THIS year’s Digital DNA Awards will take place at Belfast’s Ormeau Baths on Thursday July 1, its organisers have confirmed.
And they also revealed other details, including this year’s Global Recognition Award recipient, short list announcements and that the event will have a live audience in the venue.
Now in their sixth year, the awards are a major highlight on the tech calendar and have been described as the most important and highly sought-after awards for the north's technology industry.
Held in partnership with MCS Group, the Digital DNA Awards celebrate the very best tech talent from companies of all sizes in the world of digital and tech. Developers, engineers, and entrepreneurs, alongside start-ups, FDI’s and project teams will all be vying to pick up a prestigious Digital DNA gong.
Whilst Covid restrictions mean a full return to an in-person celebration will not be possible until 2022, organisers have confirmed a small live audience will be present in Ormeau Baths, making this year’s event a first of its kind and truly hybrid experience for everyone involved.
Simon Bailie, chief executive of Digital DNA, said: “Our awards have become an important part of the local tech sector so we are thrilled that we can bring this year’s event to such a significant venue as Ormeau Baths, which has played a central role in the growth of the tech sector here in recent years.
“It’s also fantastic that we can bring back an element of our live audience, which will help create that unique atmosphere of a Digital DNA event.”
Ormeau Baths is seen as the home of the north's tech start-up ecosystem, with hundreds of local seed firms having passed through its doors in recent years through programmes such as Propel and Ignite.
In addition to the 13 highly sought-after awards, the July 1 event will also see Sarah Friar - originally from Northern Ireland but who now works and lives in San Francisco - receive the Global Recognition Award.
Simon Bailie from Digital DNA said: “Sarah is someone who many within the local tech community will know, either as one of the original founders of Ormeau Baths, her work with Ladies Who Launch or as the CEO of Nextdoor. She is a fantastic champion of technology and a worthy recipient of this award.”
