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Finalists for Cambridge Independent Science and Technology Awards 2023 revealed




The finalists for the Cambridge Independent Science and Technology Awards 2023 can now be revealed.

The shortlist represents an extraordinary array of talent across sectors from cleantech to AI, and ranges from promising early-stage companies to established big-hitters.

The winners of the 2023 Cambridge Independent Science and Technology Awards will be revealed on May 18
The winners of the 2023 Cambridge Independent Science and Technology Awards will be revealed on May 18

A record number of entries were submitted from across the Cambridge region to the awards, which are now in their sixth year.

Judging has been taking place ahead of the event, which will be held this year at the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge on Thursday, May 18.

Nominees will be contacted shortly and offered free tickets to the event, which begins with a networking reception that brings some of the Cambridge region’s most innovative and entrepreneurial people together.

Additional tickets are now on sale here via Eventbrite for those who would like to join in the celebration of Cambridge’s prowess in science and technology.

The sponsors of the Cambridge Independent Science and Technology Awards 2023
The sponsors of the Cambridge Independent Science and Technology Awards 2023

Editor Paul Brackley, chair of the judges, said: “It has been terrific to hear about the achievements of these organisations and individuals.

“Well done to all those who made it on to the shortlist in a very competitive field, and thank you to everyone who entered. It is clear that Cambridge innovation shows no sign of abating.

“I would also like to thank all the judges who have given up their time and shared their expertise as we pored over the entries. The awards will be another demonstration of just why the Cambridge region is exceptional.”

The nominees for the Cambridge Independent Science and Technology Awards 2023

Start-up of the Year

Sponsored by Kao Data

  • The SecOps Group
  • Alevin Therapeutics
  • Maxion Therapeutics
  • Cambridge Future Tech
  • Creasallis
  • Cooee

The Enterprise Skills Award

Sponsored by the Entrepreneurship Centre at Cambridge Judge Business School

  • Domino Printing
  • Clinician Engineer Hub
  • Abcam
  • Cambridge Spark
  • Marshall Skills Academy

Cleantech Company of the Year

Sponsored by Woodfines Solicitors

  • Vuala
  • Immaterial
  • Mimicrete
  • Advanced Infrastructure

STEM Initiative of the Year

Sponsored by Cambridge Science Park

  • Cambridge Spark
  • ReachSci
  • Xaarjet
  • Sandra Beale
  • Babraham Institute - Research Access Programme
  • Students at the Heart of Knowledge Exchange (SHoKE)
  • Cambourne Electronics and Robotics Club (CERC)

AI Company of the Year

Sponsored by Chesterford Research Park

  • Optibrium
  • Mignon
  • Intellegens
  • BIOS Health
  • Eagle Genomics

The One to Watch

Sponsored by cofinitive

  • CardiaTec Biosciences
  • Blueshift Memory
  • Mimicrete
  • Five Alarm Bio
  • SMi Drug Discovery
  • Vector Bioscience

Employer of the Year

Sponsored by COEL

  • Grant Instruments
  • Owlstone Medical
  • Bit.bio
  • Domainex
  • Abcam

Researcher of the Year

Sponsored by AstraZeneca

  • Prof Barbara Pierscionek, Anglia Ruskin University
  • Prof Lee Smith, Anglia Ruskin University
  • Dr Dannielle Green, Anglia Ruskin University
  • Dr Emmanouil Metzakopian, bit.bio
  • Dr Ahmet Can Berkyurek, VaxEquity
  • Sofia Lövestam, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology

The Tech for Good Award

Sponsored by Allia Future Business Centre Cambridge

  • Vuala
  • resPNsemed
  • eLife
  • Studio 24
  • Marshall Futureworx
  • Advanced Infrastructure

CEO of the Year

Sponsored by Mission Street

  • Dr Eric Mayes, Endomag
  • Dr Tom Mander, Domainex
  • Dr Nicki Thompson, Amphista Therapeutics
  • Paul Larbey, Bango
  • Mark Davison, Grant Instruments (Cambridge)
  • Dr Patrick Short, Sano Genetics

Medtech Company of the Year

Sponsored by Sagentia Innovation

  • Endomag
  • 52North
  • SMi Drug Discovery
  • Kalium Health
  • BIOS Health

Biotech Company of the Year

Sponsored by Appleyard Lees

  • Bicycle Therapeutics
  • Amphista Therapeutics
  • Enhanc3D Genomics
  • bit.bio
  • Adrestia Therapeutics
  • STORM Therapeutics

The Award for Innovation

Sponsored by Bruntwood SciTech

  • Focal Point Positioning
  • Agile Analog
  • Porotech
  • Arecor
  • Mestag Therapeutics
  • Enhanc3D Genomics

Technology Company of the Year

Sponsored by the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Anglia Ruskin University

  • Evonetix
  • Focal Point Positioning
  • Bango
  • Featurespace
  • IQGeo
  • Pragmatic Semiconductor

Life Science Company of the Year

Sponsored by Zyme Communications

  • Astex Pharmaceuticals
  • Evonetix
  • STORM Therapeutics
  • Stemnovate
  • Source BioScience
  • Cerevance

In Search of Wonder Lifetime Achievement Award

Sponsored by JDJ Creative

  • Not open for public nomination - the winner will be revealed on the night

The judges

Those involved in assessing the entries and judging the finalists included:

  • Paul Brackley, editor, Cambridge Independent
  • Mike Scialom, business correspondent, Cambridge Independent
  • David Broach, director, Allia Future Business Centres
  • Edward​ Rainsford, senior associate, Appleyard Lees
  • Jane Hutchins, director, Cambridge Science Park
  • Faye Holland, director of cofinitive
  • Ann Davidson, head of practice, Entrepreneurship Centre, Judge Business School
  • Duncan Smith, managing partner, medical, Sagentia Innovation
  • Nathan Taylor‑Allkins​, partner, regulatory and dispute resolution, Woodfines Solicitors; and
  • AstraZeneca, which is helping to judge the Researcher of the Year category.

Edward Rainsford, from Cambridge-based intellectual property experts Appleyard Lees, said following the judging: “It was a great experience to be part of judging this year’s Cambridge Independent Science and Technology Awards. The judging was not made easy by the exceptional achievements of all the companies shortlisted for the awards.

“I am looking forward to meeting them at the awards presentation.”

Dr Nicki Thompson, Amphista Therapeutics, who is shortlisted in the CEO of the Year category, while her company is also a finalist. Picture: Keith Heppell
Dr Nicki Thompson, Amphista Therapeutics, who is shortlisted in the CEO of the Year category, while her company is also a finalist. Picture: Keith Heppell

Duncan Smith, of Sagentia Innovation, who helped to judge five of the categories, added: “Judging the awards was a pleasure, and a challenge as the standard was extremely high.

“A wealth of wonderful Cambridge companies entered, showcasing the variety of ways patient outcomes are being transformed in medtech, biotech and life sciences. I’m looking forward to the awards and meeting all of the finalists in May.”

And Woodfines’ Nathan Taylor‑Allkins said: “Woodfines Solicitors is pleased to again be sponsoring the Cambridge Independent Science and Technology Awards, having done so since their inception.

Chief commercial officer Alastair Hanlon at Pragmatic Semiconductor, which is nominated. Picture: Keith Heppell
Chief commercial officer Alastair Hanlon at Pragmatic Semiconductor, which is nominated. Picture: Keith Heppell

“The level of competition for this year’s Cleantech Award was extremely high and all four shortlisted nominees entered very strong submissions, demonstrating their innovative and cutting-edge approaches to providing sustainable solutions to the environmental pressures the world currently faces.

“We wish to commend all nominees on their cleantech efforts and for championing sustainable innovation.”

One category that was not open for nomination was the In Search of Wonder Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by JDJ Creative, the Waterbeach-based creative agency.

Dr Tongtong Zhu, CEO of Porotech, which is shortlisted
Dr Tongtong Zhu, CEO of Porotech, which is shortlisted

The winner of this award – recognising one individual’s outstanding long-term achievements in the Cambridge region – will be revealed on the night, along with all of our winners.

To keep up to date with the awards, sign up for our newsletter at cambridgeindependent.co.uk/newsletter/ and follow us on Twitter @CambridgeIndy.



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