On 31 May, The B!G Idea hit the RDS for the two-day Dublin Tech Summit 2023 — and what a whirlwind it was.
With 8,000 attendees from around the world, 200 speakers, 100 start-ups and even three AI robots, the event was buzzing with energy. Topics ranged from AI and ChatGPT-4 to sustainability, remote work culture, branding and the future of work.
However, at our stand, one topic kept stealing the spotlight: creative thinking in education. Here are our top 10 highlights from DTS23.
We spoke to hundreds of attendees — possibly half the room! Maggie and Christine even took to the stage for a six-minute Ignite Pitch session.
We connected with leaders, including Sandra Rocha, Miren Samper (TechFoundHer), Nicole Cox (Siemens Advanta) and Ciaran McGuinness (NTT DATA).
Each one agreed: creative thinking is no longer optional. It is a critical skill for innovation and industry success.
The excitement around The B!G Idea was palpable.
People wanted to know:
We explained that schools, individual mentors, corporate mentor teams and partners can all join our nationwide programme. As a not-for-profit, we deliver our multi-award-winning creative thinking programme free of charge to students aged 15–19. Interested? Email us at hello@thebigidea.ie
Meeting Adam Cheyer, co-founder of Siri and Viv Labs, was a standout moment. He took time before his talk to learn about Ireland’s creative thinking programme.
Moments like that remind us that education and industry truly belong together.
Across panels and discussions, diversity and inclusion dominated conversations.
Interestingly, this was also one of our student challenge topics this year. Our programme actively promotes inclusive design, diverse teams and collaborative problem-solving — both in classrooms and through our mentor network.
Our Creativity Card Kits were a hit.
Built around the 4Ds of design:
These tools support students in applying universal design principles in real projects.
As Sven Liebau (Innovation Manager, HELLA) shared:
“Creative thinking is about being open-minded… looking left and right of the path, not just straight forward. Ideas connect later in the journey.”
Exactly.
With so many innovators under one roof, meaningful conversations happened everywhere.
We are now reconnecting with Irish and international companies to introduce them to our 2024 secondary school and Youthreach cohorts.
We met Pierce Dargan from the Global Shapers Club (an initiative of the World Economic Forum).
He highlighted how creative thinking equips young people to:
According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2023, creative thinking is one of the most in-demand global skills.
We couldn’t agree more.
While Desdemona (the “Madonna of robots”) was busy with press interviews, we did meet Buddy — a helpful bot from Virtual Reality Ireland.
AI was everywhere at DTS. Yet the human skill of creative thinking remained centre stage.
One unforgettable session featured Till Haunschild blending magic with AI.
Meanwhile, Eve McSweeney from Beachhut PR summed it up perfectly:
“With advancements in AI, creativity and critical thinking are indispensable skills every young person needs.”
The message was clear: AI can accelerate, but humans must innovate.
Our colourful glasses even got a shout-out on the DTS podcast (thanks, Sarah Freeman!).
Socks, USB cables, and notebooks were everywhere — but nothing beat a selfie with our creative-thinking brollies.
Dublin Tech Summit 2023 reinforced one powerful truth:
Creative thinking is not a “nice-to-have”.
It is essential for the future of work.
Through The B!G Idea, we bridge education, industry and society — empowering young people to tackle real-world challenges with confidence and innovation.
Because one B!G Idea really can change our world.
