Final call for entries to Cambridge Independent Science and Technology Awards 2025
It’s the last call for entries to the Cambridge Independent Science and Technology Awards 2025.
With 15 categories available to enter until 11pm on Friday, 31 January, the awards are suitable for companies, organisations and individuals working across every sector of science and technology in our region.
And taking part can lead to a very positive boost.
Antony Rix, CEO and co-founder of Lucida Medical, which won AI Company of the Year at the 2024 awards, said: “Being highlighted as AI Company of the Year gave Lucida Medical a tremendous boost at the point where our Pi technology is being rolled out to hospitals across the UK and Europe.
“We are passionate about delivering the value of AI in healthcare and grateful that this recognition has helped us to transform patients’ outcomes with cancer.”
The awards will be held on Thursday, 15 May, at Hinxton Hall Conference Centre, on the Wellcome Genome Campus, with a networking reception followed by the ceremony in the Francis Crick Auditorium.
Many entrants enjoy the opportunity to network with fellow pioneers in their field, or indeed from other realms of science and technology, from cleantech to AI, biotech to software.
And the awards are open to organisations at all stages, from pre-seed to established multinationals.
Faye Holland, founder of cofinitive, which is again sponsoring the One to Watch award, explained how the category is suitable for those at the earliest stage of their journey.
“To be considered for this category, you need to satisfy the following criteria. You need to be a business that (a) has recently started, (b) is solving a real-world problem, and (c) needs some exposure to help them accelerate,” said Faye.
“They can be pre-revenue and employ just a handful of people, but they must have something innovative with the potential to be ground-breaking, world-changing even.”
For companies a little further along, up to three years old, the Start-up of the Year category is available, sponsored again this year by Kao Data.
Then there are industry-specific awards, covering biotech, medtech, AI, cleantech and software.
STEM Initiative of the Year, sponsored by Cambridge Science Park, is open to companies, organisations, groups, schools - anyone that is having a positive impact on promoting STEM education and careers.
Positive impact is the focus for the Tech for Good Award, sponsored by Allia Future Business Centre, while those that go the extra mile for their employees, their community and the environment should consider the Employer of the Year category, supported by COEL.
There are two categories for individuals, who can nominate themselves or be nominated by others: the AstraZeneca-backed Researcher of the Year and the Howden Insurance-sponsored CEO of the Year.
The event ends with two highly competitive categories - Technology Company of the Year, supported by the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Anglia Ruskin University, and the Zyme Communications-sponsored Life Science Company of the Year.
Entrants can enter more than one category and, where required, can tailor entries to each category they are entering.
Editor Paul Brackley, who will chair the judging panel, said: “I’m often asked if confidential information can be included in submissions, as sometimes entrants want to share the latest information, funding news or upcoming product launches with judges before it is made public. To do this, simply state on your entry form what information you wish to keep confidential.
“For the best chance of recognition, give us plenty of information - and focus in particular on what you have achieved in the last year, as these are annual awards. Good luck!”
Finalists will get two free tickets each to the awards ceremony, and a limited number of tickets will also go on general sale.
To enter, complete the form here. You can see full category details and the rules with the entry form.
Entry closes at 11pm on Friday, 31 January.
If you have any questions, or are struggling to hit the deadline, get in touch by emailing paul.brackley@iliffemedia.co.uk.
The Categories
Fifteen categories are available for entry:
Start-up of the Year
STEM Initiative of the Year
The Award for Innovation
Researcher of the Year
The Tech for Good Award
The One to Watch
Cleantech Company of the Year
Employer of the Year
Biotech Company of the Year
Medtech Company of the Year
AI Company of the Year
Software Company of the Year
CEO of the Year
Technology Company of the Year
Life Science Company of the Year
In addition, an expert panel will select the winner of our Lifetime Achievement Award.