Digital DNA Awards

The Digital DNA Awards, one of the most important annual events celebrating Northern Ireland’s Tech and Digital community, took the convention centre by storm on Thursday 28 April 2022.

Following a two-year hiatus, the live Digital DNA awards returned in 2022 – bigger and better than ever with over 700 guests in attendance. In that time Northern Ireland’s Digital and Tech sector has been on an impressive growth trajectory. Foreign Direct Investment and indigenous firms make up a thriving local community of experts committed to carving out the region’s credentials on a global level.

The impact this industry has on the wider economy can be clearly evidenced through the support and interest in this year’s awards. Across the 14 categories, 140 companies submitted over 336 entries with over 80 of these represented on the shortlist.

The support and interest in this year’s Digital DNA Awards is further proof of the importance the Digital and Tech sector plays in the wider economy.

Simon Bailie, CEO, Digital DNA

The evening got underway with a drinks reception in ICC Belfast’s Riverside Foyer, just as the sun was beginning to set over the River Lagan. From there, the excitement began to build as guests made their way upstairs to take their seats in Hall 1. Our in-house catering partner, Hospitality Belfast, created a delicious three-course meal centred around a spectacular Daube of Beef main. Local suppliers were showcased in every course with fresh, seasonal produce considered at every stage of menu planning.

Headline event partner, MCS Group, long-term event partners PwC, Version 1, Flint and Ulster University plus individual award sponsors were well represented through clever event design. The impressive stage production ensured that branding opportunities were maximised without ever overshadowing the main stage content to ensure the audience’s full attention was focused on the keynote speakers and award recipients.

Individual, company, and project successes were then celebrated with hotly contested categories such as Young Person of the Year, which went to Ryan Clarke from STATSports, and Workplace Company of the Year, in which Allstate NI took home the top spot.

Now in their seventh year, its organisers are constantly striving to make every edition of the Digital DNA Awards better than the last and this year was no exception. BBC journalist and presenter, Holly Hamilton, along with Irish Comedian, Andrew Ryan, kept the energy in the room sky high throughout the award presentation. Guests were then transported from Belfast to the White Isle with Yeoo DJ's Ibiza Stage Show to keep the party atmosphere in full flow until the early hours.

The 2022 Digital DNA Awards culminated in the presentation of the Global Recognition of the Year award, which went to Darragh McCarthy, CEO and Founder of FinTrU. The company, which was earlier this year named as one of the fastest growing companies in Europe by the Financial Times, is a multi-award winning technologically enabled Regulatory Solutions company based in Belfast with over 1,000 employees worldwide. FinTrU’s impressive track record of growth, coupled with a reputation for delivering exceptional outputs are representative of the wider Digital and Tech industry in Northern Ireland, with every key player committed to leaving a positive legacy through their continued success.

We certainly created an experience many of the people in the room have never experienced before, let alone something seen before in Belfast.

Simon Bailie, CEO, Digital DNA

The evening finished off on a high with an after party in Bar 1 and will not be quickly forgotten. Plans are already in motion to take Digital DNA 2023 to the next level, but if you can’t wait that long, be sure to check out Digital DNA taking place next month in St. George’s Market. Leading tech talent, investors, multinational and indigenous companies will cover topics such as AI, DevOps, Cloud Computing and MedTech and the impact technology is having on our world.

To find out more about representing Northern Ireland’s Digital and Tech sector on the world stage, get in touch with the team at Visit Belfast to explore the potential of joining the Ambassador Circle.