Finalists for the 2025 Cambridge Independent Science and Technology Awards revealed

The finalists for the 2025 Cambridge Independent Science and Technology Awards can now be revealed.

It follows an extensive judging process, exploring what was another record number of entries to the awards.

Now in their eighth year, the awards have become the leading celebration of science and technology sectors in the Cambridge region.

Each year, the exceptional standard of the entries impresses our judging panel - and this year was no exception.

Editor Paul Brackley, who chaired the panel, said: “Congratulations to all of our finalists. We had an astounding array of talent and achievements on display from our entrants once again this year and it was no easy task to determine the finalists.

“Cambridge can be proud of its expertise across so many sectors - from biotech and medtech to cleantech and AI, innovative companies, organisations and researchers are leading their fields here. Our awards celebration will rightly celebrate the achievements of every finalist.”

The awards night will take place on Thursday, 15 May, at Hinxton Hall Conference Centre, on the Wellcome Genome Campus. The event always begins with a popular free-flowing networking reception, with drinks and canapes, at which 300 leading lights from the region’s science and technology scene can meet and catch up.

The ceremony will be held in the Francis Crick Auditorium, before a post-event networking session at which guests can discuss the awards.

Finalists get two tickets each to the awards event and will be contacted shortly. A limited number of tickets will go on sale to those who would like to join us.

The Cambridge Independent Science and Technology Awards 2025 finalists

Start-up of the Year
Sponsored by Kao Data
OutSee
Cinema8
Supersense Technologies
VyperCore
Blecon

Employer of the Year
Sponsored by COEL
RxCelerate
Nu Quantum
Metrion Biosciences
Owlstone Medical
Biofidelity

Cleantech Company of the Year
Sponsored by Woodfines Solicitors
Levidian Nanosystems
Cambridge Cleantech
Eyesea Green
Biozeroc
PES Technologies
Advanced Infrastructure

STEM Initiative of the Year
Sponsored by Cambridge Science Park
Black Talent & Leadership in STEM
Virtual work experience at the Wellcome Sanger Institute
Cambridge United Foundation and AstraZeneca: Inspiring the next generation through sport and science
Cambridge Science Centre
The Perse Coding Team Challenge from The Perse School

Software Company of the Year
Sponsored by Mantle Space
Ethicronics
Cusp AI
Cambridge Kinetics
IQGeo
Advanced Infrastructure

Medtech Company of the Year
Sponsored by St John’s Innovation Centre
CMR Surgical
Cyted Health
Mursla Bio
AreteMedical
electronRx
Rapidx Bio

The Tech for Good Award
Sponsored by Allia Future Business Centre Cambridge
THIS Labs (Thiscovery)
Alchemie Technology
AstraZeneca - next-gen inhaler propellant
Cambridge Nucleomics
Grant Instruments
QPT

The One to Watch
Sponsored by cofinitive
Cambridge Kinetics
Tolemy Bio
Outsee
Anthrotek
LinkGevity

Researcher of the Year
Sponsored by AstraZeneca
Dr Rachael Walker, head of flow cytometry, Babraham Institute
Dr Nuru Noor, clinical lecturer, University of Cambridge / Addenbrooke's Hospital
Dr Akaash Kumar, postdoctoral scientific researcher, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology
Prof Sharon Morein, co-director of the ARU Centre for Mind and Behaviour, Anglia Ruskin University
Prof Justin Roberts, professor of nutritional physiology at Anglia Ruskin University
Prof Chris Parris, head of the School of Life Sciences and leader of the Experimental Cancer Therapeutics team, Anglia Ruskin University

Biotech Company of the Year
Sponsored by Appleyard Lees
Mestag Therapeutics
Constructive Bio
Nxera Pharma
Nuclera
RxCelerate
ViaNautis Bio

AI Company of the Year
Sponsored by BDO LLP
Luminance
Healx
Supersense Technologies
Ignota Labs
Cusp AI
CardiaTec Biosciences

CEO of the Year
Sponsored by Howden Insurance
Eleanor Lightbody, Luminance
Umaima Ahmad, 52North
Franck Courbon, Ethicronics
Owen Thompson, Cambridge Future Tech
Ola Wlodek, Constructive Bio
Dr Barnaby Balmforth, Biofidelity

The Award for Innovation
Sponsored by Railpen
AstraZeneca - MILTON AI research tool
ArtioSense
FlexEnable Technology
GScan
Plextek Services
SolasCure
Mursla Bio

Technology Company of the Year
Sponsored by the Faculty of Science and Engineering, Anglia Ruskin University
Cellular Origins
Nu Quantum
Pragmatic Semiconductor
Intergence Systems
Bango
Advanced Infrastructure

Life Science Company of the Year
Sponsored by Zyme Communications
Astex Pharmaceuticals
Broken String Biosciences
Sphere Bio
Qkine
LoQus23 Therapeutics
PhoreMost

Lifetime Achievement Award
Sponsored by the Crown Estate

One award was not available for entry - the Lifetime Achievement Award. The winner of this special award, which will be revealed on the evening, was carefully selected by a panel to reflect an astounding and sustained contribution.

Previous winners have included AstraZeneca’s Prof Sir Mene Pangalos, the late angel investor and entrepreneur Peter Cowley and cancer genomics pioneer Prof Sir Mike Stratton, a former director of the Wellcome Sanger Institute, each of which delivered a keynote speech at the awards.

We can now unveil The Crown Estate as sponsor of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

One of the UK’s largest landowners, with a diverse £16bn portfolio, it is contributing to a new innovation district in North East Cambridge and plans to transform Cambridge Business Park into a mission-led innovation ecosystem.

Matthew Sampson, development director (innovation clusters) for The Crown Estate, said: “We are committed to fostering learning and collaboration, and playing a role in inspiring the next generation of innovators. We understand the profound impact that visionary leaders have in driving progress, making the sponsorship of the Lifetime Achievement Award a natural fit.

“This award is a celebration of those who have dedicated their careers to advancing knowledge, pushing boundaries, and inspiring the next generation.

“We are excited to help recognise the extraordinary achievements that continue to transform Cambridge into a global hub for innovation and look forward to celebrating all the nominees and winners.”

Also joining our stellar cast of sponsors this year is accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP, which provides integrated advice and solutions to help businesses navigate a changing world. It is sponsoring the highly competitive AI Company of the Year category.

Richard Watson, tax partner at BDO, said: “We’re excited to be sponsoring the Cambridge Independent Science and Technology Awards, which recognise the world-changing businesses that we have in Cambridge across tech and life sciences. We know ourselves how valuable winning awards can be for companies and we are pleased to be a sponsor as part of our wider support of the Cambridge innovation ecosystem.”

He added: “We are particularly excited to be sponsoring the AI category given the impact AI is starting to have on the way we work. Cambridge companies are leading the way in this area and I expect competition for the top spot to be extremely high.”

In the coming weeks, we’ll also be unveiling a special prize that could be won by any of our finalists.

To find out who will triumph at the awards, join us on 15 May as we reveal the winners.

You can read about the 2024 winners here. Follow #SciTechAwards on social media and sign up for our newsletter for updates on the awards, tickets and more. Email paul.brackley@iliffemedia.co.uk with any queries on the awards, or if you would like to get involved.