The Future Networks Awards offer an opportunity for Future Network Programmes projects (any project part-funded by DSIT) to showcase their innovation, impact and intentions to a panel of independent judges.
There are seven categories available to enter – detailed below – and projects will be judged based on the ability to demonstrate top of the class results in line with each of the descriptors. To apply, submit a 300-word max summary of why you think your project deserves the award through this form. The deadline for submission is EOD Friday, 28th February.
The winners will be announced during a ceremony at Connected Reflections Live on 19th March at the Minster Building in London. Register to attend that event here.
Award Categories
- Ecosystem Excellence Award – Recognising projects that have fostered collaboration across industry, academia, and government to strengthen the innovation ecosystem.
- Incremental Innovation Award – Celebrating projects that have delivered measurable advancements in network technologies through iterative, practical improvements.
- Radical Breakthrough Award – Honouring visionary projects that have pioneered disruptive, blue-sky innovations in networking technology.
- Start-up and Spin-out Success Award – Showcasing the most promising new businesses or spin-outs that have emerged from Future Network Programmes funding.
- Place-Based Impact Award – Recognising projects that have reshaped market dynamics and contributed to the development of new innovation hubs, regions, or industry clusters.
- Shared Infrastructure Advancement Award – Rewarding projects that have contributed to the development, expansion, or optimisation of shared network infrastructure.
- Barrier Breaker Award – Highlighting initiatives that have successfully tackled key challenges or barriers to innovation, adoption, or market entry.
Don’t miss this chance to partake in an exclusive showcase celebrating groundbreaking innovations, ecosystems, and the market-shaping insights from the Future Networks Programme.
