Cambridge Independent Science and Technology Awards 2021-22 will celebrate outstanding achievements
The 2021-22 Cambridge Independent Science and Technology Awards are open for entry.
Celebrating the extraordinary achievements of emerging and established companies, organisations and individuals, they are the premier awards for a host of science and technology sectors in the region.
Now in their fifth year, the reputation of the awards has grown with each iteration, and attracts regional, national and international interest.
This year, they are once again supported by a leading cast of sponsors.
Editor Paul Brackley said: “Launching the awards is always an exciting time for us. Every year, the entries are a showcase of what an amazing region we live and work in for science and technology.
“From innovative start-ups to the region’s big hitters, our previous award winners are like a who’s who of talent and innovation and we are sure this year’s will be no exception.
“We are delighted to welcome back so many of our sponsors and also to welcome new ones to help us celebrate these successes.”
The entry form is now available on this website, along with the rules and all the category details, and you can find out more about our sponsors. You can also read about the 2020-21 winners.
Three new categories have been added this year.
The Enterprise Skills Award, sponsored by the Entrepreneurship Centre at Cambridge Judge Business School, will be awarded to an organisation that has demonstrated outstanding commitment to leadership or management training for its scientific and technical staff.
This award has been introduced because the business skills agenda is an important one for both deep tech science companies in the city and region, and for many others who employ technical staff in other equally critical sectors.
The new Employer of the Year award, sponsored by office and laboratory design and fit-out specialist COEL, will be won by a company or organisation that demonstrates fantastic commitment to its employees and the wider community. This could include demonstrating flexibility and support in working arrangements, providing opportunities for training and progression and a genuine commitment to corporate social responsibility and the green agenda.
Alistair Rumbelow, group CEO at COEL, said: “The COEL team is privileged to again support the Cambridge Independent Science and Technology Awards.
“Sponsoring Employer of the Year resonates with COEL’s ethos in creating sympathetic working environments enabling companies and employees to excel.
“This award looks to the bigger picture and gives recognition to outstanding employers who invest and value their staff, as well as their local community, whilst at the same time acknowledging that sustainability of the environment is of paramount importance for the future.”
Meanwhile, the new In Search of Wonder Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by JDJ Creative, will be determined by a panel and will honour an individual whose work has made a hugely significant and lasting difference to a field or sector.
Two categories for individuals for which public nominations are open are included again this year.
Entrants for the CEO of the Year category sponsored by Bidwells - won last year by o2h group’s Sunil Shah - and for Researcher of the Year category, which is sponsored once more by AstraZeneca, can nominate themselves or someone else.
This year, we welcome CityFibre as a new sponsor of the awards, supporting the STEM Initiative of the Year category.
And we welcome sequencing leader Illumina as sponsor of our Award for Innovation.
A judging panel with a wide range of expertise will determine the winners, who will be announced as a ceremony in spring 2022.
Among the judges will be James Wilkinson, from Woodfines Solicitors, which has sponsored the awards since their inception.
A spokesperson for Woodfines said: “We are pleased to be involved in the Cambridge Independent Science and Technology Awards for the fifth consecutive year and to be once again sponsoring Cleantech Company of the Year.
“We are delighted that James Wilkinson, corporate and commercial solicitor, who takes particular interest, both professionally and personally in the cleantech sector, has joined the panel of judges and will no doubt be a valuable addition.”
Look out for more announcements about the awards in the coming weeks in the Cambridge Independent, on our website and in iQ, our quarterly sister business magazine. Follow @CambridgIndy and #SciTechAwards for updates.
If you have questions about the awards, or want to get involved, contact paul.brackley@iliffemedia.co.uk.
Read more
Enter the Cambridge Independent Science and Technology Awards 2021-22
Meet the sponsors of the 2021-22 Cambridge Independent Science and Technology Awards
Winners of the 2020-21 Cambridge Independent Science and Technology Awards revealed
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