Meet the sponsors of the 2024 Cambridge Independent Science and Technology Awards
The Cambridge Independent Science and Technology Awards 2024 are supported by a stellar cast of sponsors.
The finalists for the awards, taking place on 16 May at Hinxton Hall Conference Centre, have now been revealed and shortlisted finalists will get free tickets to the awards ceremony in May.
We’re able to host these awards thanks to the brilliant support of our sponsors.
They are:
Allia Future Business Centre Cambridge
Sponsoring The Tech for Good Award
Allia Future Business Centre Cambridge offers flexible workspace, business support and a vibrant community for businesses who are creating social and environmental change. It is home to a range of small businesses that develop and create tech-for-good innovations in areas such as Cleantech, Agritech, and Healthtech – as well as education, wellbeing and community regeneration. Our Tech for Good award will recognise the very best businesses that work hard to develop innovative solutions using technology with purpose, to address local and global challenges and create positive impact.
Appleyard Lees
Sponsoring AI Company of the Year
Appleyard Lees is a leading intellectual property law firm with approximately seventy patent and trademark attorneys and litigators. Who we are and what we do – but also, how we do it – makes us distinctive. We help our clients protect and monetise their intellectual property, and manage post-grant challenges, should they arise. We offer broad sector and industry knowledge, plus the ability to adapt our services to specific client requirements, in an agile way.
With offices in UK innovation hotspots, we are positioned to give clients expert strategic IP advice in the UK and worldwide.
AstraZeneca
Sponsoring Researcher of the Year
The Researcher of the Year category in the 2024 Cambridge Independent Science and Technology Awards recognises accomplishment in scientific endeavours, particularly where the researcher has overcome hurdles to achieve outstanding scientific results.
The breadth of this category, which covers all areas of research and technological advancement in both commercial and academic settings, demonstrates the increasing porosity and transferability of skills in Cambridge’s scientific cluster, a cluster that AstraZeneca is very proud to be part of.
Bidwells
Sponsoring CEO of the Year
A leading UK property consultancy, Bidwells stands at the forefront of dynamic real estate markets nationwide.
We've been the number one adviser to the science and technology sector in the UK for 50 years – ever since we helped Trinity College create Cambridge Science Park in the early 1970s. We’ve worked with over 60 science parks and innovation districts over the past five years, including Cambridge Science Park,Babraham Research Campus and Cambridge Biomedical Campus to name a few.
At Bidwells, we transcend the conventional boundaries of property consultancy, actively shaping the future of science and technology in the UK and beyond.
Cambridge Science Park
Sponsoring STEM Initiative of the Year
The Cambridge Science Park offers unrivalled opportunities for collaboration, innovation and inspiration.
Set in 150 acres of Parkland, it's home to a thriving community of scientists and entrepreneurs working on life-enhancing technologies, ranging from plant protein-based plastics and cancer-detecting breath technology to cutting-edge gaming.
With plans for an ambitious new cycle of investment focused on sustainability and amenity enhancement, we continuously strive to provide the very best facilities in a supportive, community-based environment for our members.
Interested in building a better world at the Cambridge Science Park? Discover more: https://www.cambridgesciencepark.co.uk.
Chesterford Research Park
Sponsoring AI Company of the Year
Chesterford Research Park offers modern, dynamic and flexible laboratory and office space set within 250 acres of parkland near Cambridge.
Its prestigious, bespoke HQ buildings and fully fitted advanced laboratory space and office facilities are perfectly appointed for both established and early stage biotechnology, pharmaceutical and technology R&D companies.
Chesterford’s innovative occupiers thrive in the state-of-the-art buildings and enjoy contemporary, central facilities - scientists, inventors and entrepreneurs working side by side on the development of life-changing drugs, devices and technology, all within this sustainable environment. To discover more, please visit www.chesterfordresearchpark.com.
cofinitive communications
Sponsoring The One to Watch
cofinitive delivers impactful communications for companies poised to make a difference in the world. Our focus is tech and innovation. All tech. Any innovation. And we work with clients locally, nationally and globally on strategy, marketing, communication, PR and branding, supporting our region’s reputation as the UK centre for science, technology and innovation, and promoting our entrepreneurs’ breakthrough innovations and successes widely.
We have supported the awards since 2018, when we created ‘The One to Watch’ category for the #SciTechAwards. This award is a spin-out from our own highly regarded #21toWatch campaign and is designed to spotlight and celebrate the world-class science and technology innovation, exclusively here in Cambridge.
Faculty of Science and Engineering, Anglia Ruskin University
Sponsoring Technology Company of the Year
Anglia Ruskin University is an award winning higher education institution. It has been named the Times Higher Education University of the Year (2023), as part of the Teaching Excellence Framework has achieved “Gold” status, meaning the student experience and outcomes are typically outstanding, and recently won a prestigious award for UK Social Mobility in higher education.
The Faculty of Science and Engineering offers taught and research degrees across the diverse disciplines of science and technology, from animal behaviour to sport and exercise therapy, optometry to psychology, computing and artificial intelligence to biomedical science and from forensic science to mechanical engineering.
We are committed to increasing the numbers of women and under-represented groups in STEM careers, and work closely with industry to ensure that our inclusive and innovative programmes provide students with the skills that employers need. Our world-leading research informs our transformative teaching, and provides opportunities to add value to businesses and the wider community.
JDJ Creative
Sponsoring In Search of Wonder Lifetime Achievement Award
A creative design and digital agency, JDJ Creative has over a decade of experience working within the tech sphere, enabling organisations to communicate more effectively and improve their brand reach.
Expert at taking complex ideas and making them effortless to understand visually, we’re especially proud of our work in the sustainability space, enabling companies to communicate their ESG performance effectively through inspiring infographics and engaging report design.
As part of our aim to support those looking to make a difference for the future of humanity and the planet, we’re delighted to once again sponsor the Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating an outstanding individual who has dedicated their life to ensuring a brighter outlook for us all.
Kao Data
Sponsoring Start-up of the Year
Kao Data, the specialist developer and operator of sustainable, high performance data centres engineered for AI, is sponsoring the Cambridge Independent Science and Technology Awards' Start-up of the Year for the third consecutive year in a row.
With key locations across London, Greater Manchester and The UK Innovation Corridor, Kao Data is home to some of the region's most advanced computing clusters and life science workloads. Notably, it hosts NVIDIA's Cambridge-1, the UK’s most powerful supercomputer, powered by 100% renewable energy. Through Cambridge-1, customers can access NVIDIA’s world-leading DGX Cloud services – a cloud-based solution powered by NVIDIA's DGX hardware, which provides exceptional computational power for AI and deep learning capabilities.
Kao Data’s high performance platform also underpins the life-saving research of start-ups like InstaDeep, and world-leading genomic research organisations like EMBL-EBI, making Kao Data an integral part of the local technology and scientific ecosystem.
Spencer Lamb, CCO of Kao Data, highlighted the importance of the UK's Innovation corridor: “Cambridge's tech ecosystem is pivotal in maintaining the UK's position as a leader in science, technology and AI, and we take pride in supporting and being a part of this innovative community.”
Mantle Space
Sponsoring Software Company of the Year
The Bradfield Centre is deeply rooted in the technology industry, we believe it is important to recognise and celebrate the achievements of those who are driving innovation and progress. It was therefore a natural step to work with the Cambridge Independent to create the new award category of Software Company of the Year and we look forward to celebrating all the finalists.
At the core of our involvement in the Science and Technology Awards is our belief in the power of flexible workspaces. We know that a supportive and dynamic environment is crucial for companies to thrive, especially in the fast-paced tech industry. The Bradfield Centre offers just that - a space that not only encourages productivity but also fosters a sense of community.
We are thrilled to be part of such an exciting event and look forward to showcasing the incredible accomplishments of tech companies in the Software Company of the Year category, such as those in the increasingly important Software as a Service sector. Together, we can continue to drive progress and shape the future of technology.
Railpen
Sponsoring the Award for Innovation
Railpen are entrusted with the safekeeping and investment of £34billion in assets, and provide support for the 350,000 members of the railways pension schemes – one of the UK's largest and longest established pension funds.
To deliver on our purpose to secure our members futures’, we invest in a wide range of public and private businesses, infrastructure and property. We believe financial and sustainability outcomes are not mutually exclusive – they are complementary and integral to protecting our members' long-term interests.
We’re particularly excited about investing in Cambridge, and in the life science and technology sectors, which are important for UK growth and a thriving local economy.
Restore Harrow Green
Sponsoring Employer of the Year
Our specialist laboratory services division based in Cambridge provides a wide range of expert services in the field of laboratory relocations, distribution, storage and biobanking
We are a nationwide relocations provider with branches across the UK and the golden triangle, able to undertake any size lab move. We have a large storage and distribution division to support the UK’s largest science parks.
Our experience, excellent customer service and understanding and knowledge of the life sciences sector is why our customers chose us time after time.
St John’s Innovation Centre
Since 1987 St John’s Innovation Centre has been home to tech start-ups and scale-ups, combining the benefits of flexible, all-inclusive leases with indispensable advice and support for innovators. Established by St John’s College, University of Cambridge, it sits at the heart of St John’s Innovation Park close to the A14 and the city centre.
Alongside around 90 tenant companies, the centre also hosts 300 virtual tenants who enjoy access to the meeting rooms and the prestigious Cambridge address. Over the years, numerous tech success stories have started life here, including HP Autonomy, Jagex Ltd, Zeus Technology Ltd and Owlstone Ltd.
Woodfines Solicitors
Sponsoring Cleantech Company of the Year
Woodfines Solicitors is once again proud to be sponsoring the Cambridge Independent Science and Technology Awards, having done so since their inception.
The firm, which provides a full range of legal services across Cambridge, Bedford and Milton Keynes, is known for providing strategic and pragmatic legal support, advising at every stage of a business’s development across the full spectrum of corporate issues. Woodfines’ commercial team advises on business transactions, property requirements, employment law and dispute resolution, and is an associate founder member of Cambridge Cleantech. As sponsors of the Cleantech Company of the Year category, we look forward to learning about the pioneering companies embracing technology to put sustainability at the heart of what they do.
Zyme Communications
Sponsoring Life Science Company of the Year
Zyme Communications provides PR and marketing services for the life science sector globally.
Founded in 2010, and with offices in Cambridge and Manchester in the UK, we support companies to raise their profile, build corporate value and generate interest from commercial leads, investors and partners. Our experienced team are specialists in life science communications, with expertise gained in-house and agency side, offering the flexibility to support both early-stage companies and large multinationals.
For more information please visit www.zymecommunications.com or contact info@zymecommunications.com.