Fourteen progressive businesses and individuals “at the forefront of innovation” across Cardiff have been shortlisted for the inaugural Wales STEM Awards.
Organisations including the Welsh Contact Centre, Natural Resources Wales, EKF Diagnostics and the University of South Wales, are among 42 innovative companies to be named finalists in this year’s highly anticipated awards.
The awards are a celebration of those making a difference to, and championing, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM) in Wales.
They were launched last year in a bid to recognise the innovative STEM work being undertaken in Wales, address the diversity gap and skills shortage, and inspire and raise the aspirations of the next generation.
The finalists, which have been shortlisted in 15 categories, will now be considered by an industry-leading panel of Welsh entrepreneurial minds, with the winners being announced at the awards ceremony at Cardiff’s City Hall on May 1st.
Head judge Dr Louise Bright, founder of the Wales Women in STEM network, said: “We are delighted to announce the shortlist for the first Wales STEM Awards.
“The calibre of those nominated has been second to none and we have been overwhelmed by the number of entries.
“We really feel that our shortlist represents some of the most progressive organisations and individuals at the forefront of STEM innovation in Wales.
“We’d like to congratulate all those shortlisted and look forward to seeing them all at the awards evening in May.”
The Cardiff-based businesses which made the shortlist include biotech company Cellesce and Genesis Biosciences, which were recognised in the Innovation in Science category, while identification verification company Credas, Cellesce, and Bond Digital Health were finalists for Innovation in Technology.
Companies House and the Wales Contact Centre Forum were shortlisted for Innovation in Maths, while Genesis Biosciences and Natural Resources Wales were finalists in the STEM Environmental Initiative of the Year category.
STEM International Business of the Year and STEM Scale-Up of the Year both saw research and development company CatSci, and research management technology firm BipSync shortlisted, while Gerwyn Holmes from environmentally friendly start-up EcoSlurps was nominated as a STEM Rising Star of the Year.
In the STEM Woman of the Year category Wajiha Afsar from engineering consultant Atkins was shortlisted, along with Clare Johnson from the University of South Wales. STEM Leader of the Year saw Confused.com’s Louise O’Shea shortlisted, along with EKF Diagnostics’ Dr Julian Barnes.
Finally in the STEM Company of the Year (0-25 Employees) category, Bond Digital Health was a finalist, while Natural Resources Wales was shortlisted in the STEM Company of the Year (251+ Employees) category.
The Wales STEM Awards, founded by communications agency jamjar and Grapevine Event Management, is being supported by headline sponsors GS Verde Group, which comprises law firm Greenaway Scott, corporate finance boutique Verde Corporate Finance, and patent attorney firm Alchemie IP.
Other sponsors include Airbus, Box UK, Business News Wales, Cardiff Metropolitan University, CPS Group, Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult, Development Bank of Wales, Rolls-Royce, and Valero Energy.
The nominated charity partner for the awards is Cancer Research Wales, which is dedicated to developing life-changing treatments, diagnostic techniques, and research for people with cancer.
