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People

Best New or Small Company 

This category is open to solution providers, small companies or start-ups across the robotics and automation value chain that employ fewer than 50 people and are less than three years old. This award seeks to recognise new, innovative and disruptive forces in the robotics sector and the outstanding work done by smaller and less resource-rich organisations, which form a vital part of the industry and drive innovation in the sector. Solution providers may apply without and end-user partner. 

Inspiring the Next Generation

This category is open to any organisation working in fields related to robotics or automation or involving the manufacture, supply or integration of robotic or automated systems. Entrants must demonstrate how their organisation has positively contributed to inspiring the next generation through initiatives such as school outreach programmes, funding initiatives to inspire school students or leavers to enter robotics, or other schemes that otherwise contribute to this goal. Solution providers may apply without an end-user partner.

 

dss

Young Innovator of the Year

This category is open to any person under 25 working with robotic or automated systems that has not completed a graduate or post-graduate degree in their related field. Those who have completed apprenticeships, practical examinations or short online or in-person courses are encouraged to apply. Entrants, or those nominating an entrant, need to demonstrate why the candidate has shown innovation or excellence in their work and made positive contributions to an organisation and/or the wider sector.


 

Applied Technologies

Best Use of Cobotics 

This category is open to any organisation that can demonstrate innovative, efficient or otherwise effective use of collaborative robots (cobots) across its operations. Solution providers may apply on the condition they enter with an end-user partner.

Best Use of Drones

This category is open to any organisation, research institution or research team that can demonstrate an innovative use of robotics or automation for applications in the aerospace industry. Entrants must be able to show the organisational or wider sector benefits of their work. Solution providers may apply on the condition they enter with an end-user partner.

Industry 4.0

This category is open to any organisation that has implemented technologies under the remit of Industry 4.0 into its operations in a way that is innovative, improves efficiency or is otherwise beneficial to the organisation or the sector. Examples of applicable technologies include those involving: sensors, mobile computing, cloud computing, IoT, big data/ data analytics, RFID, 3D printing, drones, cybersecurity and more. Solution providers may apply on the condition they enter with an end-user partner.

Industrial Innovation

This category is open to any organisation that can show innovative application of industrial robotic or automated solutions. Entrants must show how use of such solutions has led to gains in productivity and efficiency, cost savings or other improvements to overall operations. Any end-user organisation that uses robotics or automation technologies for industrial applications may apply. Solution providers may apply on the condition they enter with an end-user partner.

Innovation in Packaging Automation

This category is open to any organisation using automated systems to package or otherwise prepare goods for shipment. Entrants need to demonstrate expertise in the use of automated packaging processes and excellence in the use of or development of such systems. Solution providers may apply on the condition they submit their entry with an end-user partner.

Innovative Use of Artificial Intelligence

This category is open to any organisation that has implemented artificial intelligence (AI) or AI-powered technologies into its operations in a way that is innovative, improves efficiency or is otherwise beneficial to the organisation or the sector. Solution providers may apply on the condition they enter with an end-user partner.       


 

Industry Sector

Best Use of Robotics or Automation in Cleaning and Sanitation

This category is open to any organisation that can show innovative application of robotic or automated solutions in the field of cleaning and/or sanitation. Entrants must show how use of such solutions has led to gains in productivity and efficiency, cost savings or other improvements to overall operations, such as staff wellbeing or environmental benefit. Any end-user organisation in the cleaning and sanitation sector may apply. Solution providers may apply on the condition they enter with an end-user partner.

Best Use of Robotics or Automation in Construction

This category is open to any organisation that either uses robotics or automated systems within its processes or develops and/or integrates robotic or automated solutions for application in construction. Entrants need to demonstrate expertise in the use, integration or development of robotics or automated construction systems. Solution providers may apply on the condition they submit their entry with an end-user partner.

Best Use of Robotics or Automation in Food and Beverage 

This category is open to any organisation that can show innovative application of robotic or automated solutions in the field of food and beverage. Entrants must show how use of such solutions has led to gains in productivity and efficiency, cost savings or other improvements to overall operations, such as staff wellbeing or environmental benefit. Any end-user organisation in the food and beverage sector may apply. Solution providers may apply on the condition they enter with an end-user partner.

Best Use of Robotics or Automation in Healthcare

This category is open to any organisation that can show innovative application of robotic or automated solutions in the public or private healthcare, pharmaceutical and medical sectors. Entrants must show how use of such solutions has led to gains in productivity and efficiency, cost savings or other improvements to overall operations, such as staff wellbeing or environmental benefit. Any end-user organisation in the healthcare, pharmaceutical or medical fields may apply. Solution providers may apply on the condition they enter with an end-user partner.

Best Use of Robotics or Automation in Retail

This category is open to any organisation that can show innovative application of robotic or automated solutions in retail applications. Entrants must show how use of such solutions has led to gains in productivity and efficiency, cost savings or other improvements to overall operations, such as staff wellbeing or environmental benefit. Any end-user organisation in the retail sector may apply. Solution providers may apply on the condition they enter with an end-user partner.

Innovation in Aerospace

This category is open to any organisation, research institution or research team that can demonstrate an innovative use of robotics or automation for applications in the aerospace industry. Entrants must be able to show the organisational or wider sector benefits of their work. Solution providers may apply on the condition they enter with an end-user partner.

Innovation in Agriculture

This category is open to any organisation, research institution or research team that can demonstrate innovative use of robotics or automation for application in agriculture. Candidates must be able to show the wider organisational or sector benefits of their work/solution. Solution providers may apply on the condition they submit their entry with an end-user partner.

Innovation in Defence

This category is open to any organisation, research institution or research team that can demonstrate an innovative use of robotics or automation for defence or security applications. Applications include, but are not limited to, surveillance, logistics, communications, transportation of people in dangerous environments or armoured vehicles. Entrants must be able to show the wider societal benefits of their solution. Solution providers may apply on the condition they enter with an end-user partner.

Innovation in Extreme Environments

This category is open to any organisation, research institution or research team that can demonstrate innovative use of robotics or automation for application in an extreme environment. The purview of ‘extreme environments’ includes nuclear facilities, natural disaster relief areas or environments affected by extreme temperatures, pressure or inaccessibility, such as tunnels. Candidates must be able to show the wider organisational or sector benefits of their work/solution. Solution providers may apply on the condition they submit their entry with an end-user partner.

Innovation in Transportation

This category is open to any organisation using robotic or automated technologies to transport people or goods of any kind. Entrants must demonstrate innovative use of one of the following within their transportation processes: fully or partially autonomous systems; fully or partially automated systems; and/or robotic systems. This could include AMRs, AGVs and/or connected or autonomous vehicles (including drones). Solution providers may apply on the condition they enter with an end-user partner.

Innovation in the Warehouse

This category is open to any organisation that can demonstrate how its use of robotics and/or automation has been innovative or has enhanced productivity, efficiency gains or cost savings within a warehouse environment in an outstanding way. Any end-user organisation in the warehousing sector may apply. Solution providers or 3PLs may apply on the condition they enter with an end-user partner.

Manufacturing Innovation

This category is open to any organisation that can demonstrate how its use of robotics and/or automation has been innovative or has enhanced productivity, efficiency gains or cost savings within a manufacturing environment in an outstanding way. Any end-user organisation in the manufacturing sector may apply. Solution providers may apply on the condition they enter with an end-user partner

Offshore Innovation

This category is open to any organisation, research institution or research team that can demonstrate an innovative use of robotics or automation for application in an offshore environment, including but not limited to facility inspection, maintenance, energy sourcing or marine research/preservation. Candidates must be able to show the wider organisational or sector benefits of their work/solution. Solution providers may apply on the condition they submit their entry with an end-user partner.


 

Research & Innovation

Innovation in Sustainability

This category is open to any organisation using robotic or automated technologies within their operational and corporate processes that can demonstrate how innovative use of robotic or automated solutions can lead to a positive or improved environmental impact for their organisation. This can include promoting biodiversity, reducing energy consumption or cutting carbon emissions. Solution providers may apply on the condition they submit their entry with an end-user partner.

 

cdscds

R&D Innovation - Facility

This category is open to any research-driven facility operated by a think tank, research institution or university that has catered for or facilitated the development of the following technologies: robots, cobotics, automated systems, connected systems, autonomous systems, 5G-enabled technology, sensors, artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), machine vision, machine learning, visual or augmented reality or any other technologies that automate manual processes or involve use of robotic components. Entrants must be able to demonstrate how research hosted at its institution has led to or could lead to wider sector and societal benefits. Applicants do not need to apply in conjunction with an end-user partner and must have hosted at least one research project or team at its site since January 01 2022.        

R&D Innovation - Project

This category is open to any research project from a team, research institution or university (beginning on or after 01 January 2022) that involves the use of the following technologies in an innovative way that has led or could lead to wider sector and societal benefits: robots, cobotics, automated systems, connected systems, autonomous systems, 5G-enabled technology, sensors, artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), machine vision, machine learning, visual or augmented reality or any other technologies that automate manual processes or involve use of robotic components. Entrants do not need to apply in conjunction with an end-user partner.