive, hands-on STEM programmes that are already changing lives and opening doors for thousands of young people.”
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