Awards
Celebrating the talents, technologies and efforts advancing our industry.
Awards for organisations
NEW: Sustainability Award
Deadline: 23:59 BST 31st July 2026
How to enter
To submit an entry for this award, please complete the application form here: ELRIG Sustainability Award submission form and upload your video submission.
Video Submission Requirements
- The innovation, project, or initiative
- How it reduces environmental impact
- The demonstrated or potential benefit to the life science sector
- Videos must be less than 3 minutes long
- Maximum file size: 100MB
- Videos may be filmed in either landscape or portrait format
More info on the award process available here: https://elrig.org/elrig-sustainability-award-framework-terms-conditions/
The prize
If an Organisation Wins
- A free 2-day booth (2mX2m) at Drug Discovery 2026 (equivalent of £3850+VAT)
- Access to ELRIG Media Partners to share news of the award win
If an Individual Wins
- Access to an up to 10-minute presentation slot following the Keynote Speaker on Day 2 of Drug Discovery 2026
- Access to ELRIG Media Partners to share news of the award win
- Travel and accommodation costs covered (up to £750)
Innovation Award - sponsored by Mathys & Squire LLP
Only open to Breakthrough Zone Participants.
If your company is developing a technology or approach with the potential to transform how drugs are discovered or developed, this award was made for you. Submit a two-minute video pitching your innovation to our panel of experts for a chance to present a 10 min talk in Auditorium 1 at Drug Discovery 2026.
Once submissions close, and our judges are deliberating, we will also open the award for the “People’s Choice” allowing members of the public to vote on the most innovative technology/approach. Mathys & Squire LLP sponsor the ELRIG innovation award at Drug Discovery 2026
Deadline: 23:59 BST 21 September 2026
How to enter
- Prepare and submit a 2 minute video following the submission criteria.
- Share your video on LinkedIn with #ELRIGInnovationAward or directly on our submissions wall.
Entrants must enter the Competition in their own name and will be required to provide all mandatory information that may include, but is not limited to, the Entrant’s full name, residential address, job title, date of birth, email address and contact telephone number.
More info on the award process available here: https://elrig.org/elrig-innovation-award-framework-terms-conditions/
The prize
- Deliver a 10-minute presentation at Drug Discovery 2026 Day 1 Auditorium 1
- Present innovation to the conference audience
- Prepare accompanying presentation slides for the talk
- Receive patent attorney support with Mathys & Squire LLP
- (equivalent to £15,000)
- Receive 2 hours of graphic design and website support with Identity Creative (equivalent to £264)
- Breakthrough Zone stand cost refunded (£500)
People’s Choice Innovation Award will:
- Deliver a 10-minute talk on Day 1 in the Breakthrough Zone Theatre
- Receive patent attorney support with Mathys & Squire LLP (equivalent of £5,000)
What's the People's Choice Award?
This award has two judging phases:
- Judging phase 1 the ELRIG Innovation Award Judging panel with select the winner for ELRIG’s Innovation Award.
- Judging phase 2 The live video wall will be shared with the ELRIG community for voting. The video with the most likes will win the People’s Choice Award.
Awards for professionals
NEW: Sustainability Award
Deadline: 23:59 BST 31st July 2026
How to enter
To submit an entry for this award, please complete the application form here: ELRIG Sustainability Award submission form and upload your video submission.
Video Submission Requirements
- The innovation, project, or initiative
- How it reduces environmental impact
- The demonstrated or potential benefit to the life science sector
- Videos must be less than 3 minutes long
- Maximum file size: 100MB
- Videos may be filmed in either landscape or portrait format
More info on the award process available here: https://elrig.org/elrig-sustainability-award-framework-terms-conditions/
The prize
If an Organisation Wins
- A free 2-day booth (2mX2m) at Drug Discovery 2026 (equivalent of £3850+VAT)
- Access to ELRIG Media Partners to share news of the award win
If an Individual Wins
- Access to an up to 10-minute presentation slot following the Keynote Speaker on Day 2 of Drug Discovery 2026
- Access to ELRIG Media Partners to share news of the award win
- Travel and accommodation costs covered (up to £750)
Outstanding Contribution Award
Deadline: 23:59 BST 1 September 2026.
What are the judges looking for?
How to nominate an individual?
Please note: Self-nominations will not be accepted.
Each submission should include:
- A supporting statement of up to 500 words outlining the nominee’s contributions and achievements
- The nominee’s CV or a link to their LinkedIn profile or personal website
- Confirmation from the nominator submitting the application
Prize
- A glass award & certificate
- 10 mins fireside chat with ELRIG Chair Del Trezise on Day 1 at Drug Discovery 2026
Awards for Early Career Professionals
Poster Award
Display a poster at one of our conferences for a chance to win our ECP Poster Award.
All ECP posters will be judged during the event and the Best Early Career Professional Poster will be awarded with a glass trophy and £250, which can be accepted, donated to your lab or donated to a charity of your choice.
Posters will be judged based on:
- Relevance and innovation of the poster’s content.
- Potential impact of the science or technology described.
- Clarity and quality of the overall poster’s presentation.
| Conference | Flash poster deadline | General display deadline |
| Drug Discovery 2026 | 16 September 2026 | 23 September 2026 |
| Protein Sciences 2026 | 13 October 2026 | 20 October 2026 |
ECP Kirsty Smitten Award
Early Career Professional applicants can demonstrate impact in the following ways:
- Through the delivery of impactful science, contributing to early, pre-clinical drug discovery
- By their science or technology development work
- Through their leadership or facilitation of collaborations within the drug-discovery space
- Through other philanthropic and volunteering contributions
Deadline: 23:59 BST 1 September 2026.
How to enter
To enter the competition, you must:
- prepare and submit a 3 minute video following the submission criteria. Max 100MB
- Upload your video to the application Microsoft form here: Kirsty Smitten Award Application Form Drug Discovery 2026
- Judging will take place by the ELRIG Award Judging panel who will select the winner following the award criteria.
The prize
The Prize is:
- Access to an up to 10 minute presentation in the morning day 2 of the Drug Discovery 2026 conference
- Access to ELRIG Media Partners to share news of award win
- Costs of travel and accommodation (up to £750)
Who is Kirsty Smitten?
This award is named in honour of Kirsty Smitten, who’s pioneering work on antimicrobial compounds won many accolades and awards, including the ECP Impact Award in 2021. Kirsty co-founded MetalloBio in Sheffield with a passion to combat antimicrobial resistance. Kirsty sadly died of a rare form of heart cancer in October 2023. She was a strong proponent of self-improvement, and was keen to inspire others to seize opportunities for personal growth.
Previous winners
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