Tipp pupils shine in competiton
Primary school pupils from four schools across Ireland, including Newport Convent Primary School, County Tipperary, have been recognised for their creativity and problem-solving skills as winners of Empower3D, Stryker’s national 3D printing design challenge that fosters STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) learning in classrooms. Formerly known as Manufacturing a Healthy Future, the programme places sustainability at its core and challenges students to design practical solutions to real-world issues within their school communities using 3D printing technology.
Marking the end of the school year and the 2025/2026 programme, Newport Convent Primary School, County Tipperary, as well as Aston Village Educate Together National School, County Louth, and Cork primary schools St Catherine’s National School, Bishopstown and Scoil Barra Naofa, Monkstown, were named winners across two award categories – Best Sustainable Design and Best Learning Journey.
Led by Stryker, a global leader in medical technologies, in partnership with I-Form, Research Ireland’s Centre for Advanced Manufacturing, Empower3D has been equipping primary school teachers with the 3D printing tools, training and confidence to bring advanced manufacturing technology into the classroom since 2021. Throughout the programme’s lifetime, more than 160 teachers and over 3,200 students in Ireland have participated, including more than 500 students from DEIS schools.
Throughout the month of June, students from the winning schools also had the opportunity to visit Stryker’s manufacturing facility in Anngrove, County Cork to experience first-hand the innovative work underway in additive manufacturing.
Speaking about Stryker’s longstanding involvement in the programme, Conor Tolan, Vice President, Joint Replacement and Ortho Tech Manufacturing at Stryker, said: “Empower3D highlights Stryker’s ongoing focus on innovation, sustainability and meaningful engagement within the community. It is impressive to see how students translate their ideas into tangible outcomes using 3D printing technology.
“Beyond the finished designs, what is particularly striking is the level of collaboration, curiosity and critical thinking demonstrated throughout the programme.
“Introducing young people to advanced manufacturing at this stage helps strengthen their confidence and broadens their understanding of how ideas can be applied in real-world contexts. We are proud to support programmes like Empower3D that encourage the next generation to explore careers in engineering, innovation and design. The winning entries showed strong creativity, teamwork and problem-solving, with students using design thinking to tackle everyday challenges in their schools.
From early ideas through to testing and refining their designs, students were recognised not just for the final results, but for how they developed their ideas and improved them along the way.
Norma Bourke, Sixth Class Teacher, Newport Convent Primary School, said: “Participating in Stryker's Empower3D programme has been an amazing experience for our pupils here at Newport Convent Primary School. They loved the challenge of using 3D printing for sustainability, developing incredible creative thinking and problem-solving skills. Winning the competition and touring the site has helped fuel a lasting passion for STEM, and we are so proud of how our pupils applied technology to build a better future.”
The competition forms part of a wider European initiative funded through the Erasmus+ Programme, the EU's programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe. As long-term supporters of the programme, Stryker and I-Form have continually evolved their approach to STEM education. Their scientists and engineers work closely with teachers, providing technical guidance, judging entries and supporting schools through investment in educational technology. Through this support, the programme is helping to build a future talent pipeline by fostering interest in STEM, while also promoting greater diversity and helping to reduce gender disparities across the sector. Since launching in 2021, the programme has been offered to teachers and pupils in schools across Europe, including in Ireland, France, Estonia, Lithuania, Hungary, Czechia and Greece, with over 500 teachers and 8,000 students engaged. The current project partners are Stryker and I-Form at University College Dublin in Ireland, Arts et Metier Institute of Technology (ENSAM) in France and Masaryk University in Czechia.