US Internet and connectivity biggie Cisco and the Irish Technology Leadership Group (ITLG) jointly announced the launch of the 2013 `Cisco Transatlantic CoderDojo Software Innovation Challenge' in Cork during the St Patrick's Day weekend festivities.

The competition is open to the US and Irish student members of CoderDojo computer club, which is a youth club movement that conducts lessons in software, programming and technology, for children aged between 7 and 17 years.

According to the competition-related details announced by Cisco and ITLG, the individual or the team that wins the Cisco Transatlantic CoderDojo Challenge will be handed a US$5,000 (_3,850) prize fund.

About the competition, Cisco VP Barry O'Sullivan said that Cisco has always been ken on encouraging the youth to "get involved in science, technology, engineering and maths;" and described the CoderDojo youth club movement - which started in Ireland and has spread to 22 countries - as one of the most exhilarating ways in which children can be familiarized with technology.

With O'Sullivan also adding that initiatives like CoderDojo can "spark a lifelong interest and create the tech stars of tomorrow," CoderDojo's co-founder James Whelton said: "The 'Cisco Transatlantic CoderDojo Challenge' is a great way for kids to gain a better understanding of the software and code that makes the internet work, how to leverage it and shape it's future."