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 will also go on sale soon for those who would like to join in the celebration of Cambridge’s prowess in science and technology.
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
- 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.”
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.
“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.
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.
