The 2021 BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition will be a virtual event and organisers say they will rise to the challenge to make it a spectacular success.
Speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Dr Tony Scott, co-founder of the exhibition, said that Covid-19 restrictions will prevent the event going ahead in the RDS.
However, he said that for students entering the virtual competition it will not make much difference as they will apply online as always with this year's entry fee waived.
Dr Scott said it will continue to be a one-to-one judging process between the student and judge - with 15 minutes spent talking virtually to each student about their project.